Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-03-21
Continued.

There wac q square in the midst OF
me grounds wherein stood three
fountains made from the finest Car
rara marble, sculptured by the hands
Of the great master of the day. Seats
and shrubs and Towering plants had
been placed aroung thin so that the
whole presented a most picturesque
appearance.
It was thither the two girls went
and two men looked after them with
longing eyes-Lord RIVERS, who hap
pened to have an appointment to meet
his steward, and Lord Lester, who
would have followed them but that his
wife was keeping guard over him.
They sat down near where the silvery
spray fell into the marble basin, max
ing soft music as the tiny drops fell;
about them the pigeons futtered, but
on this morning Violet's whole atten-
ton was given to her companion, and
not to them.
Il have had a letter." said Monica,
which is breaking my heart. Violet,
be patient with me while I cry; ali
the morning the tears have been lying
behind my eyes, until even my eyelids
ache; and mamma wanted so many
things, and Marguerite was so tire.
some-I think it is a great infiiction
to have a sister a countessi Oh,
Violet, let me cry!"-and Monica laid
her head on the marble basin, and
wept as if her very heart would
break
Violet spoke no word; she saw that,
whatever the trouble might be. words
would not touch it.
When the paroXysm of weeping had
ended, Monica looked up with half
drowned eyes.
Il am ashamed" she said. 'but
cannot help it; I cannot indeed.
must give vent to my feelings. He is
going away, and I shall never see him
again"
Tell me about it," said Violet. her
heart warming to the girl who seemed
SO unhappy.
That is what I want to do,' re-
turned Monica; Il know you will keep
my secret. I must tell you first,
Violet, that when | was sixteen NAM
ma left me here with my governess,
Miss Rowley, while she went to Lon
don with Marguerite for the season.
1t was then that the Earl of Lester fell
in love with my sister, although they
were not married until some time
afterward. Miss Rowley was very
clever and very conscientious; but
during mammals absence she was not
well, and | had plenty of time on my
hands for the mischief | found to do.
Every day | had a certain quantity of
work allotted to me. which | contrived
to get through as speedily as possible,
SO that might have more leisure for
myself. One morning l went to ST.
MichaePs Well, and there, seated on
one of the great messy stones, was a
young man wearing the uniform of a
cavalry officer
Il must tell you," went on Monica,
that the Rector of Ryversdale be-
longe to very old family-the Caer-
lyons of Caerswell. The family is old
and so honorable that even mamma
respects and esteems them, and
speaks of them as people of some con-
sideration. The rector, the Honorable
and Reverend Hugh Caerlyon, is one
of the younger sons of a younger
branch of this great family; but he is,
TO use mammals expression, wretchedly
poor, having nothing but his income as
Rector of Ryversdale-and that is not
much. Mrs. Caerlyon is dead; never
heard anything of her. If there had
been a mother living, should not
have fallen into such mischief.
You must understand, Violet, that
the rector often visited U.S. Mamma
is sohle respects considered him her
equal: she forgave his poverty on ac-
count of the antiquity of his family
He came often to dine with us. am
not sure whether mamma knew that
he had son. No one ever mentioned
him, until one day the rector told us.
with great glee, that his son had been
presented with a commission in the
famous regiment of the Black Ian
GERS. After that. nothing more was
said of him. It was this very son.
this Paul Caerlyon, who | found by
st. Michaels Well. His regiment had
been ordered to Queenstown, a large
garrison town not far from RIVERS
dale, and he spent a great deal of time
At his fathers house.
He knew me, although / did not
Rnow him. He did not seem to be at
al embarrassed. but told me what a
favorite spot Of his st. Michael's Well
was. We became very good friends.
All, no. that it not the truth! We
were never friends; we were lovers
from the first moment we met.
Yes, lovers. I was sixteen, but he
was more than twenty. Oh, Violet
how handsome he was His com.
piexion was dark: and he had dark.
blue eyes and black hair. know
every line of his face by heart. be
cause you see, worship it. He had 2
Slight dark mustache, but it did no,
hide the full firm lips. Looking a,
them when they were closed. one
thought how firm and brave and de
termined he was; looking at him whe1
he smiled. one thought he had the
tenderness of a woman. He had rid
den over from Queenstown after some
regimental exercise, and had walked
from his fathers house to see his
favorlte spot. There, by the side o
the deep, dark water, by the cool
messy stones, in the shade of the tai
chm, we met our fate. When b,
spoke to me, my heart went out t,
him; and oh, Violet, Violet, it ha.
never come back to mo Whom