Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-02-09

Cyntha's affairs, and should continue
TO act as her guardian.
She mad Loyalty kept her word, anC
settled one thousand year upon Yer.
onica. she showed her gratitude :,
ner in hundred other ways; she was
most kind to her; but the one Sublec
vas never mentioned between then
again.
Sir Jasper's fair-haired daughter had
become Baroness of Hurstwood; she
was called Lady Katherine at home
and the bright days passed with
naught save pleasant hours.
One beautiful August evening, when
! the red glow of the western sunset
! tlled the sky, Veronica stood under
! the shade Of the tall lime-trees, watch
! ing the evening light. a happiness had
| come 10 her, SO great, so sudden, So
/ enhancing, that she was dazed by ii,
/ bewildered. For Sir Marc CaryIl hau
asked her to become his wife. She
did not know till then all that slept
IN her heart-the love, the passion.
the tenderness-and the waking had
startled her. She was. lost in wonder
at herself. The crown and the glory
of her womanhood had come to her.
She rejOiced in the new and perfect
happiness; she opened her whole heart
60 it, 1t was such chiYaIrOus wooing,
and he loved her so dearly. No one
could ever have been SO dearly loved
before. She stood there thinking of
It, with a smile of perfect content on
her face; and as she did SO, Sir Marc
came to her.
i have been watching you, Yer
onica," he said, until I have grown
jealous Of the sky and the foliage, and
everything else that your beautiful
eyes have rested on. What have you
been thinking OFF,
of nothing in the wide world but
YOU she replied.
of me, sweetheart" he exclaimed.
jOyfully; and then he told her what
he had come to ask-when she would
be his wife.
You are too kind ever to be cruel.
darling" he said, looking at the
beautiful flushed face. 4 told you
long ago how lonely my home is. l
want the angel in the house =
want you there. You cannot tell how
dreary it all seems to me. Veronica.
when viii You come to me?"
Not yet" she replied, shyIy; lit
cannot be yet"
why n0t?" he ascd.
You have only just found out that
YOU love me-
Nay, Veronica" he said, smiling;
I found that out long since. I was
coming last July to tell you so, but
poor Sir Jasper had just died.
She turned her face away lest he
should see the culver of pain on it.
Sir Marc" she said, gently, you
have never asked me any questions
about ny family or my home in Ven
ice, or my fortune"
Lady Brandon has explained" he
replied. Your father was a great
friend Of Sir Jasper's, she tells me-"
Veronica made no reply. She could
not tell him the truth, but she would
speak no false word to him-noyer
one. He continued:
Il care nothing about your fortune
sweetheart, ] am a rich man-sO rich
that I am troubled at times to know
how to spend my money. [ lay it at
your feet. You are mistress of every
thing that belongs to me: When viii
you come to me, my Veronica? You
have nothing to wait for. Do not be
unkind and send me away"
She made no answer. In her heart
she wished to be with him. but the
very consciousness Of it prevented her
from speaking.
This is July" he said: shall we
say September, Veronica"
. She agreed; and Sir Marc was so de-
termined to keep her to her word that
he went at once in search Of Ladv
Brandon and told her He brought
her back with him to where Veronica
still stood under the lines.
Il leave my interests in your
hands Lady Brandon" he said. q
shall return, with your permission, to
marry Veronica on the twentieth Of
September You viii promise that
she shall be ready?"
Lady Brandon promised.
Z do not think that l can live away
from her altogether until then, Lady
Brandon. VIII you invite me to come
down in Augusta"
Come whenever you will, Sir Mare,
said Lady Brandon.
He pressed the hand of his love
"I have bound you, sweetheart" he
said: you can never free yourself
again"
To be Continued.