Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-09-06

refined failures, hair, brOWs and la5hes
of ebon hue, and eyes of midnight
blackness, while two rows Of strong
perfect teeth were beautifully c0nspic-
nous whenever his patrician but rather
cruel lips relaxed in a smile.
He had taken up his residence in
Buffalo shortly after his graduation
from Yale College, where, after com
pieting his studies for the bar, he had
been received as a junior partner into
the firm of Wilder & Co., noted law
yers, whose name had become the syn
Onym Of success.
The young mans history, previous
to his coming to Buffalo, was but little
known. His father, he claimed, was a
wealthy land owner in Olympia, Wash
ington Territory, but he having been
educated East, and preferTing Eastern
culture to the cruder civilization of the
West, decided to make it his home and
see what he could do toward making
q name for himself in law.
He was bright, smart, energetic, and
ambitious, but in spite of these charac-
teristics it was accounted as piece Of
rare good luck by those who knew
him, when he was admitted into the
firm Of Wilder & Co,
He also became a great favorite in
society, and many a fair maiden looked
with wistful longing upon the brilliant
and rising young lawyer, and would
eagerly have pledged hand, heart and
fortune to him, in exchange for the
1attering prospects which seemed to
loom up before him.
But he passed them all 6y, and chose
the fair, sweet Grazia Kingsley, the
MY child and presumptive heiress Of
a wealthy gentleman who had recently
retired from business and occupied an
elegant residence in the suburbs CT the
city
Grazia, a girl of twenty at the time
cur story opens, was peculiarly beau
tiGul maiden, Of medium height, with
a slight and graceful figure, which she
carried with little air of sweet dig
nifty that made her very attractive.
Her complexion was remarkably DEL
icate, and almost like tinted porcelain;
she had very large, liquid, brown eyes,
dark-brown hair, brOWs and lashes.
Her features, while not remarkably
regular, We're as a whole very lovely,
and the frank, genial smile that al
ways wreathed her scarlet lips and
danced in her beautiful eyes, together
with her winning manner, made her
exceedingly charming.
Grazia had loved Lloyd Langham
from the first hour of their meeting at
an informal reception given by one of
her friends, when he appeared to be no
less attracted toward her.
In less than a month they were de-
cIared lovers, although, for some rea-
son best known to himself, the young
man did not formally ask Mr.. Kings
Iey's sanction to his suit, consequently
there was no public announcement of
any engagement
Grazia's life had in some respects
been a peculiar one, else, it is safe to
say, she never would have taken the
rash step to which she was persuaded
when she married Lloyd Langham
without the consent and knowledge OF
her parents.
Her mother was a very delicate
woman, and, soon after her marriage,
her health seemed so frail she was ad-
vised to go to Italy for a year. Her
husband, who worshipped her, hurried
her way to this genial climate, where
she rallied, and for two or three years
seemed we'll and happy.
She grew to love the land Of her
adoption exceedingly, learned to speak
its language with fiuency, and when
her little daughter was born, she
named her Grazia, because Italian
names had become very sweet to her
ears, and she felt that the constant use
of it when she should return to Ameri-
ca would be a continual reminder of
her delightful sojourn in that sunny
cline.
The name, signifying thanks, ex-
pressed her gratitude for both return
ing health and the priceless gift of her
child.
But she had lived only a few short
years after coming to her nothern
home, and Grazia, the child of the
south, who inherited much Of Mrs
Kingsley's sensitive, amiable tempera-
ment, with something of the sternel
cast of her fathers character, was LEFT
mOtherless.
She was five years Of age at the time
of this great loss, and for ten years
she was left to the care of a governess
| "a kind. conscientious woman, who
was faithful in the performance O.
every known duty, but who had NJ
gentle, tender mother-love and sym
pathy to bestow upon her youni
charge; and so, in spite of Mr.. Kings
! Ieys almost idolatrous affection for hi
only child, there was an eager longing
for the affection which only a mothe
can bestow.
When she was fifteen years of ag
her father married his second wife
and Grazia was sent to a boardin:
school, while for three years they trav
eled abroad.
Upon their return the elegant sub
urban residence was built, and theI
there followed a year and a half Of ga
society life.
But these eighteen months were tn
most unhappy portion Of Grazia's life
for Mrs. Kingsley was jealous of he
step-daughter's beauty, her father
fondness for her, and because Of tn
great wealth she would inherit fror
him