Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-08-28

to think yourself fortunate that worse
has not happened.
Lucia, Countess of LansWel.'
There" said my lady, as she folded
up the letter, ''to most people that
would be quietus. If she has half as
much spirit as l give her credit for,
that little touch about the vulgar in
trusion will prevent her from writing
to him. 1 think this will effectually
put an end to all further proceedings.
She sealed the letter and sent it, at
the same time sending one to her SOL
icitor, Mr.. Sewell, telling him of the
happy event pending, and begging of
him to arrange with the girl at once.
eff one thousand a year does not
satisfy her offer ner two; offer her any
thing, so that we are completely rid Of
her. From motives Of prudence it
| would be better for her to leave that
place at once; advise her to- go abroad,
or emigrate, or anything, so that she
may not annoy us again, and do not
write to me about her; do not wish to
be annoyed Settle the business your
self, and remember that | have no wish
to know anything about it,
That letter was sent with the other,
and my lady sunk back with an air of
great relief.
THANK Heaven!" she said to her
self, s'that is over. All, me! what
mothers have to suffer with their sons,
and yet few have been so docile as
mine"
A few days afterward the countess
sought her son. She had no grounds
for what she said, but she imagined
herself speaking the truth.
Lance she said, 81 have good news
for you. That tiresome little affair
of yours is settled, and there will be no
need for us to ever mention the subject
again. The girl has consented to take
the thousand a year, and she-she IS
happy and content"
Happy and content, mother?" he
said. care you quite sure of that?"
''Sure as I am that you, Lance, are
one of the most fortunate men in this
world Now take my advice, and let us
have no more mention of the matter.
I am tired of it, and [ am sure that you
must be the same. Try from this time
to be happy with Lady Marion, and for
get the past"
Did he forget it? No one ever knew.
He never had the same light in his
eyes, the same frank, free look on his
face, the same T4ng in his laugh; from
that day he was a changed man. Did
he think of the fair young girl, whose
passionate heart and soul he had woke
into such keen life? Did he think of
the mill-stream and the ripple of the
water, and the lines so full of forebod-
ing:
'sThe VOWS are all forgotten,
The ring asunder broke"
All, how true Leone's presentiment
had been! The vow was forgotten, the
ring broken, the pretty love-story all
ended. He never dared to ask any
questions from his mother about her;
he turned coward whenever the Eng
lish letters were delivered; he never
dared to think about her, to wonder
how she had taken this letter, what she
had thought, said, or done. He was
not happy. Proud, ambitious, mer-
cenary, naughty as was the Countess Of
Lanswel1, there were times when she
felt grieved for her son. It was such
a young face, but there was 4 line o"
y Pos chad
ow in the sunny eyes; the music had
gone out from his voice.
Marion will soon make it all right, =
said the proud, anxious, unhappy
mother; "there will be nothing to fear
when once they are married"
Lady Marion was the most gentle
and least exacting of all human beings,
but even she fancied Lord Chandos was
but poor wooer. He was always
polite deferential, attentive, and kind;
yet he seldom spoke of love. After that
evening in the ALEXANDRIA he never
kissed her; he never sought any tete
a-tete with her She had had many
lovers, as was only natural for
beauty and great heiress. None of
them had been so cool, so 'sself-con-
tanned as Lord Chandos.
Lady Lanswell managed we'll; she
ought to have been empress of some
great nation; her powers of admins
tration we're so great. She persuaded
them to have the wedding in the month
of September, and to travel until that
came.
cit will be a change from the COM
mon CUSTOM" she said; "most people
are married in England, and go to the
Continent for their honeymoon; you
will be married on the Continent, and
go to England for the honeymoon.
1t was some little disappointment to
Lady Marion; like all girls she had
thought a great deal of her marriage
She had always fancied it in the grand
old church at Erskine, where the noble
as though they woke from long
trance of delight
That evening crowned her Queen Of