Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-01-17
CHAPTER XIV.


must not hurry me-"
Then you have something to tell
me,v cried Violet. Il felt quite sure
Of II What is it. Mrs. Carstone?"
~ do not like my task at all.
would not have undertaken it. but my
husband and son insisted upon it."
Your husband and SOM" said
| Violet proudly. What have they to
! do with me?'
Nothing; but they felt that the
mystery ought to be cleared up"
what mystery? There is no mys-
terry concerning me-" said the young
girl more proudly still.
Unfortunately there is very I'M
mistakable mystery" replied Mrs.
Carstone.
Then Violet rose from her pretty
garden-chair, and stood. erect and
naughty before her companion.
you must say more, now that you
have said 81 much" she declared.
"To my mir d., the very word mystery
is distasteful, and | am proud to say
there is none attached to me-"
She stood erect and naughty
enough, most fair to see. her dress OF
pale blue sweeping the ground in
graceful folds. the slanting sunbeams
falling on her golden hair and beauti-
full face-a face flushed now with in
dignation. The proud. sweet lips
trembled, and the white hands toying
with the vien-leaves were not quite
steady.
Now, Mrs. Carstone. what is the
mystery" she persisted.
"If you are going to be angry with
me" said Mrs. Carstone. Il cannot
tell you at ALL"
And she looked SO distressed that
Yiolet's heart smote her.
81 am not angry" she replied.
why should be? | am quite sure of
one thing-you would not do or say
anything knowingly to hurt me-"
Il wish | knew how to tell you in
such words that could not annoy you.
Perhaps you will think it is not my
business, and that | need not have
spoken. Still 1t seems right that you
should know. Mrs. Randolph, your
husband is not what he seems to be-"
Niolets face grew paler and
prouder.
'In what way?" she asked. Il will
believe nothing but what is good OF
him
He is not what he seems to be-" re-
peated Mrs. Carstone "He calls him
self Mr.. Randolph and he processes
IN no a orti CT in, hot &c
untruthfully. Your husbands name
is not Randolph neither is he an
artist"
Who and what is he. them" asked
the girl. in low. hoarse voice.
1t seemed to her impossible that he
should be anything but the gallant,
loyal lover she had always known.
He is Lord RIVERS of Ryversdale,
one OF the wealthiest men in Eng
land"
The effect Mrs. Carstone's words
produced was quite different from
what she expected The beautiful
face before her grew white to the
very lips. and the light died from the
violet eyes.
Il do not believe it," the girl
gasped. at length Il will not believe
IT, ! should hate him if it were
true?"
1t is as true as that the sun shines
IN the heavens" replied Mrs. Car
stone
Il will not believe it," Violet re-
ptated
II is most positively true" said
Mrs. Carstone. HE is Randolph Lord
REvers, and he belongs to one of the
Eiandest old families in England; he
lS a thorough aristocrat"
An aristocrat!" cried the girl. and
the word, as it came from her lips,
was worse than sheer. IL hate
tAem!' she gasped. Il will not be-
lieye IT,"
70 seems to me that. If I had told
Won your husband was a thief, of
loFger, instead of nobleman. you
.'n!f not be more angry" said Mrs
Na0stone.
should not be one half so angry"
declared her companion. you can
not understand; you have not been
'7lned as have been. Hatred OF all
aNeA runs with the blood in my
veins"
II is very foolish" Mrs. Carstone
SAID astonished; there is no sense
nor reason In It."
but Violet flashed look from her |
Grand eyes which almost silenced her. |
fou canont understand" she said, !
'oftly.
and Mrs. Carstone felt that she |
poke the truth. Such sentiments as
'"'et had uttered were beyond her |
ON prehension. The girlish, graceful |
.sHTe was drawn up to its full height: |
flashing eyes looked down upon
Why do you say this OF my hus-
sa she asked, "And who has
t1.a YOU"
his Carsto1e repeated the story |