Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-05-24
Continued.

She claSped her arms IN the Ola
girlish fashion round his neck, and
laid her beautiful face close to his.
Il am proud of you, papa, she said;
and then her heart grew cold with the
thought of what he. to whom honor
was so justly paid, would say if he
knew that she was the the wife of a
felon
Sir Leonard laughed a low, happy
laugh that did his wife's heart good
to hear
81 shall have the fairest. kindest
wife, and the most beautiful daughter
in London" he remarked. Ethel, you
you will have to look more kindly
upon lovers there"
She shrank back as though his
words had stabbed her.
Il will not have lovers" she said.
ooh, papa, never speak to me of
such."
He laughed again, thinking that a
woman so royalty beautiful must
hear of love and lovers, whether she
liked it or not
Then he returned to his letters. The
next was one with a deep black Dor
der, and as he read the smile died
from Sir Leonard's face, and pain,
half bewildered surprise came instead.
"Ethel-Helen," he cried, here is
strange neWs-sO strange"
Lady Gordon put down her cup and
looked at her husband
What is it, Leonardo" she asked,
briefly
Il cannot believe that it is true" he
said 1T seems incredible. Tell me,
Helen, am I dreaming or waking?"
Waking, Leonardo but what has
surprised you so much?"
Listen, Ethel; listen, Helen. sweet
wife. Lord St Norman is dead. He
was my cousin, once removed. He is
dead and | am his heir. I am Lord
st. Norman now. Tell me, am l
dreaming or awaken"
Awake, most certainly" replied his
wife. How has your good fortune
come about Leonardo"
Unexpectedly, and somewhat in
comprehensibly for Lord St. Norman
was quite a young man. | knew that
was next of kin but / never even
thought of being his heir. | expected
he would marry and have children of
his own. He was quite young, and
was engaged to marry Lady Seymour. y
There was silence for some minutes,
and then Ethel, looking at her father
asked:
Are you pleased, papa?"
I hardly know, my dear; I suppose
am. | shall be very rich man ]
am not quite sure, but | think | like
my own name of Gordon best. Helen.
You will be great lady now, my
dear You will be Lady st. Norman
of Norman's Keep. in Devonshire,
arnold Abbey, in Yorkshire, Rose
IN Scotland, and mistress of a large
mansion, Brookdale House. in Lon
don, as we'll as of pretty villa in the
Isle of Wight. Do you not feel much
elated, my dear?"
NO" she replied, simply. Il was
always proud of being your wife
Leonard; nothing could add to that
honor"
Which little speech so delighted
Lord St. Norman that he rose from
his seat and kissed Helen's comely
face, and then he looked at Ethel.
This makes a great difference in
your prospects, ethel; it will make
you one of the richest heiresses in
England. You must prepare for reg
ular siege"
Why must it make me a great heir
ess, papa" she asked, quietly.
Because, my dear, | shall be able to
leave you a very large fortune-one
that will surprise you. For your
sake, am much pleased, Ethel"
For her sake! She smiled bitterly
TO herself What difference could it
make to her, the forger's wife. A large
fortune could do nothing for her. She
had flung away every hope in life to
become the wife of a convicted feIon.
Ethel cried her father. do not
look sad. You must help me to write
some letters. And Helen, will YOU see
that all preparations are made for orr
return. We must go to Norman's Keep
at least l must. You had better fol-
low in few days, when the funeral is
over"
Papa" said Ethel. turning to him
suddenly, are you surDrised?"
In some measure. of course. I
knew that l was the late lords heir
at-laW; but, as he was young. and
was engaged to be married. | really
never thought that there was any
probability of my succession. Seri-
ously speaking, it is a very excellent
thlng for you, Ethel With your
beauty and fortune, you may attain
one OF the highest positions in Eng
land. | am hopeful yet"
She turned away, sick at heart. Not
by one word would she damp the
ardor OF his hopes. or show him how
futile lney We're; not by one word
would she hint to him that plans and
hopes for her were all in vain. She
was already the wife of forge and
a thief
When Lord st. Norman had Quilted
the room, Helen went up to Ethel.
and raising the beautiful face with her
hands, looked long and wistfully at it.
Ethel, my dear" she said. you
have kept your own counsel; some
thing has happened in your life,
know not what, which has changed
you from gay, bright girl into a sad