Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-04-06
Continued.


| when Stephen Lynne took possession
of the estate. Nothing, in fact, re-
manned of their once large possess
sions, except Lynnewolde. He mar
ried twice. His first wife was a
beautiful Spanish lady, who was
never seen in-his stately English
home. Her portrait was in the pic
uregallery; but she had not lived to
shine as she would have done, fairest
| among the peeresses of England. She
lied in Spain one year after her mar
| siage, leaving one little girl an in
FAINT few days old.
Stephen Lord Lynne married again,
not a beauty this time, but a gentle
| English girl, one of the wealthiest
heiresses of the day. She also had
one daughter: but a son, the wish of
| Lord Lynne's heart, was not given to
| him. Lady Lynne loved her husband :;
she was very happy; and at her death
she left the whole of her large fortune
to him, giving him the power to do
what he would with it.
| LynneWolde had been restored to
more than it's ancient grandeur, and
Lord Lynne was known to be a
wealthy nobleman; still many people
wondered how it would be with the
| heir of the Lynnes. The title he must
INTERCHANGEABLE, too, for it was en-
tailed; but title and large house
are not sufficient for a man to live
upon; and many wondered whether
Philip would inherit his uncle's money
as we'll as his name.
Perhaps some such thoughts crossed
the young heirs mind even now as he
drew near Lynnewolde. Philip knew
we'll what the want of money was.
When his father died, he heard his
mother say in the midst of her grief
that anxiety had shortened his life;
money, want of means sufficient for
keeping up the position he thought
himself entitled to. His life had been
struggle, and when his son gazed
upon his dead face and heard his
mothers words, it was no wonder that
a strong conviction of the need anu
value of money crept into his heart
but to remember the errand he was
upon, the dying man who wished to
see him, and the two fair young
daughters who would be left or
phans if the worst happened, and his
uncle died. He remembered the last
time he was at Lynnewolde,
Lynne was well and healthy then and
hoI FOL 70 Ii
of nothing else but her sister Inez,
that half-Spanish sister who had
never seen her English home. She
was expected there daily, and Philip
felt some curiosity as to what she
would be like. If she were only one
half as beautiful as her mother, he
knew she would create a sensation,
even in a country where beautiful
faces are not rare. He had never
seen her, this strange cousin, this
lnez Lynne who had telegraphed for
him.
Then his thoughts flew back to
Florence Wyyerne, whom twice that
morning he had been on the point of
asking to be his wife.
Bathurst was reached at last, and
there Philip found the carriage wait
ing to take him to Lynnewolde.
How is Lord Lynne?" he asked of
the footman, who helped to find his
luggage, and seemed anxious to hurry
him away as soon as possible.
HE was no better when l left, sir
said the man. Miss Lynne begged you
would make all possible speed, for my
lord has been asking for you all day."
why did they not send for me
sooner?" he inquired.
My Lord was rs well as you, sir,
on Tuesday morning" replied the
servant. He was taken i'll on Tues
day night with kind of fit, and he
has never spoken since, except to ask
for you; and then Miss Lynne tele-
graphed at once. 1t is Thursday to-
day; he has not been i'll three days"
And he is in danger?" asked Philip.
When I left home, sir" said the
man, Miss Lynne told me to return
as quickly as I could, for it was life
or DEATH
1t was not a very long drive from
Bathurst to Lynnewolde. The coach
man did not spare his horses, and in
less time than he thought it possible,
Philip saw the dark masses of wood
that surround the house.
Lynnewolde has undergone so many
alterations and improvements that no
trace of the old house exists. 1t is |
now a stately, magnificent mansion,
with turrets and gable ends, and oriel |
windows, with park and pleasuance,
garden, lawn, and lake. The stately |
trees that surround it are noted for |
their age and beauty; that grand old
cedar in the midst of the lawn is said |!
to be the finest in England, and Lord |
Lynne was prouder of it than of all |
Lynnewolde.
The carriage drove slowly up the
long avenue of chestnue trees. The |
hall door was flung wide open when |
Philip alighted, and the old butler, to-
gether with some of the other ser
wants, stood ready to receive him.
How is he?" cried Philip, eagerly |
How is Lord I-ynne?"
He is dead, my lord" was the |
grave reply. HE died half an hour |
ago."
While he lived, Philip could never |
describe the sensation, the impression |
those few words made upon him. He |
had known for many years that at |
some future time he should be Lord |
Lynne, but it had always seemed to |
him a remote contingency; he had not |
b,1iIf 1lnon IL No had never atfompfod |