Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-12-06
CHAPTER XVI.

have carved my own tate, as the
poets say; l have made myself what
am
And Violet's beautiful eyes were
raised to his face with such a look of
exultaticn that Lord RIVERS lOnged to
see him fall from the terrace into the
lake below.
THAT is what / like, what l ad
mire!" she cried, clasping her pretty
white hands Il think every man is
noble who is the architect of his own
fortunes" she continued THAT which
we win for ourselves must be much
better than that which is given to us
by others
Lord RIVERS looked up quietly, but
with stern indignation in his face; he
could not endure to hear such senti-
mcots from those beautiful lips.
Violet" he said, would it not be
better to talk about what you under
stand?"
Her face flushed at those, the first
words of disarproval he had ever ut
cred to her.
Oscar hid the bad taste TO answer
for her.
ct think Mrs. Rardolph's ideas are
perfectly Just, and very generous"
The Young heir Of Inglesnaw felt in
dignant that "the artist" should con-
tradict his sweet young wife, and on
such a point, too
"The artist" contented himself by
giving Oscar n look that made him at
least uncomfortable.
This little scene took place one even
ing when the two English families had
me- on the great terrace that over
looked the ornamental lake. Lord
RIVERS fear was realized-they had all
grown intimate Violet liked good
natured, comely Mrs. Carstone, and
merely laughed at her patronage; it
did not hurt her, but very often
amused her. IF Mrs. Carstone had
been a lady of title, and had used the
same patronizing manner to her, VIC
let would have rebelled holly, but from
the wife of that glorious piece of hui
manity, a self-made man, it did not
come so much amiss. Mrs. Carstone
had a vast amount of worldly knowl-
edge which 70 Violet, brought I'D, a
it we're, outside the world was most
attractive; and Lord RIVERS, after a
few days ceased to make any objec-
tio1 to the intimacy. 1t mattered but
little he thought; these people knew
nothing of him, and were never likely
- \, IL, LY,,oo
ability, when they left the hotel, they
would never meet again; and, if his
beautiful Violet liked to go with them
and enjoy herself with them, he GER
tainly would not object Let her be
happy in her own fashion, but he fer
vent1y hoped she would not expect him
to care for them. It was now the first
time really that he saw the great gulf
between himself and his wife. He had
all the instincts. the preiudices, the
stron~ likes and dislikes Of his class;
she had the same. hers being strength
ened bv the curious training she had
rcooivnd IT began to dawn upon him
that he MIGHT as we'll try to change the
color Of her ewes or Of her hair as to
charge the tone Of her ideas and
thorrhts What she th0ught admira-
bio in those Doonle-thoir rise from the
ran1e tho fact Of their being "seIf-
modo" eoomed to him more or less
contemntih1e
You cannot have such thing as a
selt-made gentleman" he said to her
one day, when they were arguing the
rClt "Ine very term is colGadlc-
uo2'
Il do not see why" she replied.
Because you will not, Violet. You
are business and fairness on every
other point but this one of class, A
gentleman using the word in its true
sense, is the result Of generations of
careful cultivation. man may have
ge"tlemanly instincts, yet not be a gen
tleman The human race is, to say
the least Of it, quite as susceptible of
cultivation as flowers. How much cu,
tivaton is required to change a weed
into a flower?"
Then | may suppose" said Violet,
saucilv, that ordinary men are the
weeds and gentlemen the flowers?"
You eXaggerate. my dear; but you
must admit that generations Of careful
training, OF cultivation, of refinement
must tell"
They should, but l am not prepared
to admit that it is So" she replied
Randolph" she asked, suddenly, Gin
your own mind, do you cali yourself
a ge7tleman?"
All the hot blood of his grand old
race flushed in his face. his eyes
flashed fire. his strong white hands
We're clinched; then he restrained
himself he had not wooed her zen
gentilhomme" and he owned himself
caught in his own tr9>.
81 hope I am, Violet"
you are rot consistent. then" she
declared deighted at rousing him
"You tell me that man can be a gen
tieman in the true sense of the word
ONLY when he belongs to an ancient
and cultivated race Now Won claim
for vourself the title of gentleman. vet
you bnlore to no such race You work
for vour living"
Cart ernnhles all its Followers" he
renlied Iofti1v
'"Thon YOU must have two kinds o.
gentlemen" she said.
"vio1et." said her husband. gently
"cone and kiss me. Your 1iDs are 81
sweet cd 6fmn1ae CO charming tina