Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-02
CHAPTER XII.

Queens Chace was unusually gay.
Outside in the deep woods the snow
lay thick and white, the evergreens
stood out like huge sentinels, the
dainty laurel-leaves held little nests
of snow, the fir raised it's head with a
stately air, for King Christmas never
came in without it.
| Lord Alton had arrived, and was so
engrossed with his fair young love that
Lady Brandon had ceased to expect
anything from him. He had been, like
every one else, alarmed when he saw
Veronica. Her pale, shadowy lowell
ness had startled him, and many Of
the whispered words between Kathe-
rine and himself were about her.
| On that Christmas night she looked
more fragile and more beautiful than
ever. She was sitting watching
Katherine's bright fact, flushed into
greater brightness by her lovers
words, when one of the footmen, COM
ing to her, said in a mysterious under
tone:
you are wanted, Miss Di Cynthia"
Wanted" she repeated. Where?
Who wants me?"
Il cannot say, miss-some one who
has a message for you; some one who
is waiting for you in the library"
Veronica had some poor pensioners
to whom, on this Christmas day, she
had been most liberal; it was one of
these come to thank her, no doubt.
She was surprised to find the room
badly lighted. There was a rudy
glow of freight, and one lamp was
burning dimly; but it was large:
long room, and the other half Of it
was full of soft, dark shadows.
She entered and stood for some
minutes in silent expectation; there
was no sound, no movement, and she
never glanced to where the soft, dark
shadows lay. The red freight fell
full upon her fragile beauty, on the
slender figure and the white wasted
arms; on the beautiful, passionate,
| restless face, and the rubies that
cleaned on her white throat. Presently
from where the dark, soft shadows
lay came a sigh. She looked up
who is that?" she demanded rs
any one here-any one who wants to
| see me?"
Then she stopped abruptly and stood
rooted to the ground, a low cry on her
lips and a pain as bitter as death in
her heart. Surely a figure she knew
was coming to her from out the soft,
dark shadows! She held up her hands
as though to ward off an evil presence,
and then they fell by her side as she
uttered low, passionate cry.
1t was he-she had made no mis-
take-it was Marc CaryII, the man she
loved better than her life, the man
whose stern decision was killing her.
They stood in the red glow of the fire
light, looking at each other; but she
saw there was no sternness in his face
now-nothing but passionate love,
passionate pity, and binding tears.
My darling, my beautiful sweet
! heart, have 1 been the cause of this?'
he said, touching the wasted arms
Have I been the cause of this, Yer
, onica?"
: L thought I was never to see yor
again, she said, family. Are yoU
sorry that you were quite so hard
Have you come to tell me SOP
Z have come to tell you that I wa:
a madman-a blind madmap!" h
: Led. Il hate myself so utterly for m!
folly, Veronica! My darling-my noble
generous darling, 1 know why vol
y burned the will"
You cannot know why I destroyed
4 it," she said. Even the wicked woman
who saw me burn it did not know tn
+ reason"
I ''She did not, but 1 do. Are you sur
J. prised? Veronica, see what this ha
, told me-
He came nearer to her, and, taking
d paper from his pocket, unfolded it
It and then she saw the charred frag
d ments of the will.
e Look at this side first" he sale
If Here are the words, Last will an
1t testament of Sir Jasper Brandon TIL
II woman read those"
She looked at them with curiosit.