Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-06-22
Continued.


society of Madame Monteleone ant
her daughter. From the mother ht
learned the ancient glories of the
family;-how they once had beer
second to none save their roya
masters; and the young English lorG
found with surprise that the plainly
dressed lady, who lived in what he
considered gloomy old ruin, belonged
to one of the noblest families of Spain
He saw they were very poor; there
was no attempt at any disguise; but no
queen ever wore state and splendor
with more dignity than did Madame
Monteleone her obscur1ty and poverty.
From the daughter he learned an
other lesson; the lovely face, the
dark, almond eyes, haunted him; and
he loved her with a wild devotion rare
in an Englishman. 1t was the old,
old story. What else could happen,
given an old castle, a wounded knight,
and beautiful girl? Blanca forgot
her high vocation, and fell as deeply
in love with the English lord as he had
done with her. A few meetings among
the myrtle and Orange-trees, and then
Stephen Lord Lynne asked Blanca
Monteleone to be his wife. He had
no fear, as he gazed in her beautiful,
loving face. He was rich and noble,
there was no fear of refusal for him;
but for many years Lord Lynne never
forgot the look of distress, almost
horror, upon Madame Monteleone's
face, when he asked for her daugh-
ter's hand.
MY daughter!" she cried. How
blind, how foolish I have been! l
never dreamed that you loved her!
You must go away, and forget her.
She can never be your wife!"
why not?" asked Lord Lynne,
calmly. What objection have you to
me?''
"None," replied Madame Montel-
cone, cas- regards yourself; but my
daughter must marry a Spanish noble.
| would not give her to the wealthiest
duke il England. Her destiny has
long 0een settled"
But she loves me, madame" again
urged Lord Lynne.
'Impossible!" cried the lady. my
daughter knows her destiny, and will
fulfill it. She must not see you
again"
The stern, ambitious mother adj
hered to her words, and Blanca was
kept a prisoner in her own rooms I'M
til the departure of Lord Lynne
Mother and daughter said but little on
the subject. The mother appealed to
her child's love, and sense of right
respecting all her high hopes and am
bilious views. Blanca listened, and
submitted in silence.
Lord Lynne left Serranto and re-
turned to Seville, determined at any
cost to win the beautiful girl who
loved him so well. Once more alone,
Madame MOnteleone began to prepare
for her journey to Madrid. But an
other obstacle arose. Blanca, who
made no opposition to her mothers
wishes. who had submitted silently to
the loss of her lover, fell i'll, and faded
visibly day by day. In vain did
Madame summon physicians, and pay
heavily for their advice. They all
said the same thing; her daughters
disease was more mental than physi-
cal: and the distracted mother began
TO understand that her daughter was
slowly but surely dying, her heart
breaking for the loss of the fair
haired Englishman, who had brought
such golden radiance into her gloomy
life.
Lord Lynne persisted in calling
every day. During Bianca's illness he
was seldom allowed to exchange a
word with Madame Monteleone; but
one eventful day, instead Of being dis
missed with a few curt words, he was
invited into Madames boudoir There
she told him frankly that her daugh-
ter's marriage with him would be the
bitterest grief of her life, the downfall
of her hopes, the last step, completing
the final ruin of her race. Still.
Bianca's life must not be sacrificed.
and she withdrew her opposition.
Not another word did the stern lady
utter. even whe.- Blanca knelt at her
feet to thank her She would not
assist in an. preparations for the
marriage, and the last or the Monte
leOnes was led to the altar by her
English lover in plain morning dress,
and without any ornament. Her
mother never blessed her,-never gave
her consent to the marriage She said
but those few words: 81 withdraw my
opposition" So Stephen Lord
Lynne married Blanca Monteleone,
and Immediately the ceremony was
ended he took her to Italy.
For one year Lord and Lady Lynne
were perfectly happy. Blanca sighed
when she remembered her mother in
the gloomy castle Of Serranto. She
may be forgiven if her mind did not
always dwell on that sad and cheer
less picture. For the first time in her
life she was happy; she was out in
the fair, bright world, mixing freely
with her fellow-creatures admired,
loved. and praised by all. Her hus-
band adored her; never was love SO
passionate or so devoted as that OF
Lord Lynne for his beautiful bride
Her lovely face and sweet, graceful
manners, her childlike simplicity. won
all hearts. In Rome, in Florence
and in sunny Naples, she who had
never in her whole life heard one com.
pliment, now found homage and fiat.
terry everywhere. It was impossible
to be young. and not enjoy the new
and golden life opened to her. Fol
the frs time she wore magnificent
Jewels and cosby dresses, that en-
HANGED her beauty and made he
doubly fair She liked the grande,l