Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-10-30

sisting Lady Marion when she chose
to- make herself irresistible. There
was something childlike and graceful
in the way in which she looked UP to
Madame Vanira, with absolute wor-
ship of her genius, her voice, and her
beauty. She laid her white hand on
Leone's.
'You will think me very gushing
young lady, I fear, Madame Vanira, if
I say how fervently hope we shall al
ways be friends; not in the common
meaning of the words, but real, true,
warm friends until we die. Have you
ever made such a compact of friend
ship with any one?"
Leone's heart smote her, her face
flushed.
eyes," she replied; ''I have once
Lady Chandos looked up at her
quickly.
with lady, I mean?'
FNo," said Leone; ''I have no lady
friends. Indeed, I have few friends of
any kind, though I have many &C
quaintances."
Lady Marion's hand fingered caress-
ingly on the white shoulder of Leone.
Something draws me to you," she
said; land cannot tell what it is.
You are very beautiful, but it is not
that; the beauty of a woman would
never win me. It cannot be altogether
your genius, though it is without peer.
1t is strange feeling, one can hardly
explain-as though there was some
thing sympathetic between us. You
are not laughing at me, Madame
Vanira?"
"No, I am not laughing" said Leone,
with wondering eyes. How strange it
was that Lance's wife, above all other
women, should feel this curious, SYM
pathetic friendship for her!
They entered the boudoir together,
and Lady Marion, with pardonable
pride, turned to her companion.
Lord Chandos arranged this room
for me. himself. Have you heard the
fattering, foolish name for me that the
London people have invented? They
call me the queen of blondes"
'"That is a very pretty title" said
Leone, "they call me queen, the
queen of song"
in her way, a queen, smiled at each
other.
F'You see," continued Lady Chandos,
chat my husband used to think there
was nothing in the world but blondes.
have often told him if bring a
brunette here she is quite at a disad-
vantage; everything is blue, white,
or silver"
Leone looked around the sumptuous
room. The ceiling was painted by a
master hand; all the story of Endym-
ion was told there; the walls were
superbly painted; the hangings were
of blue velvet and blue silk, relieved
by white lace; the carpet, of rich vel
vet pile, had a white ground with blue
corn-fowers, so artistica1Iy grouped
they looked as though they had fallen
on the ground in picturesque con-
fusion. The chairs and pretty couch
we're covered with velvet. A hundred
little trifes that lay scattered over the
place told that it was occupied by a
lacy of taste. Books IN beautiful
bindings, exquisite drawings and pho
tographs, a jeweled fan, a superb bou-
quet holder, flowers costly, beautiful,
and fragrant; room that was a fitting
shrine for goddess of beauty.
''My own room," said Lady Chandos,
with smile, as she closed the door:
land what luxury it is, Madame
Vanira-a room quite your own!
Even when the house is full of visitors
no one comes here but Lord Chandos.
He always takes that chair near those
flowers while he talks to me, and that
is, [ think, the happiest hour in the
day. Sit there yourself"
Leone took the chair and Lady
ChandOs sat on a footstool by her
side. 1t was one of the most brilliant
and picturesque pictures ever beheld.
The gorgeous room, with it's rich hang
ings, the beautiful, dark-eyed woman,
with the Spanish face, her dress like
softened sunbeams, the fire of her
rubies like points of flame, her whole
self lovely as picture, and the fair
queen of blondes, with the golden hair
and white roses-a picture that would
have made an artists fortune.
"How pleasant this is" said Lady
Chandos, ga few minutes respite from
the music and dancing! Do you love
the quiet moments Of your life,
Madame Vanira?"
Leone looked down on the fair,
lovely face with a deep sigh.
"No, I think not she replied Il
like my stage life BEST"
Lady Chandos asked in a half pity
ing tone:
''Why did you go on the stage? Did
you always like it?"
And Leone answered, gravely:
CA great sorrow drove me there"
GA great sorrow? How strange!
What sorrow could come to one so