Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-01-19
HER ONLY SIN
y BY
BERTHA M. CLAY.
BERTHA M. CLAY.

, inheritance, all would have been well;
but that was impossible In the Bran
don family, when there was no male
heir, the eldest daughter succeeded to
the barony, to the title and estates;
and there had been several harnesses
Therefore, the Inheritance must go TO
his eldest daughter. That was Yer
onica
What would those proud Valdoraines
the proudest people in England-say
to him when they heard that Kathe-
rine was not his heiress after all?
Katherine Brandon's name was known
all over England Sir Jasper was at
loss. His sense of justice and his
love of right, his love and his pride
his honesty and his sensitive reserve.
We're all at war. There was but one
CLEAN of comfort. The marriage be-
tween Lord Wynleigh and Katherine
would not take place yet, Some I'M
| foreseen combination of circumstances
might take place before then.
!
| Veronica" said Katherine, come to
my room when you go to dress for
| dinner | want to tell you some
| thing"
| And when Veronica went in, she
startled at the beautiful vision. kathe-
rine stood before her in low din
ner-dress of white silk, trimmed with
with glowing crimson hollyberries, her
/ xrybf Gh cylo mir
| like pearl, diamond cross on her
white breast, and diamond stars in her
| golden hair. She looked like a dream
of beauty. Veronica kissed the pretty
4 shoulders and the white arms.
How beautiful you are, my dar-
lingl" she said, You look like spirit
of Christmas. Now I see how beauti
| full Englishwomen can be"
Il am always beautiful in your
eyes, Veronica" she replied.
They were standing side by side,
Katherine all bright and radiant Yer
onica in her pale, passionate beauty,
in long trailing black dress, The
contrast between them was startling.
Il have something to tell you Yer
/ onica," she said. Never mind admir-
| ing my dress-never mind my dia-
monds; look at my face"
Il am looking at it, darling" re-
turned Veronica.
Does it tell you anything" asked
| Katherine, with low, sweet laughter
| of perfect content.
only that it is the dearest face in
the world" replied Veronica, kissing
| the laughing lips.
/ Veronica" said Katherine, whom
at this moment should you consider
the very happiest girl in all the
world?"
The very happiest Of all? Oh! how
could tell?"
II will tell you. II is myself, Kathe-
! rine Brandon And can you guess why
! am so happy? 1t is because-O Yer
onica, how can ! tell you? it is be-
/ cause some one whom I love very
much loves meme, you understand
Neronica-not my fortune. not Queen s
/ Chace, but me-loves me-and has
asked me to be his wife"
His wife" repeated Veronica, soft
! ly. Katherine. the laughter-lovnG
beauty, was suddenly invested with an
/ Importance in her eyes which was
marvellous How wonderful! how
! ST. ange!"
Nay, it is not strange Veronica ]
/ love him-he loves me. Can You guess
who it is?"
Slowly ,ue dark eyes wandered over
the bright face; and then sad Yer
onica answered
1T must be Lord Wynleigh
Yes said Katherine, simply, 1T
is Lord WynIeigh; and ! am not one
of the happiest, INT the happiest girl
girl in all the world Nevertheless,
/ tell myself that such great joy as mine
/ cannot last that a time will come
when | suffer and weep and grieye as
other people do VIII it be 500" She
looked wistfuIly at Veronica as she
spoke Il have read she said "ol
ships safe enough to sail in when the
sea is calm, but sure TO sink when the
storm comes on. think should be
like one Of those ships should go
down in the first storm.
We will hope then, that a storm
viii never come, put IN Veronica If
/ Il depended on me, there never
should" she added "Sull, there is one
thing that / can safely promise You
one thing that ! will do If ever il
I lies in my power to save you from sor-
/ yoyU T will IN ~. ~ aver IL Hos IN m 3,
I power to give you happiness. ! will
give il to you.
And the time came when the mem
I DRY Of those words weighed down the
/ balance In which she held both lives.
CHAPTER V.
/ AS Veronica descended the broad
staircase, she looked in astonishment
at the brilliant scene that met her