Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-11-29

tie large hotel has been erected en-
tirely On modern principles. An Eng
lishman started it, and it has become
a success, for, though ST. Philipo is
not much in the way Of tourists, art
| lists go there, rich men in search of an
tiquities and curiosities and, at times,
travellers in search Of the picturesque.
Thither Lord RIVERS went with his
wife. He had half thought of flight
| when he heard that an English fam
lily was staying at the hotel 1t was
bad enough to have an English land
lord; but to live in the same house
with an English family was, in his
present mood, most distasteful to him.
He had grown somewhat nervous
and frightened with regard to his Sc
cret, and he dreaded Violet's discover
ing 1t. He could not tell how she
would take it, or what she would do,
and he wanted to defer what he con
s!dered an evil day as long as he
could. He avoided English people as
much as possible, lest he should meet
any one who knew him. He asked for
| the name of the family staying at the
hotel and was told that the entry in
tie visitors book was Robert Car
stone, Esq, of Ingleshaw Mrs Car
stone, and Oscar Carstone, Esq"
Rolling in money" said the hotel
keeper to Lord RIVERS, "all made from
malt and corn. Mr. Carstone is here
to buy antiquities"
This description set the young lords
n-nd at ease. He-Lord RIVERS of
Ryyerwell-was not likely to be known
to any retired contractor
For some days the visitors saw moth
ing of each other, much to Violet's
disappointment. At times she was al
most indignant with Randolph because
he avoided the Carstones. When he
pleaded his distaste for English socie-
ty, she would say:
"Oh, yes, it is all very we'll for you
Randolph; you have mixed with the
world all your life. I have never real
| ly known any one except Aunt Alice,
and | long to know what the others
are like"
The opportunity came at last
There was fete in the grand old
city; the churches, the palaces, the
shops and streets, the villas dotted on
the hillside, were all to be Illuminated,
and the fireworks were to be on a mag
nificent scale.
ooh Randolph" cried his young wife
do let me see them. We never had
any at St. Byno's. Mr.. Bret, the land
lord, says the finest place to see them
IS from the balcony of the hotel, and
he has asked me to go there Ran
dolph, do say Yes"
You will be sure to meet those
English people there" he said, half
reluctantly; but she looked SO implor-
ing that he could not refuse her
'Will you come, Randolph" she
asked.
And he answered mo" at which she
felt relieved, for it would give her a
chance of talking to the English PEG
pie.
In all st. Philipo there was no more
beautiful picture than Violet in the
balcony that evening She wore
cool dress of white that fitted her tall
exquisite figure to perfection. Over
that, and over her golden head, she
had draped black lace mantilla, and
she wore spray of her favorite flow
er, the orange blossom
The golden stars were throbbing in
the blue sky; the waters of the bayr
were SO calm that each star was re-
f1ected in them; the night wind was
faint with perfume
Presently some one else entered the
balcony, and passed Violet with a
profound bow-a tall, manly figure
with broad shoulders and a broad
chest. She looked at him with some
admiration; she could not see him
plainly by the light Of the stars-a
tall, straight figure, a we'll shaped head
with clusters of brown hair, large,
gray eyes, face clear-cut as a cameo,
| intelligent and expressive He went
to the other end of the balcony and
stood looking over the deep, silent
waters of the bay.
That must be Oscar Carstone."
thought Violet, "a typical English
man, tall, strong and fair"
Then came lady, stout and come
", richly dressed in grand brocade
that rustled with every movement;
jewels shone on her neck and fingers.
She took a seat on the balcony, and
Violet remarked that she had kind,
shrewd face, piercing dark eyes, dark
hair fashionably arranged; yet in spite
Of the brocade and the diamonds the
word ''plebeian" was written on the
stout, comely person. She, in her
turn, looked at Violet's exquisite face
and figure; then suddenly she rose,
and went to where she was standing.
She made very condescending bow
and looked into the lustrous eyes.
We must dispense with introduce
TONS she said, with a broad smile,
as there is no one to perform that
ceremony for US. 1t seems such a pity
to sit and watch this beautiful scene
without speaking
Violet ma le a bow that would have
beftted a queen.
You are very kind" she said.
And Mrs. CarstOne looked up in won
der, both at the loveliness OF the face
| AND tho sweetness of bo