Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-09-04
she stood with Sir Owen watching the
yarious crouuc

he said. do you not know that l would
give all have to please you? / would
do all this over and over again to win
one smile from YOU"
Suddenly, standing there, she remem-
bered promise to Felix, that she would
tell Sir Owen she was to be his wife.
How was she to do it? She could not
turn round to him abruptly and say: Il
am going to marry Felix Lonsdale." She
was tempted to do so, but it would be too
brusque. Il shall find an opportunity
during the evening" she thought. Il can
easily make ole, but not at present. l
will enjoy myself now"
He led her to The summit of the hill
to rustic seat under the larches
Il was thinking ali last night" he said,
that | would bring you here to-day. /
want you to look well around you. See
how the sun shines on Garswood! Look
at the Hall first
1t was a magnificent panorama that
was spread out before her. Not the least
important feature IN it was the grand old
Hall, with its towers and turrets. lie
stood by her side.
1T is noble property" she said
Eyes; there is not a larger or better
estate in England, and the beauty of it is
that it lies all together. ] am lord of the
SOIL" he said, flor many miles round. I
know no other place so fine as Garswood.
Violet Haye. all this is mine; and, if you
will speak only one word, it shall all be
yours"
She turned to him with a startled
glance.
Il do not understand you," she de-
clared. How could it be mine?"
1T can all be yours if you will marry
me, Violet" he whispered.
Her beautiful face grew pale as death.
Il cannot marry YOU" she replied,
quickly.
why not, Violet? Tell me why"
Because am engaged to marry Felix
Lonsdale"
rs that all? What on earth does that
matter? He ought to be ashamed of him
self to presume to ask such girl as you
to marry him; he must be mad to think
you would"
"He loves me-" she said, quietly.
so do I-so do many others. You must
not marry him, Violet; he has no money,
no influence, no position; his father is un-
der a cloud which must darken the sons
future. You cannot marry him; it would
be madness"
Il am engaged to him." she replied.
"As if that mattered! Engagements
like yours are broken every day; it is
the commonest thing in the world-no one
thinks anything of it,
40 you know, Sir Owen" she said
that if | were false to Felix Lonsdale
it would break his hearth
Sir Owen laughed aloud.
MY dear Miss Haye; lawyers have no
hearts. He might lose his temper; but
men never break their hearts-a good
cigar will cure the most desperate love
affair. You amuse me-
Il hope you are Speaking falsely" she
said. Il hope men are better than you
paint them"
dear Violet he returned. 1T is most
refreshing to hear that you think any
man capable of breaking his heart"
''Ahi but you do not know Felix Ions
dale. You do not know how he loves
mer
Il never wish to know Felix Lonsdale,"
he told her. Il have no partially for
men under cloud. | know how much
| love you, and that is more to the point"
She shrank from him with pale. scar
ed face. She did not like this discussion
of her lover.
you marry this man who is under
cloud" he went on. HE takes you to
some wretched little home; he works day
and night, yet can hardly get money
enough for his expenses; you spend the
prime of your life and lose the glory Of
your beauty in a helpless struggle to
make both ends meet: and you die before
your time, your beauty faded and gone,
worn out-eyen in the prime of life.
say that it is crying shame for such a
marriage to take place. You see the diff
ference. Violet?"
Eyes, / see it, Sir Owen; but
Then" he interrupted I'VE will not
talk about it to-day. You shall think it
well over; you will be of my opinion soon.
Now we will go back again. The first
moment | saw you | meant to win you,
Violet. | swore to myself that you should
be mine. You have promised me the
first dance tonight, remember"
Violet looked exquisitely lovely when
she was dressed for the ball. Admiring
eyes followed her every movement. 1t
was agreed that the beautiful girl in
white and silver, with crown of silver
leaves, was certainly the belle par excel
lence.
She was so brilliant, so gay, so en-
chanting, that Sir Owen grew every mo-
ment more hopelessly in love with her.
People could think what they liked about
Violet, but there was no mistake as to
him-not the least in the world; he was
quite lost. He saw and thought of moth
ing but Violet. Everyone agreed that
the ball was worthy of the fete. To
Violet it was a long dream of homage;
the most eligible men in the room sur
sounded her; she was besieged by would
be partners.
Sir Owen took Violet down to supper
a grand supper. which was in itself a
wonder; and then they danced until the
sun rose in the eastern sky,
Ito be continuedl