Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-06-08

with wonder this devoted and most
questionable attachment Of the
young wife to her husband.
Il never was made for fashionable
life" said Agatha, one morning, with
a dreary sigh.
It had struck twelve, and the two
sisters still fingered with Lord Lynne
over the breakfast table.
Serious reflections generally come
IN the morning" said Lord Lynne with
smile. What is the matter,
Agatha?"
I'VE have three more balls this
week, she replied, "and l am quite
tired of glitter, and music, and heat"
you need not stay long at any OF
Them" said her cousin.
II should never be brave enough to
ask Inez to leave early" she replied.
What would all her admirers do?
am longing for Lynnewolde again.
| feel thankful that it was not my fate
to be Lady of fashion"
Yet Agatha had been warmly adj
mired. though not SO much as her
beautiful sister; but she had received
sufficient homage and admiration to
have made any young lady pleased
| with the London season. She liked
TO see Inez so popular. No shade or
thought of envy ever crossed her
| mind. When she saw Lady Lynne
conversing with the most eminent and
] 10 oh "a c n
herself. over and over again, how
much better 1t was that Philip had
chosen her sister instead OF herself.
She never could nave added lustre to
his home and title as Inez did.
Every day brought fresh triumphs to
Lady Lynne. Philip wondered at
times that her head was not fairly
turned by the homage and adulatlon
offered to her.
No English peeress was ever so
exclusive as the Duchess of Ruthwell.
Young, beautiful, and accomplished,
charitable and generous even to
fault, she was one of the leading
members of the English aristocracy.
70 belong to her set was the highest
of all honors Wealth could not OBJ
tain admission to it, nor rank, I'M
supported by intellect. To be on her
visiting list was an honor upon which
people pride themselves. She was
| not proud; no one ever called her
naughty; but she was exclusive. When
| il was known that her Grace OF
| Ruthwell was about TO give the grand
est ball Of the season, the whole
| fashionable world was aroused Those
who we're sure of receiving invitations
watched. with amusement, the IN
! trlgues of others who were MOI SO
happy.
Lady Eversleigh was the first who
mentioned the coming fete TO Lady
Lynne. She knew that for herself
an invitation was certain; she had
| known the duchess many years. she
waited anxously to see If her two
cousins would receive the same. She
had heard the duchess speak in very
! high terms of Lady Lynne; but this
bali was. after all, the tombstone.
Let me know directly If you receive
| a card said Lady Eyersleigh to Inez.
Il am very anxious over it. Let me
know at once
1T cannot be" she said to herself,
that, in the midst of my triumph,
should be sighted" and she smiled
as she saw her face In the large
French mirror that adorned her dress
ng-room. Still. that day came to an
end, and brought no invitation for
the Duchess of Ruthwell's grand ball.
CHAPTER XIV
what large envelopes said
Agatha, as she entered Lady Lynne's
boudoir, where breakfast awaited the
sisters.
DO not make fun of them Agatha,
said Philip: chose very envelopes
you are now crlticising contain tails
mans that some beautiful and fashion
able ladies are dying for
u never can quite understand you
Philip" demonstrated mis- cousin.
What do you mean? What are the
letters about?"
II am right in my conjectures,
he replied, these envelopes contain
no letter, but merely an invitation to
Her Grace of Ruthwells grand ball
the most exclusive of the season.
rs It really 500" cried Inez. How
pleased Lady Everslegh viii be- |
must send her word al once
did she fear you would not re-
ceiye an inyitation?' asked Philip.
no, not quite that replied his
wife. "bu; she was very anxious about
IT,"
II Inez could have foreseen the con-
sequences Of that ball, the cards she
held in her jewelled fingers would
have been torn into shreis thous-
and times afterwards she regretted
that she went yet her fate would In
any case have been the same.
Another hour brought Lady Ever
sleigh. excited and happy, to hold a
grand consultation about dress, No
thing was costly or magnificent
-