Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-01-12
Continued.

one piece OF advice afterward you vii
know the reason why. I advise you
to say nothing of the home you hav,
left People arc sure to ask ques
tons Do not answer them; evad'
them
Veronica, looking up at him with the
simple faith of child, replied.
Il will will do whatever you tel
me-"
And he knew from that moment
that any secret, anything which
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 as the
young girl came forward with her
graceful, self-possessed manner to
speak to her.
Il really thought" she said after
ward, to her husband, that an old
Venetian figure had descended from
its frame. What a face she has.
Jasper! 1t is essentially Venetian
not Florentine-I know the F7orentine
type so well-nor Roman, but purely
Venetian Her mother must have
been beautiful woman"
He WINGED at 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 to
bring rival beauty into the house"
Sir Jasper looked up impatiently;
that woman's tattle annoyed him.
She will never harm Katherine"
he said somewhat sternly. do not
put ideas of that kind into Hates
head. 1 want her to like the young
stranger. See-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 q low chair, her
golden head thrown back, and Yer
onica kneeling 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 a 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
n - 1,Ar,
ing her promise, she answered:
ASK me about anything you will, -
she replied, except about home, cam
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.
Il will not ask you about home or
anything else that grieves you, Ver-
onica," she said. "It must be very sad :;
you have lost everything, every one.
But you will oe happy with us after
time. You shall be my sister,
have always longed for one-and you
will love papa; every one loves him
that knows him.
It was strange but typical that she
did not speak Of Lady Brandon. She
said nothing about loving her
Kiss me, Veronica" she said, mot
coIdly, but as if you were really my
own sister. I shall love you as
though you were"
The dark eyes filled slowly with
tears.
You will love me?" she said. cit
seems impossible; it is too good-it
cannot be true You will really love
me-"
why should ] not?" asked Kathe-
vine, wondering at the girls emo
ton
Why should you, rather?" she re-
piled. You are so different from me
You seem to me like a fairy princess
You live in the midst of beauty and
magnificence; every one loves you;
even the servants who wait upon you
seem almost to worship you. You have
the sunshine ever on your head. Look
at these bright threads of gold! You
seem to me more lovely than a poets
dream
Katherine laughed; fiattery was al
ways pleasant to her. She experienced
a girls natural delight in being called
lovely. Then she passed her white
fingers over the bowed head.
Has no one ever told you that you
were beautiful"
No; | have never heard any one
speak of me in that ways" replied
Veronica.
Then let me tell you now" said
Katherine. You are thousand times
more beautiful than | am. But l an
not jealous of you, my love. Mine is
a pretty pink-and-white, healthy kline
of beauty; yours is a grand, half-sad
wholly imperial loneliness. l am like
a rosebud, you are like a mystic pas
sion-fiower. There are hundreds OF
girls like me; there can be but few
others like you"
rs it really true?" asked Veronica
Am 1 really beautiful? Tell me
Caterina mia, do you think that an,
one who saw me for the first time
would like poe?''
Il am SUI very one would admir-,
you very much, and those who knew
you would love you
1t seems so strange" said Veronica
and Katherine saw a light come owe
her face so strange. | have neve
thought of myself in that way at all
| have often wondered if ever an
one would love me"
S'liH OF %