Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-07-10

not thought much about it, Aunt Jane;
have you?"
The words were so sweetly and
placidly spoken.
eyes, I have thought great deal
about it. I hear that many very nice
English people have gone to Rome.
They say that there will be one Of the
incest circles in Europe there"
I'm Rome" said Lady Marion, mus
ingly. ''Do know many of those who
are going?"
eyes, some of our own set. One of
the great Roman princes, Dorio, has
just married beautiful English girl,
SO that for this year at least the Eng
lish will be all the rage in Rome. l
should like to go there. knew some
of the Dorio family, but not the one
just married"
''Then, if you would like it, we will
go there" said Lady Marion; 81 shall
be pleased if you are.
So without any more difficulty the
first part of the program was carried
out, and Lady Marion Erskine, with
her chaperone, Lady Jane Cambrey,
settled in Rome for the winter. They
took a beautifully furnished villa,
called the Villa Borgazi, near to some
famous gardens. Lady Cambrey took
care that, while she reveled in italian
luxuries, no English comfort should be
wanting Villa Borgazi soon had
in it all the comforts of an English
home.
She came home one morning, after
many hours of shopping, with a look
of some Importance on her face.
Marion she said, ST have just
heard that the Lanswells are here.
am very pleased. [ thought of calling
this afternoon; if you are tired, will
go alone"
And from the tone of her voice,
rather than her words, Lady Marion
fancied that she would prefer to pay
her visit alone.
"You remember the Countess of
Lanswell; she was la grande dame par
excellence in London last summer
She admired you very much, if you rec
ollect.
''I remember her." said Lady Marion.
Then, with some interest, she added:
"It was her son, Lord Chandos, who
got himself into such difficulties, was
it not?"
Lady Cambrey was slightly taken by
surprise. Her ward had always shown
such decided distaste for gossip of
all kinds that she trusted she had
never even heard of this little esca-
pade. However, Lady Marion's ques-
ton must be answered.
She shook her head gravely.
"It was not his fault, poor boy"
she said; "his mother has told me all
about it. I am very sorry for him."
'Why does he deserve so much
pity?" she asked.
And Lady Cambrey answered.:
''He was but boy at the time, and
she, this person, a dairy-maid, be-
lieve, took advantage of his generos-
ity, and either persuaded him to marry
her. or wrung from him some promise
of marriage when he should be of age"
L thought" said straightforward
Lady Marion, chat ne was married,
and his parents had petitioned that the
be considered null and void
as he was under age"
II think, my DEAR" said the diplo-
matte aunt, chat it would be as well
not to mention this. Two things are
certain: if Lord Chandos had been
married, his marriage could
never have been set aside; the other
is, that the countess can never endure
the mention of her sons misfortune"
edo you know Lord Chandos?" asked
Lady Marion, after a time.
eyes, know him, and consider him
one of the most charming men I have
ever met, perfect cavalier and chiv-
a1rous gentleman.
"That is high praise" said Lady Ma
rion thoughtfully.
81 know of none higher" said her
aunt, and then with her usual tact
changed the subject; but more than
once that day Lady Marion Thought or
the man who was a cavalier and a gen.
tleman
Meanwhile the time passed pleasant
ly for the countess and her son. They
were staying at the grand palace of
the F'alconis-once the home Of
princes, but now let by the year to the
highest bidder. Lady Lanswell took
good care that her son should be well
amused; every morning delicious lit
tie sketch of the days amusement was
placed before him: the countess laid
herself out to please him as man had
never been pleased before.
The countess saw that he received
letters from England continually.
She was above all vulgar intrigue, or
she might have destroyed more than
one-ha1f which came, without his see
ing them She would not do that; the
war she carried into the enemy's camp
was Of thn most refined and th0rOu OH