Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-04-25

1ered my VIE.
And after that she said no more. He
left the room, and it seemed to her
that the best part of her life went with
him Not that she hated Violet less
but that she loved her son more. They
had been so loving, so devoted to each
other. She had always thought there
was no such son, he that there was no
iucn mother; and nor this girl with
he beautiful face and proud willful
eyes had come between them.
HE win not CO." she said to herself.
He, who has never been cool to me in
his life. viii not leave me SO.
She sat still for many hours; her
pride was too great to allow her to go
in search Of him, to plead or remon-
strate with him-besides which, she
had an idea that it would be quite use
less. She sat still, her heart, proud
as she was, torn with different pas
sions-love for her son, regret at los
ing him, and hatred against the girl
who had come between them. Once
| she thought she heard his footsteps in
the corridor that led to her room
Her heart beat fast. He was coming
back to her, this idol of her heart
coming back TO say he could not leave
her. that the new love might go. but
the old must remain. But the foot
steps passed on, and the dream lasted
but a moment Some hours afterward
she heard the sound of carriage
driven rapidly from the house; and
| then she knew that her son was gone,
and she wondered vaguely when shd
should see his face again.
aMy children have not proved an un-
mixed blessing" she said to herself.
| Marguerite has done the best, and
naturally she is the happiest. Monica
would drive any mother to despair;
but shall bend her will to mine yet.
My son, the love of my heart, the
pride Of my life-he has made the
greatest mistake of all"
She did not like her task of telling
the others what had happened. Lord
Lester, she knew, would be vexed, for
he had always seemed greatly inter
ested in Violet, and much attached to
her: Marguerite would smile serenely,
and no one would know whether she
felt glad or sorry; while Monica, who
loved her brothers wife, would give
way to a storm of tears.
She did not like the task; still there
was no alternative; and, when the
twilight fell, she sent for the three to
her room. Monica came first, all won
der, the fair and gracious Countess of
Lester next, without any wonder at all,
and Lord Lester, feeling somewhat in
patient lest dinner should be delayed,
entered last.
your mother is rather too much OF
a Semiramis, my DEAR" he said to his
wife, as they obeyed the somewhat
imperious summons. "She seemed to
think the world has been made for
her"
at might have been made for a
worse person. said the Countess,
serenely. Some women are queens
by nature, and some by right divine.
Mamma is a queen by nature"
"She is an outocrat," returned Lord
Lester; land why we are sent for like
three children l cannot imagine. 1t
seems to me--and feel sure l am
right-that there is something wrong
with regard to Randolph and Violet.
If it be so, | shall take Violet's side.
and no other"
When Lord Lester saw the dowager,
he knew that they had not been sent
Tor from any caprice or whim; there
was an expression on her ladyship's
proud face which he had never seen
there before.
"will you close the door?" said the
dowager. 81 wish to speak to you all
before We meet at dinner. You know
how much dislike any esclandre be-
fore the servants. | have to tell you
that the girl with whom my son is so
unfortunately infatuated left RIVERS
dale this morning, avowing her inten-
ton of never returning. A letter in
tended for me was, by the stupidity of
q servant, given to her. She read it,
and, taking umbrage at it, went away.
may as we'll tell you frankly that |
have written to ask If it were possible
to find any flaw in Randolph's mar
riage, as the one great desire of my
heart is to have ii annulled."
There was muttered sound from
Lord Lester, passionate burst of
tears from Monica, but, from the ex.
preston on Lady Testers face, it was
impossible to tell whether she was
pleased or not.
Il take upon myself the whole re-
sponsibility of having written that
letter" said Lady RIVERS. She went
away leaving letter for Randolph,
telling him that she had annulled the
marriage herself, and should never see
him again. He. in his turn, came to
upbraid me- to tell me that he should
leave Ryversdale, that could do with
ii what would, and that, until he had
found his wife, he would never look
upon the face of his mother or sisters
again. AS do not wish this scandal to
reach the servants. you will please
to speak of their departure as of an
event for which we were all prepared"
And, without another word, without
| giving any one time TO form a reply