Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-01-12
HER ONLY SIN
i BY =
BERTHA vi. CLAY
Continued.

KNOW iilt Itdhbu my hb' ''
to say nothing of the home you have
left. People arc sure to ask ques-
tlons. DO not answer them; eyade
them.
Veronica looking up at him with the
simple faith of child, replied
Il will will do whatever you tell
me"
And he knew from that moment
that any secret, anything when
touched his interests was as safe in
her hands as his own He never for
got the expression of utter astonish-
ment on Lady Brandon's face az the
young girl came forward with her
graceful, self-possessed manner to
speak to her.
II really thought she said after
ward, to her husband that an old
Venetian figure had descended from
its frame. What face she has,
Jasper! 1t is essentially Venetian
not Florentine know the Florentine
type so well-nor Roman, but purely
Venetian. Her mother must have
been a beautiful woman"
He WINGED ut the words, but made
no reply. Lady Brandon smiled as
she continued;
"She Is a great contrast to Kathe-
rine. | am not sure that it Is wise 10
bring a rival beauty into the house.
Sir Jasper looked up lmpatiently
that womans tattle annoyed him.
she will never harm Katherine, -
he said, somewhat sternly. do not
nut ideas Of that kind into Kate's
head. ] want her to like the young
stranger. Sec-that Is pretty
picture"
Husband and wife were standing by
the fireplace In the yellow drawing
room as one of the prettiest apart
ments at Queens ChaCe was called.
The two girls were at the other end,
Katherine seated on low chair, her
golden head thrown back, and Yer
onica kneeliug on the ground by her
side. The two faces were each lovely,
yet different entirely. Veronica was
gazing at the English girl with some
thing like rapture in her face. kathe-
rine was new revelation Of beauty
TO her
Tell me something about your
home" said Katherine. THE one
dream OF my life Is to go to Italy, but
papa viii never hear of It,"
Veronica gave one hasty glance
across the room TO the dark, hand
some face of the man who had SO great
an influence over her Remember
lns her promise. she answered.
ASK me about anything you Will,
she replied, except about home. ! can
not speak Of It.
Katherine looked at the flushed
face, and thinking that the subject
was one too sad for her. she stopped
down and kissed her
II will not ask YOU about home or
anything else that grievcs YOU Yer
onica." she said 1T must be very sad;
you have lost everything. every one.
Hut you will De happy with Ms after
n time, You shall hc my sister
have always longed for one and you
will love papa: every one loves him
that knows him"
II was strange but typical that she
did not speak Of Lady Brandon she
said nothing about loving her
Kiss me, Veronica" she said mot
coldly. but as If you We're really my
own sister shall love you as
though you We're"
The dark eyes filled slowly with
tears
You will love meo' she said 1T
seems impossible. It is too good II
cannot be true You viii really love
me2"
why should J not9" asked Kathe-
rne wondering nc tho girls emo.
ton
why should YOU rothor2" she re.
piled "Yoh are SO different from me
You seem TO mo like a fairy princess
You live iu the midst of beauty and
muguidrruCc, every one loves yuu.
even the servants who wait upon you
seem almost Co Worship YOU You have
the sunshine ever ON your head Look
az these bright threads 90 gold Nou
seem to mo moro lovely than "a poets
dream
Katherine laughed nattcr> was al.
ways pleasan, 90 her She experienced
girls natural delight in being called
lovely Then she passed her white
fingers over the bowed head
Has mo- one ever told YOU that you
were beautiful"
NO. ] have never heard amy one
speak OF mr- iu TINT way rynligd