Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-07-26
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lips Lady St. Norman watched her
for some time in silence.
Ethel is ILL.," she said to herself;
and she went out to meet her.
She said no word when she came
near her-there was something in
Ethels face which forbade speech
but she went up to her room with her
and closed the door. Then, with open
arms, she turned to her step-daughter.
Ethel" she said, gently, what is
IT,"
And Ethel, clasping her white arms
round the kindly neck, hid her face on
Helen's breast.
What is it, my dear?" asked Lady
St. Norman. She felt Ethel shivering,
like one extremely cold.
Helen" said the faint, broken voice,
you were always good to me-always
kind to me-shield me now a little.
Stand between me and the world"
Il will" promised Lady st. Norman.
Tell me only one thing, Ethel. Have
you refused Sir Oscar?"
YES" she replied; 81 have refused
him, and he is gone"
And then, without another word,
Lady st. Norman laid Ethel down up
on her bed.
TRY to sleep, my DEAR" she said;
your face is flushed, and your eyes
burn Would it relieve you-would
you like to tell me why you refused
Sir Oscar? I thought you loved him. %
The girl turned from her with a
weary sigh.
do not ask me to do so, Helen.
You have always been kind to me; but
the greatest kindness you can do from
this time forth will be never to men
| ton his name again.
And Ethel turned from the kindly
| face bent over her-turned from the
sunlight and closed her eyes, like
one tired Of life.
Lady St. Norman was considerate.
| Size saw that Ethel was harassed by
some secret sorrow; and, though she
was both surprised and puzzled, she
did not comment upon it.
With a grave, anxious look on her
face she went down to Lord st. Nor
man. She found him alone, and GER
tainly, from the expression of his
countenance, looking not we'll pleased.
Helen" he said, 81 cannot under
stand this. Ethel has refused Sir
Oscar, and he has gone away. l
thought she liked him. How difficult
she is to please! l cannot tell you
how annoyed I am
1t was the mission of this fair gen
tlewCman to be a peacemaker. With a
gentle, caressing touch she laid her
hand on her husbands shoulder.
81 know, Leonard" she said-''I am
very sorry; but I want to speak to you
about Ethel. Do not be angry with
her; she is not happy"
She is never likely to be-" asserted
his lordship, angrily. II wonder whom
she would really think good enough
for herr"
do you know what my idea is
Leonardo"
No" he replied, softened by the
sweetness of his wife's voice and the
grace of her manner. ct is a sensible
idea, 1 am sure
Il believe that Ethel, in spite of all
her beauty and her pride, has had some
great sorrow in her life
What sorrow could she have I'M
known to u.s." he asked.
Il cannot tell. She is proud and re-
served, you know. Perhaps she has
liked some one very much who has
not cared for her. She is not happy,
and l think that must be the cause.
Do not say anything to her, Leonard.
Leave her to me-"
He did not like the idea of his
| beautiful Ethel being unhappy.
Il shall not say anything to her,
| Helen" he said. You must manage
her as you can. You understand her
| better than | do"
And when, after the lapse of a few
days, Lord st. Norman saw his daugh-
| ter again, he said no word to her Of
| Sir Oscar; nor when he heard that Sir
Oscar Charlotte had left England did
he tell her about it.