Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-10-09
CHAPTER XVII.

were in full play, and there were times
when his young wife wished herself dead.
She was not often driven to such despair
but occasionally he was terrible. AS a
whole she enjoyed her life. She mad
money and everything that she wished
for: she enjoyed her magnificent nome,
with all its attendant luxuries; she was
by universal consent queen of the county
For some time there was ill-will be-
tween herself and Lady Rolfe. She DID
not wish TO ask either that lady OF her
daughter Lavinia. to Garswood, but after
a few words from her husband she was
compelled to give way. She had the gooo
sense to make the best of it, and Lady
Rolfe became frequent visitor 10 Oars
wood
During all this time Violet had never
once seen Felix. She had heard OF MN
continually-he was rising rapidly IN the
world. She heard old Col. Riddell speak
of him one evening when she, with olr
Owen. went over to a formal and stately
dinner party at Lady Rolfe's.
MARK nv words" said the colonel,
"the leading man in this part OF the
world is. or very soon viii be, young
Felix Lonsdale,, the lawyers son. nave
watched him with interest. he VIII De a
leader yet. He acts as the earls agent
now, and Lord Arlington has implicit
confidence in him. prophesy that with
the earls interest he will be returned as
a member for the borough, and that once
in Parliament we shall hear OF MN.
One or two others agreed Win the
colonel. The face of Lady Cheyenix
grew crimson when she heard her nus
band give little insulting laugh.
81 have beaten him once" said SIR
Owen. "and j will beat him again; If ne
goes in for one interest, l will go III Ior
the other"
For his wife's sake no one answered
him: and Lady Rolfe gave the signal Tor
the ladies to withdraw.
Lady Maude Eramber had been absent
from home for some few days, and during
that time the earl had sent out invitations
for dinner party. If he and his countess
had heard anything of the love story OF
Felix and Violet, they had completely Tor
gotten it. The earl sent out the invita-
tions. and one went to Garswood for Sir
Owen and Lady Chevenix, and one 10
Felix Jonsdale. Lord Arlington very sell
dom had large dinner party now WIN
out inviting Felix; his brilliant conversa-
tional powers made him most welcome
guest.
Felix is a host in himself, the earl
would say, laughingly.
He had not the faintest idea, when he
sent out his invitations, of having done
wrong. Lady Maude, to whom Felix had
reyealed his love story, did not return I'M
til the day of the dinner party, and then
il was too late to send a note or message
anywhere.
..Thev must meet some time, she said
to herself, in dismay; perhaps 1t VIII be
better here than elsewhere. l shall De at
hand to help him if he requires help
She said nothing TO anyone, but await
ed the course of events.
The dinner was given in honor of Lord
Rayden, great statesman, who was Wis
ting the earl. and Lord Arlington was
both pleased and proud to introduce his
young and gifted protege to his friend.
Col. Riddell was inyited-he would sure
ly not have gone had he known that he
was to meet Sir Owen, whom he detested
also Lady Rolfe, her daughter Laylnla,
and several other friends.
1t was a warm day, and the green
shade of the foliage all about Bramber
Towers was cool and inviting. The din
ner hour was fixed for seveG.
Lady Maude was the first in The draw
ing room, and to her great delight Felix
came in soon afterward. She was Won
derfulyl proud of him. As Lady Maude
looked at him, she thought to herself that
there could not be a finer, handsemer or
nobler looking man in England than he
was.
There was warm friendship between
the two. Felix would have done anything
in the world for the noble, beautiful
woman who had seemed to him like an
angel of comfort in the darkest hour of
his life: he had the greatest reverence,
the greatest esteem for her; he knew that
he owed all his good fortune to her kindly
influence with the earl. And Lady Maude
was very fond of him. She watched his
career with pride and hope; she had a
feeling almost of proprietorship in him;
but for her he might have gone to the
bad. SO now she waited for him, and,
when he had spoken few words Of
greeting to her, she said:
Il was waiting for yen, Mr.. Lonsdale;
+ have something to tell you. know
YOU are a brave man; this evening / shall
see your bravery put to severe proof"
He could not imagine what she meant,
but he said that he hoped whatever might
be the proof she would not find him
wanting.
II have no fear as to that" she said,
earnestly. Mr. Lonsdale, want to tell
you that Lady Crevenix will be here this
evening. Papa made up lis list of invi-
tations during my absence, and l could
do nothing.
She was glad they were alone. His
face grew white as death-so white that
she was alarmed; he stood quite still, and
she saw his hand tremble. She saw the
great effort that he made to recover him
self He succeeded; the color returned
~ his face; he stille9 .he trembling Of
mis- hands; he smiled as he answered her:
.You are so good TO me, Lady Maude.
that i am at loss how TO thank you for
giving me this warning. | needed II. Ii
/ had met Lady Chevenix suddenly l
should have been terribly embarrassed;
now am master of myself"
'And will keep SOP said Lady Maude,
earnestly.
"And viii keep So" be repeated.
Look, said Lady Maude, as she
touched Felix's arm gently.
He looked in the direction indicated and
beheld Violet. so changed from the lovely,
laughing girl who had kissed him and
Quarreled with him twenty times in an
hour that he hardly recognized her. This
was an imperially beautiful woman, on
whose white breast and white arms shone
jewels worth a kings ransom-a woman
whose face was SO peerlessly lovely that
il daxzled one as did the light OF the sum-
Lord Arlington went forward 10 meet
her. Like foil to her bright and radiant
lSveliness her dark-browed husband stood
by<ner side
Lady Chevenix did not notice Lady
Maude Bramber leave Felix and so up
70 her. When she had exchanged few
words with her she said:
An old friend of yours. Lady Cheve-
nix. is here this evening" And once
more the two who had parted so tragical-
~ stood face 10 face.