Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-10-02
CHAPTER XVI

KIM 10 ueIs anu she WAS So COulplSlcAy
dazzled by the novelty of all she saw that
she never remembered Felix, except to
congratulate herself on her own good
sense in having given him his congo.
Some slight indications of impatience
made her think that Sir Owen had GER
tain amount of bad temper, but at pres
ent he had shown none to her-indeed,
she thought him far better than he had
represented himself. He had told her
that he gambled and drank. She had
seen nothing of these bad habits; she was
too inexperienced to detect that he had
placed restraint on himself which might
break down any day. She cid not like
him very much. Although he was baro-
net and a man of wealth, lie was not
thorough gentleman. ST. Owen was
coarse in his manners, coarse in his
speech. She often, even i'll those early
days, shrank from him.
He brought her home one day a set of
sapphires so brilliant and rare that she
cried out with rapture when she saw
them.
There are no sapphires finer than
these" he remarked. What do you say
for them, Violet?"
Il say Thank you with all my heart"
she cried
rs thar all. Violet?"
What more can l say, except that you
are good, kind and generous?"
Can you think of nothing else, Vio-
letg' he asked HAS it never occurred
to you to throw your arms round my neck
and kiss ne and-ani sag, Thank you,
my darlipg.'
She shFRak from him with a little shud-
der, his Gark face was so close to hers.
e iFa"s noticed" he said, that yoa
are always ready to thank me when 1
bring you any of the silly trifes women
like so much-you are then most amiable;
but never once since we have been mar
ried have you come to me and kissed me
of your own free will!'
Il will do so now" she said.
"No, thank you, he returned. ut
would not be spontaneous. You would
do it because | asked you"
She was startled at the expression of
his face, at the tone of his voice-startled,
and just a little afraid.
After that the gay French capital
might be as gay as it would. Sir Owen
would not remain. Invitations poured in
upon him and his beautiful young wife;
he would not accept them. One of his
fixed resolves was to be in England at
Christmas, and TO England he was deter
mined to go. In vain Violet pleaded that
Garswood at Christmas would be duh.
He laughed at the notion.
mo place is ever dull where | am, Vio-
let" he cried. THAT shows how little
you know me. | shall fill the place with
visitors of my own choosing land l prom
Use you that we shall not spend our time
in dullness."
That was the first dissension between
Violet and her husband. She would fain
have remained longer. but Sir Owen was
tired of Paris. He liked English sports,
English habits and English cheer. He
was angry that Violet should for one mo-
ment presume to like Paris. 1t was un-
heard of, he said. that any English wom-
an should find Christmas at home duh.
And that was the first time that Violet
saw him in a rage. He swore loudly
not at her-that was to come later on.
He declared the whole race of women
foolish and idiotic. lie frightened her so
that she was glad TO escape from his
presence and give orders for the packing
up.
Il am not my own mistress. after all,
she said, with a discontinued look on her
fair face. Il cannot do as like l never
dreamed that / should have a master"
Their coming home was quite unexpect-
ed, consequently there was no rejoicing.
1t was night, too, and cold. Sir Owen
was not we'll pleased at their reception,
although he had expressly forbidden any
one to write.
But Niolet's spirits rose again when she
found herself in the magnificent mansion.
After all, her husband might be coarse
and bad-tempered, but she was mistress
of those superb rooms. This was her
house. She was TO live in the midst of
all this luxury, with troops of liveried
servants at her call. She was so pleased
that Sir Owen recovered his good humor.
and the first evening they spent together
at Garswood was perhaps the happiest
they ever had there.
On the morrow Sir Owen found a hun
bred things that required his attention:
nevertheless he was thoughtful about his
young wife.
You viii like to see your mother and
father, Violet" he said Order the car
risge when you like. | cannot so with
you, but | viii come for you. You bought
some presents for them, did you not?''
Yes" she answered.
She looked wistfully at him. Ii was
her first visit since her marriage. and
She would have liked him to be with her:
she was beginning TO understand that she
must not interfere with his arrangements.
She could not resist saying:
Il should enjoy ii so much more if YOU
were with me. Owen"
"oh, no. You would mott" he laughed
carelessly; you only fancy SO. You and
your mother win have SO much 10 talk
about that really could not stand il. ron
k7ew-I could not. indeed l will be there
in the evening, and viii drive you back
home"
She knew that 10 say more would be
qsIite useless. 50 she made she best OF the
After al. there were many
delights before her. She had a supe. {
costume. trimmed With costly sable. and
size was 10 wear that for the first time.
Her heart beat as She thought OF the
pleasure OF driving in her magnificent
csrriage through the streets Of Lilford
in her Partisan costume.
Il hope that T shah meet Lady Rolfe.
she said, '.;sst for the pleasure Of cutting
herr
She drove at once to The Lines. aad
was met with the kindest Of welcomes
4 should have gone 10 meet you. 'Nio-
let. had known thar you were coming.
said Mrs. Haye.
But Lady Chevenix thought that under
the circumstances il was Just as vel she
had not come.
They went TO the drawing room togeth-
er. Francis Haye was more of an iRvSid
tAsa usual that day. and his daughter,