Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-11
Continued.

l.
One month ago I was quite content
was not rapturously happy, but 1 was
far from miseTable-noW | am dis
satisfied. l want to know a thousand
things that I have never thought Of be-
fore. l want to know what the world
is like beyond this green, dreamy little
spot, and it is your fault that 1 have
conceived these vain DESIRES
Nine" he replied, with flush Of
delight and pride. Il am delighted 10
hear it."
Il an not sure" she said, whether
you have acted very wisely. Now that
| am awake to the realities and posi-
bflities Of life, it seems to me l shall
never be satisfied with my present
state OF existance again. The question
is whether it would not have been bet
ter for me to remain dormant"
1T is far better for you to be cogni-
zant of all that is going on around
you" he cried, with passionate We
hemence.
"Why should your bright beauty be
buried here?"
There is my aunt" cried Violet
Promise that you will see me
again" he cried, with all the energy Of
despair" here, tomorrow evening.
when the moon shines, and that terri
BILE aunt of yours has gone to sleep.
Will you, Miss Beaton-Violet-wi
you Gomez"
And she had just time to whisper
Eyes"
CHAPTER vi.
Lord RIVERS thought more seriously
that night than he had ever thought
before He was madly in love with
this beautiful girl. He told himself
that he must win her for his wife, or
he should never know happiness more
He looked the position in the face.
He was Baron RIVERS of RyvGrsWell.
the sole heir of an ancient race, lord OF
Mount Avon in Hampshire, owner Of
one Of the prettiest estates in the Isle
of Wight, and fine old castle and a
moor in the highlands, one of the most
eligible and wealthy barOns in Eng
land: and he was madly in love with
a young girl VINO detested the aristoc-
racy, and had told him she would never
marry any of them.
Love had come to him IS & terrible
fever. 1t had taken possession of his
whole being. AS he walked home I'M
der the shade of the spreading trees,
he vowed to himself that he would win
her.
The beautiful face of the girl was
ever before him. How he loved her.
He had never thought it possible that
he could care for any one like this.
How beautiful she looked on the other
side of the rose-cOvered hedge! Why
had he not leaped over it, caught her
in his arms, and carried her away?
His heart was on fire No matter what
obstacles were in the way, he would
marry her, if she would have him.
But he felt quite sure she would mel
Their love nor marry him if she knew
his position and title. He must win
her as an artist, if he won her at all;
and afterward, when he had made her
his wife, when he had taught her to
love him so dearly that she could not
live without him. he would tell her the
whole truth; she would not be angry
then
His fate, after all, would be happier
than that Of many men. How many
were married simply for their tile,
wealth, or other outward advantages!
With him it would be quite different
He would be married for himself alone
for pure love. How he would repay
her!
1t was no easy task that lay before
him. On the one hand. he had resolv-
ed to marry a girl who hated the arts
tOcracy; on the other hand, he would
have to persuade his mother, who was
certainly as proud a woman as any in
England, to consent to his marriage
with a penniless girl.
She must consent" he cried to him
self; she will consent! If the difficult
ties were a thousand times greater
through them"
Hitherto he had been scarcely more
than boy-kindly, noble, but a
dreamer; he was a man now, with a
mans purpose
Once more his thoughts went back
to Ryverswell, where his mother
dwelt in luxurious spIendor When
Randolph had wrung from her, per
mission to go on this sEetching-tour-
permission she granted sorely against
her will-she said, when bidding him
farewell:
Il do not warn you against the com
mon faults of young men; no son OF
mine will ever commit those You
are not likely to fall in love with a
dairy-maid, or to marry a curates
daughter; but, after this. | trust you
you will give up your notions OF paint
ing, and think seriously of settling in
life There are two or three girls, .
continued her ladyship, whom |
should have liked you to meet There
are Gwendoline Mar and Lolita Jocelyn
both beauties and both heiresses
But it is Of no us speaking Of that just
now"
None in the world" he had answer.
ed. All can think about at the pres
ent moment is my sketching-tour
You must consent, mother; nothing
else has any attractions for mel have
heard so much Of those splendid War
wickshire trees. AS for-for girls
there is plenty of time to discuss then
in the future"
Eyes there is plenty of time. as 20,
observe: and I can trust to you Ran
dOlph. You have the true instinct:
of a gentleman and a RIVERS. VIII,
Providence should have given 10 m,