Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-11-06
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most cheerfGlly share all l have with
you, but | cannot give it up for you-do
you think it was quite right TO ask me?
Il do not suppose | shall ever be hap
py-but you WILL / am not noble enough
for you; and, if you had married me,
your disappointment would have been
great. You will meet some day noble
woman whom you will love and marry.
| know that in saying 'Good-by' now |
say it forever; but forever | shall be your
unhappy VIOLET"
he laid the letter down and looked at
it. He had almost expected such an an
swer, yet his disappointment was great,
and his eyes filed with tears. 1t had
been very sweet and very dear to him,
this precious love story-and the eni was
sorrow; still he could not be surprised.
'She has chosen that which she loves
BEST" he said; "and | cannot blame her
now. [ must try t. forget her."
He did it bravely, as he had done it
before. He threw his whole heart into
his work, and fought inch by inch with
the great master-passion Of his life.
For some months after that it was ru-
mored in Lilford that Lady Chevenix
was not well; that she had lost her color
and her spirits; that she was i'll and saw
no one. Then quite suddenly she sent
for Darcy Lonsdale, and told him that
she had come to the conclusion that the
air of Garswood did not suit her: that
for the future she intended to divide her
time between London and Paris. To
his surprise, she added that the Marquis
of Kenmore had offered to buy the Cars
wood estates. and that she thought of
selling them to him. but it would be only
on condition that he retained Darcy
Lonsdale as his agent.
Felix worked on steadily. He still
made his home with his father; but
Kate, in speaking of him, said, with tears
in her eyes, that some day Providence
would reward him for his goodness to
them, and that he would find a wife wor-
thy to be his partner for life.
He went to see Evelyn when he had an
hour to spare; they were the best of
friends. Years afterward he saw how
she had guided him without ever seem
ing to advise-how she had influenced
him without ever seeming to use her in
fuence; and when he began the great
battle of political life she was his right
hand
The time that had been foreseen and
prophesied had arrived. The borough of
Oldstone was vacant, and through the
interest of Lord Arlington Felix had
been returned.
1t was no surprise, for everyone had
prophesied it. Genius must and will make
its way TO the front when it is allied with
perseverance and industry; genius alone
does little.
M p for Oldstone" Felix Lonsdale
was pleased--he exulted as men exult.
He had now a foremost place-he had
made name. Like all other men wor-
thy of anything. he was ambitious; and it
seemed to him that his ambition would
be realized
On the evening of the day of his cleo
ton it was some relief to him to escape
from the noise of the crowd and spend
a quiet hour with Evelyn. How she re-
joiced with him. How she exulted in his
success. How wise and sweet she was
in her counsel! 1t seemed to him as
though his soul had found one more than
friend.
From that hour his life seemed to have
higher and better aims; and into it came
no dream of woman's love, until one day
Kate, having some leisure, had long
conversation with him.
"Y0u will be man of mark, Felix"
she told him. Everyone says so. But
You will be like all other men; you will
want a good wife. If the facts could be
got at, it would be found that some of
the greatest men of the day owe much
of their fame to -, wise guidance of
wise wife,"
Il believe that" he replied; 'but-ah,
well, we need not talk about it, madre.
l suppose a mans fate is settled for
him."
"A mans fate is just what he likes to
make it." declared Kate. when you
are inclined to marry, never mind beau
ty; look out for a noble woman-nobility
of character is far better than beauty"
The words struck him as being but the
repetition of other words written to
him.
THE world is full of noble women"
Kate continued. Look at Eve Lester.
Where woul@y you find one sweeter, more
gracious or noble? She is true and ten
der and earnest; she has fund of clear
common sense; she has a vivid, bright,
imagination, quick, poetical fancy; aud,
as for beauty, / see more in her sweet,
fair face than in any face | have ever
seen"
Eve Lesterl" he cried. Certainly no
woman could be nobler."
Eve Lester. How blind he had been!
lie looked NJ ut Kate.
DO you know, madre," he said, "she
has been so much part of my life-all my
life-that / have never thought OF her
apart from myself"
A wise woman always knows whSn she
has said enough. Kate turned the con-
yersation: nor could he persuade Der to
say more about Eve. But the ideg had
taken hold of him; and Kate smiled soft
Is to herself on seeing how deeply he was
engrossed in thought during the remain
der of that evening.
He went the next day, and the result
OF their conversation was that he did not
leave Eve until she had promised TO be
his wife; for he found out that she loved
him, and had loved him only all her life:
he found out that he had indeed been
blind and foolish, for she was really the
one great treasure Df his life.
1t was q quiet wedding. but Eve would
have j. so. She would have neither car
riages nor train of bridesmaids, nor
children strewing flowers, nor any of the
ceremonies that attend a country public
wedding. She walked quietly to the dear
old church at Lilford. looking very fair
and sweet. with the light flush caused
by the morning air on her face. The sun
light s;~eamed in at the windows as she
pIishted her faith TO the only man she
had ever loved, and whom she was to
love forever.
Then Felix took her away to the lakes.
and they were very happy.
CHAPTER XXyIIT.