Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-11-01
Continued.


face. while Lord RIVERS could scarce
Iy restrain himself from bursting int
loud laughter.
q am bound to ask you whether
your income is adequate to support The
burden you propose to take upon your
self" persisted Miss Anterior.
Il am an artist, madame" he re
piled.
But do you earn money enough K
live upon?" the lady asked. THAT Is
the practical question. 1t is all very
well for a man to call himself an artist
The question is, what does he make by
his art?"
81 can keep myself with perfect
ease, madame" replied Lord RIVERS
with a smile.
and what of my niece?" asked Miss
Anterior.
81 can give the same answer as to
your niece" he replied. eff you will
forgive me for saying SO, I shall pro
vide her with even greater comforts
than you have done"
What proof have you to give me OF
LUlS she c5hGtl.
Il can only give you my word" he
answered, with some little pride
nothing else. If you trust your niece
to me, you must take my word that
shall love, cherish, and protect her.
Have you a home for herr" inquired
Miss Anterior. l do not approve of
young people going into apartments.
He thought Of Ryversdale and
smiled
a thought" he replied, "of going
abroad for a year or two. Violet
would like such an arrangement, be
lieve; so should l."
Miss Anterior raised her hands and
eyes in protest This was indeed the
climax. To go abroad, to wander like
Migrants all over the Continent.
Nothing could be worse than wander
ing artists. Miss Anterior was at her
wits end.
Il suppose" she said, despairingly,
that nothing will prevent this absurd
nonsense, that no prayer or pleading
of mine can put a stop to this impru-
dent marriage?"
81 am sure not" replied Lord Ry-
vers.
"Then | wash my hands of it," she
said, solemnly. you have had the
candor to tell me that my refusal or
consent will make no difference. 1t is
useless to forbid; l will not consent.
! leave you to please yourselves; but
] protest against it."
There was a moment of blank 81
lence: then Violet spoke, her face pale
with emotion.
"Aunt, have you nothing to say to
me kinder than this? I have no faith
er to bless me, no mother to kiss me. -
Il cannot speak kindly in matter
of which | so strongly disapprove, .
said Miss Atherton. with energy.
81 understand you neither refuse
your consent to our union nor give 1t
your sanction" said Lord RIVERS.
Then, if | ask you to allow the mar
riage to take place, we will say, on the
twcnty-second of September, you will
accede to my request"
81 will neither accede nor refuse
replied Miss Anterior. 81 enter my
protest against such a foolish, sense
less marriage. | can do no more
NV niece is under my charge; until
now she has been an adopted daughter
to me. If she chooses to marry,
shall accompany her to church, and
see that all is right; but the day she
leaves my house to become your wife
she leaves it forever"
He turned with reckless Impulse to
Violet, and took her in his arms, he
kissed the quivering lips and weeping
eyes.
My darling" he said, edo not be sc
distressed. 1t is time took you away
If she is cruel, | will be kind; my love
shall make up to you for the loss o
all others"
when l was young" cried Miss Ath
erton, girls had more modesty youns
men more self-restraiut."
81 should think you never were
young. in the right sense of the word
Miss Atherton," cried the young lord
angered by the tears of his betrothed
Had she never been? Over tht
scared, blighted heart passed wave
of memory.
Il do not wish to be cruel" she said
Il did not intend to make you unhappy
Violet: but | detest the very though
Of matrimOny, and | think it is a SAT
thing to see a young girl like you ruiz
her whole life in this mad fashion;
and. in spite of herself, a sigh ESCAPED
the grim woman as she thought how
fair thing was going out from he
own life
1T is a settled thing" said tn
young lord. Violet is my betrothed
September. she will be my very own
But, in the interim, when may be pei
mitted to see herr"
The house is open; you will neve
be refused admittance when you call.
she added. half unwillingIy, 'wher
ever you like
She wondered why he smiled H
remembered pressing invitations la
ished upon him by Belgravian mott
ers. prettiIy worded notes he had bee
in the habit of constantly receivin!
and he enjoyed the present contras
This was WOolng IN the lace OF dlft
Culties, and no mistake.
Il thank you. madam" he said.
shall call twice every day" he adde
raising his head with something
deiance-"once in the morning for
short time, to see how my-my futul
wife is, and I shall ask that I ma
spend my evenings with her"
My house will never be my own
declared Miss Atherton, a trif1e irrit