Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-12-25
CHAPTER LIX.
Useless Pleadings.

"You cannot possibly know what
you are saying" said Lady Lanswell;
''you must be mad"
''No; I am perfectly sane. If I am
mad at all it is with delight that the
very desire of my heart has been given
to me. Do you forget when you
trampled my heart, my life, my love
under your feet that day? Do you for
get what [ have swOrn?"
81 have never thought of it since"
said the countess, trying to conciliate
still
"Then I will remind you," said
Leone II swore to be avenged, no
matter what my vengeance cost. I
swote that you should come and plead
to me on your knees and would laugh
at you. I do so. I swore that you
should plead to me, and I would remind
you how [ pleaded in vain. You
wrung my heart-I will wiring yours,
and my only regret is that it is so hard
and cold I cannot make you suffer
more"
"You are mad" said my lady; "quite
mad"
''No," said Leone, ''I am sane, but
mine was mad love-"
"You cannot know the consequence
to yourself if you persist in this con-
duct" said my lady serenely.
did you think of them for me when
you set aside my marriage with your
son, because you did not think me
good enough to be countess?" she
asked. Lady Lanswell, the hour of
vengeance has come and I embrace it.
Your son shall lose his wife, his home
his position, his honors. I care not
what she cried, with sudden reck-
lessness-''I care not what the world
says of me; I will do that which I shall
do, less because I love your son than
because I desire to punish you
Lady Lanswell grew very pale as she
listened.
yours is a terrible revenge" she
said gently. II wish that you could in
vent some vengeanc~ that would fall
on my head-and on mine alone, SO as
to spare those who are dear to me.
Could you not do that? I would will
ingly suffer anything to free my son
and his fair, loving wife"
ono one spared me, nor will in my
turn spare" she said. "You shall know
what it means to plead for life and
plead in vain"
Can I say nothing that will induce
you to listen?" said the countess. will
you deliberately persist in the conduct
| that will ruin three lives?"
Eyes, deliberately and willfully,"
said Leone. 81 will never retract, never
go back, but go on to the bitter end"
And that end means my sons dis
grace" said Lady Lanswell.
"It would be the same thing if it
meant his DEATH" said Leone. "No
one withheld the hand that struck
death to me-worse than DEATH"
''You have nothing but this to say to
me-" said Lady Lanswell as she rose
with stately grace from her seat.
''No; if I knew anything which
would punish you more, which would
more surely pay my debts, which
would more fully wreak my vengeance,
[ would do it. AS for three lives, as
for thirty, I would trample them under
my feet. will live for my vengeance,
no matter what it costs me; and, Lady
Lanswell, you ruined my life. Good
bye. The best wish I can form is that
| may never look on your face again.
Permit me to say farewell"
She went out of the room leaving the
countess bewildered with surprise and
dismay.
what she says she will do thought
Lady Lanswell. 81 may say goodbye to
every hope I have ever formed for my
son."
She left, her heart heavy as lead
with no hope of any kind to cheer it.
Leone went to her room, her whole
frame trembling with the strong pas
sion that had mastered her
What has come over me?" she said.
Il no longer know myself. Is it love,
vengeance, or jealousy that has hold of
me? What evil spirit has taken my
heart? Would I really hurt him vhom
I have loved all my Iife-would I do
him harm? Would I crush that fair
wife of his who wronged me without
knowing it? Let me find out for my
self if it be true"
She tried to think, but her head was
in a whirl-she could not control her
self, she could not control her thoughts.
The sight of Lady Lanswell seemed to
have set her heart and soul in flame
al the terri h1n memory of her wrongs
came over her, the fair life blighted
and ruined, the innocent girlhood and
dawning womanhood all spoiled. 1t
was too cruel-no, she could never for
give it.
And then it seemed to her that her
brain took fire and she went mad.
She saw Lord Chandos that same