Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-01-05


have forgotten her He reproached
himself for it with bitter reproaches.
How could he have been unkind to
Giulia's child? Il have been dull all
my life she had said, and the words
smote him with pain. He longed to
say to her, L am your father, Yer
onica, but my love for your mother is
shut up in my heart. 1t is my most
cherished secret; it is so sacred TO me
that | cannot talk OF it; | cannot tell
others of it; it is the very core of my
heart He was sorely tempted; but
Not yet, he said to himself not
yet" He turned to her suddenly.
Tell me about your life, Veronica, .
he said. What made it SO dull? How
have you spent it,"
Il have lived always with my aunt
Assunta," she replied, "and my aunt
was woman whose heart must have
been broken when she was very young,
| think. She never laughed, she never
even smiled, but she hated the Eng
lish. They are as perfidious,' she said,
as Judas. The sun never shines on
England: it is always dark with
Heavens frown.' She would not let
me have any friends. We used to
sit for days and months and years
in that dark old palace, watching the
water, watching the sky, seldom speak
ing word. She gave me histories to
read, and after many prayers she al
lowed me to have masters for painting
nothing else; and for many years l
have passed my life in reading dull
histories and painting"
Poor child he said; sit was not 4
very bright life, was it?"
''No. / have often asked her to tell
me where my mother and father lie
buried; but my aunt would never in
form me. I have never seen my
mothers grave
Sir Jasper's face grew white with
emotion. He said to himself, TT is
Giulias child who has led this sad
life-who has never known one bright
hour" He dared not look at her lest
she should wonder at the pain on his
face.
How old are you, Veronica" he
asked.
Il am twenty, as men count years, -
she said. TT seems to me that | have
lived century in that dark old palace.
1t was full of spirits who walled all
night through the long passages. When
my aunt was angry with me, she said
that I was a child, an ignorant child
[ think myself I am very old-more
like woman whose years were run
than child"
you will not feel SO when you have
lived little longer" he said, gently
Veronica, look around you. This is an
English winter Do you see how white
the ground is-how great icicles hang
like huge diamonds from the trees and
hedges? When the sun shines on the
snow and sparkles on the ice, | do
think there is not a grander sight in
the world"
Il wonder" said Veronica, musing-
ly, why my aunt disliked England so
much; do you know?''
He tried to answer her indifferently.
1T would require very learned
philosopher to understand lady's
likes and dislikes," he said. ''Ver-
onica, you say that you have had a
very sad life; let me advise you to try
to forget it-forget the gloomy aunt
who seems to have been so mistaken.
Just as a flower opens it's heart to the
sun, open yours to the sunshine OF
happiness. Will you try?"
81 will try" she answered. Il will do
anything you tell me-
Then he pointed out to her the
beauties of the park through which
they were driving, and then, in the
distance, the towers of Queens Chace.
How beautiful" she cried. And
see, the sun shines on it.; it looks as
though Heaven were blessing it." 3.
He wondered what she would say if
she knew that this superb house
ought one day by right to be hers.
Tell me-" she cried, what do you
call this beautiful place? Teach me to
say it; teach me to say your name.
What shall I call your"
And he taught Giulia's child to call
him Sir Jasper, while longing with all
his heart to hear the word father
from her lips.
Some day." he said to himself, 81
will tell her all about it, and she will
know Then 7 will ask her to call
me father and 1 shall hear all earth's
music in the word
Sir Jasper said one thing to Yer
onica on entering the house. He
turned to her with an expression OF
pain on his face
To be Continued.