Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-12-07
CHAPTER XIV.


Lady Aylmer has another visitor on
this same day.
To Judge from the decided frown that
Fuckers her ivory brow, and the stormy
look in her purple orbs, her thoughts are
none of the pleasantest either, when the
servant throws open the door, and an
nounces solemnly-
"a lady"
"a gentleman is no uncommon thing
in this bijou house in Stanhope street;
but Lady Aylmer, though she is of high
estate in the world, and has carriages
and horses and fine linen and luxury,
and last, but not least, husband some
where's not vet much favored with
lady callers, unless it happens to be Mrs.
Washington Drake, or some other being
of the same caliber; so she lifts up two
large surprised eyes and sees a woman
of medium height, slightly made, so
slightly that her figure gives an impress
sion of sweet II.
By each hand she holds child, which
is certainly suggestive of the professional
mendicant style; but the elder, boy of
, about years, is habited in picturesque
blue velvet suit, and, with his long fair
! curls, looks like a miniature cavalier of
Charles the First's time; while the girl,
a perfect cherub, with big laughing eyes
and spun-gold hair wears a little frock
! from some Rue de la Paix atelier-so
dainty and deft are the knots of ribbons
and ruchings of lace.
In her intense establishment Lady Ayl-
mer forgets to rise, but sits upright, and
is ill-bred enough to give stare Of sur
prise But there is not much time for
| guessing, for the woman suddenly throws
| back her veil, and Lady Aylmer fairly
starts up in amazement as she sees re-
vealed the features of-Lady Ennisford
Lady Aylmer," Lady Ennisford says,
very slowly, II know your estimate Of
me as a woman and as the wife of Lord
Ennisford l am afraid you will think
me very ignorant in the worlds ways
when / tell you quite frankly that
have never held myself to be my hus-
bands equal in any respect, save in my
| natural love of all that is pure and true!
l wish / were different, for his sake
she goes on, with a wistful look-"I
| would I were as beautiful as you are!
But I am his wife-I love him and him
only. / shall never, never love any other
| man. I could never be the wife of an
other man; and | am the mother of his
| children. You see, as a woman, my life
begins and ends in him! I would live for
him, and l would die for him! Can you
put yourself in my place, Lady Aylmer?'
Lady Aylmer, mechanically, clasps
her pretty jeweled hands together, roses
! and all.
ST wish something of you, Lady Ayl-
mer-wish it so much that it must plead
my excuse for intruding here!" And as
| she speaks she draws the children little
| closer to her and leans forward in her
| intense earnestness-I want you to
| leave me what is mine! This is all
ask. / would not rob you-I would not
rob anyone, and in return | want only
| my husband-the father Of my children.
If | cannot know him to be mine in
| fidelity, in singleness of love, what have
| | in this world? Nothing!'
Have you, then, no confidence in
| him?" Lady Aylmer murmurs. pathet-
| ically, drifting helplessly into the first
question that suggests itself, and feeling
more confident. What is his love worth
| if it is not proof against any test? Be-
sides. I have a creed of my own, and
Ii believe that no one can take from us
what is really ours, and that we can
| have no more love from anyone than
our nature csus out-even II there was
| no other women in the world. You
| speak as if Lord Ennisford was at my
mercy-as if had nothing to do but to
take him from you il wished! II he IS
worthy of being all in all to you, how
can you have so little faith in him
ii think that vou know Lady Ennis
ford answers. TO whom the fashionable