Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-01-19


air of happiness, She saw Katherine
with her bright, laughing face, and
her handsome young lover following |
her like "A shadow. Presently Sir |
Jasper came up to her
DO you like our way of keeping
Christmas, Veronica he asked.
She looked at him,
1t is more beautiful than anything
| have ever seen" she replied. And
then he turned abruptly away. for she
had looked at him with dead Giulias
eyes.
Veronica" said a low, deep voice.
She turned, and saw Lord Wynleigh
standing by her side. Il have come to
ask you If you. are pleased Walk with
me through the room. You have not
wished me a happy Christmas yet"
Then l will do 1t now she said;
and Lord Wynleigh raised her hand to
his lips
katherine has been telling me how
dearly she loves you, and how good
you are to her.
Il love her better than anything or
any one In the wide world" she re-
piled.
He looked half sadly at her.
II have come" he said ito ask you
for a little share of that great affec
ton which you give to my peerless
Kate. I viii deserve It. | will give you
the true, honest frank. kindly affec-
ton of brother to sister WIN you
accept lt?''
II am bewildered,' she said What
have done that Heaven should give
me so much--what have I done? Only
a few months since, no one loved me:
now
you accept it them" interrupted
Lord Wynleigh. IF you want friend
you will come to me; if ever you want
help of any kind, you WI remember
that on Christmas day you promised
stalwart brother to let him stand be-
tween you and the world"
Il shall never forget" she said
And Lord Wynleigh left her stand
ing by the door of the conservatory
while he went in search Of Katherine.
Veronica was unutterably happy;
into her gray dull life such threads Of
gold woven that she was dazzled by
them. She had hungered and thirsted
for love; now it was lavished upon
her She stood on the same spot
still, unconscious of her picturesque
loneliness, watching katherine and
her lover; and as she watched them
strange, sweet possibilities of life
came floating to her. 1t might be in
the golden far-of future such love as
Atoms for Katherine would fall to
her lot. Perhaps her life, too, would
be crowned by that most pure and
perfect gife-a noble love If Heaven
had such happiness in store for her
Il am afraid, said a deep, musical
voice near her, that you will take
cold there is quite a rush of cold air
here"
Veronica looked up suddenly. A tall
stately figure stood between her and
her own. She saw handsome
noble face, n proud, princely head
covered with clusters of fair hair
It was face that from that moment
stood out clear and distinct from all
other faces. The gentleman smiled
at the half-bewllderod expression Of
the dark eyes.
II must introduce myself again" he
said. Sir Jasper introduced me to you
Just before ulnner, but | was one of
so many | cannot hope to have been
noticed. You do not remember me-?
No she replied; "Sir Jasper in
/ troduced so many people to me at
once, and English names are hard to
remember. ! should be glad II you
would tell me yours, she added, VII
some little hesitation.
You will say that 1t Is strange
one, perhaps, he said. Il am Sir Mare
'aryll."
Sir Mark Caryll. she repeated Il
Shall remember that in connection
with the patron saint Of Venice-St
Mark
She could NOT tell why. but the
name seemed 20 sink into the depths
of her heart like the echo of d song
Then she looked at him, and de
cided that although she had seen
some noble men be was by far the
haudsOmest and noblest There was
an air Of command OF power, OF
authority about him which pleased
her lie looked like man whose
viii was strong and relentless, whose
purposes was fixed, whose Judgment
was clear and decided Self-Telance
courage, bravery all those qualities
were written on the fair handsome
face that had In II at timns . wo-
mans sweetness and the simplicity
Of a child swift. sudden thought
came 10 her that a life would be safe
would be safe in those strong hands Of
his honor fair name, everything
might be intrusted to him, and the
trust would be kept
Sir Marc smiled at her.
4 can read your thoughts" he
said. you have been estimating my
character ! viii not ask you what
you think Of it. | will only say ! hope
rfur ron gIpufguu "a "a % tay,vatl. Mi.