Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-11-22
Continued.


not so deeply engrossed with my art
that I forgot to lay by for a rainy day
"Are these the rainy days?" she
asked.
ever see," he replied.
He was, if possible, more in love
with her than when he first met her
in the woods of St. Byno's. She had a
wonderful charm for him. The ladies
of his family had always affected to
be, if they were not actually, delicate
and fragile; they considered health
and strength rather as vulgar attri-
butes. Violet, on the contrary, re-
joiced in superb health, in a magnif-
cent constitution; she did not even
know what the words ~anguor" and
fatigue" meant as applied to herself,
and consequently she had q capacity
for enjoyment that seemed marvellous
to him. When they were in Switzer-
land, she could climb the highest
mountains as well as he could, she
could walk as far, she could endure as
much fatigue,-yet she was refined,
and as far from being masculine or
strong minded as it was possible to be-
There was no fairer picture than that
of this beautiful girl,-health glowing
in her face, her eyes sparkling, her
lips crimson. 1t was the possession
of such perfect health, or unflagging
gayety and high spirit, that had such
a wonderful attraction for Lord
RIVERS.
They had spent the whole Of the year
IN travelling; they had been through
Italy and Switzerland. Now a fancy
had taken Lord Ryvers-he must go to
the Rhlne-not in the beaten tracks
where British tourists abound-no, he
would seek some pretty sequestered
spot where river and mountain were
at their best. He would stay there for
some months, have MS beautiful Violet
all to himself for that time, and then
arrange for the future
He felt that he should not be afraid
OF his mother meeting his wife, now
that this year of travel and study had
refined and perfected her. He would
be proud when the hour came for even
Lady RIVERS to see her. It was true
chat Violet was different from most of
the ladies who were his mothers
friends and associates; but she had
characteristic beauty and grace and
individuality of her own.
Lord RIVERS found that of which he
was in quest in the pretty little town
of Saltzberg, on the Rhine, perhaps
one OF the most picturesque on that
beautiful river. 1t stands where the
river is widest, and where the great
crags rise highest to the sky; every
beauty Of land and water, of hill and
dale, or river and ruin are there.
A little tributary called the Saltz
runs into the Rhine at this spot, and
the scene where the two currents meet
is one of the prettiest and most pictur-
esque on the river.
The Saltz is spanned by an old rus
tic bridge built over the narrowest part
OF the river; great trees shade the
bridge at each end, and the gray stone
of which it is built is half covered with
ivy and moss. The town stands be-
tween the hills and the river.
Lord RIVERS chose one of the pretty
villas situated in the outskirts. 1t
was built on portion of the rock that
jutted over the river. From the win
doWs one saw nothing in front of the
house but the rapid rolling Rhine.
The picturesque, weird beauty of the
spot delighted him.
They were standing on the bridge
one morning, when he young husband
turned to his wife:
Il ask nothing better from life than
this" he said. 81 should like to live
here always with you, the blue sky al
ways above my head, the sound of the
river always in my ears, and your face
before my eyes"
She laid both her white hands on his
shoulder and looked steadfastly into
his face.
Would such a life fill you with con-
tent, Randolph" she asked.
Yes, with infinite content" he re-
piled.
1T would not satisfy me-" she said,
decidedly. Il would rather live in the
world of men and women"
This is far more beautiful" he de-
clared, dreamily.
But beauty is not the end and aim
OF life" she said. II begin to think
you are dreamer, after ALL"
Il am content to be one while have
you to dream about" he rejoined.
But there was no response on the
beautiful young face looking over the
water
Randolph, you have no ambition y
she said, suddenly.
yet ours had always been consid.
cred an ambitious race" he replied as
quickly; and she looked up at him
with satyiical laugh.
Your race!" she repeated. "Do you
mean the artistic racer"
His face flushed and his eyes cloud q
as he answered:
Yes, of course, the artistic race
What else should I mean?"
And again the little ripple of sunny
laughter Jared upon him as she re
piled:
You spoke like an aristocrat. as
though you belonged to some race
quite separate and distinct from al