Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-08-14
CHAPTER XXI.
A Man of Wax.

IA
Tt is not pleasant to tell how the
foundations of a noble building are
Slapped; to tell how the grand, strong
trunk of a noble tree is hacked and
hewn until it falls; how the constant
riNp1;no of the water wears away a
stone; how the association with baser
mind takes away the bloom from the
pure ones; how the constant friction
with the world takes the dainty inno-
cence of youth away. lit is never
pleasant to tell of untruth, or infidel-
ity, or sin. 1t is not pleasant to write
here little by little, inch by inch, how
Lord Chandos was persuaded, in
f1uenced, and overcome.
The sorry of mans peridy is always
contemplate. Yet the strongest
of men, Samson, fell through
the establishments OF woman. Lord
Chandos was neither as strong as Sam
son nor as wise as Solomon; and that
a clever woman should get the upper
hand of him was not to be wondered
It,
He was brave, gallant, generous
gentleman, gay and genial; he could
not endure feeling unhappy, nor could
he bear the thought of any other per-
sons unhappiness; he had no tragedy
about him; he was kind of heart and
simple of mind; he was clever and
gifted, but he was like wax in the
hands of 8. clever woman like Lady
LanSWel1.
He was singularly unsuspicious, be-
lieved i'll most things and most per-
sons; he never misjudged or gave any
one credit for bad qualities. He had
no more intention of deserving Leone
when he left England than he had of
Selling the crown of Turkey. His
honest. honorable intention was to re-
turn to her and marry her on the first
hour that such marriage could be
legal. He would have laughed to scorn
any one who would have limited at
such a thing. His love then was his
life, and he had nothing beside it.
Gradually, slowly but surely, other
interests occupied him. A great writer
SAYS: Glove is the Life of a woman,
but only an episode in the life of a
man" That was the difference
was Leone's life; to him it had been
an episode-and now that episode was
somewhat passed, other interests
opened to him. He meant to be faith
full to her and to marry her; nothing
should ever shake that determinations
but he ceased to think it need be SO
hurriedly done; be need not certainly
forego the pleasure of the tour and
hurry home for his birthday; that was
0uixOtic nonsense; any time that year
would do. After his marriage he
should lose his mother and Lady
Marion; he would enjoy their company
as long as he could; Leone was right,
she had a luxurious home, the assur-
ance of his love and fidelity, the GER
tainty of being his wife-a few weeks
or months would make but little diff
| ference to her. He did not think he
had done any great harm in going tC
! Spain. One might call it a Broken
promise: but then most promises are
made with proviso that they shall 0e
kept if possible; and this was not pos
sible; he would have been very fool
ish-so he said to himself-if he ha6
made matters worse 10y refusing to &C
with his mother to Spain. Tt would
have increased her irritation and an
noyance all to no purpose.
He had tried to convince himself thar
it was right; and he ended by believing
it.
He felt rather anxious as to wha
Leone would say-and the tone of he,
letter rather surprised him. She hat
thought. long Before she answered him
reproaches were of no avail-they
never are with men; if he had no
cared to keep his promise no sharpl!