Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-03-07

TIE doWager.
Living in the country" said Violet,
with a smile that was both bitter and
sweet, does not place limit to any
ones intelligence, / hope"
Il do not know returnei Lady
RIVERS, slowly 81 have alw Ays un-
derstood that it did"
There is not, of course, SO much to
see and hear" put in Lady Lester.
Il like great cities and the rush of
life," said Violet; "but think the
finest, noblest, and most poetical ma
lures love the country best. RAN
dolph does. and he is as much poet as
painter.
The dowager rose quickly. 1t was
intolei able to her that this girl should
argue and hold her own with such self
possession. Monica saw that her
mother was ruffled and irritated.
You will not be long, Randolph ?"
said her ladyship as she passed by her
son. "As he has chosen to marry a
girl of that kind, he may entertain
her; | shall not" she said to herself.
Monica had her own method of
managing her mother. The Countess
of Lester never attempted it; she al
lowed everything to take it's own
course. Monica placed her mothers
easy-chair for her. She knew exactly
how she liked her reading-lamp shad-
ed; she knew the exact page at which
to open the periodical she had been
reading. ID was Lady RIVERS within
always to read at the little reading
table set aside for her. Her favorite
periodical was Temple Bar; and it
was we'll understood by her daughters
that the mistress of Ryversdale chose
those few minutes after dinner for
sleep. But there was no dropping of
the proud white eyelids this time.
The dowager looked particularly
wide awake. Lady Lester settled
herself cozily in one of the most luxu-
rious of chairs and closed her eyes.
She did not intend to take any part in
what Monica called the family bat
tues" Violet looked around the large.
magnificent room. She wished that
Randolph would come. She hoped he
would remember how lonely she must
! feel.
Lonely, but perfectly self-possessed.
She was not in the least nervous with
the three ladies. Mentally she thank
ed Heaven that she should not be COM
PEELED to live always with them. II
she could endure her new life--and
she was not sure of it--her time would
not be spent with them. Seeing Lady
Testers eyes closed and Monica busy.
she went over to one OF the side-tables
where some photographs had been
placed, She took up one. II was of
Randolph, taken when he was a boy.
Monica passed as she was looking at
It.
That Is a good photograph" she
said. 1T is the one mamma likes
best of Randolph"
Hearing the remark the dowager
went up to them. Violet held up the
little picture TO her. and, as she did so,
she saw spasm of pain pass over the
proud face
Yes" said her ladyship, that was
Randolph as boy. fine open face.
| was proud of him then"
Are you not proud of him now %
asked Violet.
The elder woman shook her head.
No; am most bitterly disappoint.
ed in him." she replied. His in
fatuation for painting has always been
keen source of trouble to me: and
now you must forgive me IL say that
my disappointment is complete over
his marriage"
Il am sorry" said Violet. stifly.
Sorrow will not mend it. fear"
remarked her mother-in-law. "He is
the head of a noble family and of a
grand old race. / have nothing to
say against you personally; but my
sons marriage is to me the keenest
disappointment in the world"
Then Violet's face flushed holly. and
a light that was not pleasant to see
flashed In her eyes.
1T may be So" she replied. but
question the good taste of saying so to
me-"
There | differ from you al.
together" said the dowager. 81 feel
bound to express my disapprobation to
you. I think you did wrong to marry
my SON.
Il think" rejoined Violet, trying to
speak calmly, that your son did far
worse wrong In marrying me. Per.
haps the circumstances OF that mar.
riase are not known to your"
| They certainly are not" said the
elder woman; nor do l wish to know
them"
Then would IL not be better for
your ladyship to suspend your iudg.
ment until you do know them? You
have spoken your mind: allow me TO
speak mine. Had known that your
son was Lord RIVERS, | would rather
have died than have married him"
The dowager Lady RIVERS looked
at her with wondering eyes.
Am to understand" she asked.
that YOU did not know who my son
was-that you did not know that he
WIS heir OF Ryversdale?"
"Ryversdale!" repeated Violet. with
scoru and contempt that almost an.
Initiated her listener. 81 did not
know there was such place: and
have heeu hrpuVbf nm ~ rasnr,. m