Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-01-10
Continued.

Oscar she said. when she found
herself alone with her son for few
minutes, you seem very absent this
morning; and you were very strange
last evening. Will you tell me what
is wrong?"
81 was just on the point of con-
f,ding in you," he answered. The
fact is. I have discovered a secret"
He uttered the last words in such
portentous and important tone that
Mrs. Carstone turned pale.
"A secret" she cried. SOh:s my
dear, Oscar. what is it?''
Hush, mother! Remember, walls
have ears" he said; land no one must
hear one syllable of what I have to
say"
my dear boy. what can be the
matter" Mrs. Carstone asked, in some
alarm
Come out on the terrace with me-"
he said; mo one will overhear us
there"
Mother and son went out together.
Mrs. Carstone laid her hand on her
sons arm as they walked slowly up
and down, for Oscar appeared in no
haste to impart his news.
81 have discovered secret" he
said, at length, "and one that seems
to me of great Importance. | was adj
vised not to mention the subject; but
| must tell YOU"
"You are quite right, Oscar" his
mother declared decisively. "You
may rely upon my prudence. / al
ways say to your dear father that Wo-
men are the safest confidents. after
ALL What is your secret?"
81 hardly know how to tell you," he
replied. 81 have never been so sur
prised in all my life. You know that
we have none of us liked Mr.. Ran
dolph, as he calls himself. We
thought he gave himself great airs
and graces.'
$50 he Does" agreed Mrs. Car
stone.
"Who in the world do you think he
turns out to be. mother?"
Himself, l should say" she re-
piled "My dear Oscar. who else
could he be-"
Mother, you will be astonished.
He is no artist-at least. he is not a
professional artist; he is Lord RIVERS
Of Ryverswell, one of the richest men
in England"
Lord Ryvers!" she gasped. Lord
RIVERS! And we have been so uncivil
to him! Oh, Oscar. what shall we do.
CHI ua 5nSO
81 am not concerned with regard tc
ourselves mother" he replied. ''It is
this which troubles me-if he is LORD
RIVERS, who is the beautiful girl he
calls Mrs. Randolph"
ooh, my DEAR" cried Mrs. Carstone
piteously, what can you mean:
Surely no harm to bright, beautiful
Violet-surely none to herr"
81 do not know. l hope not mother
But | want to know what you think
about it. The whole matter has to me
a very awkward look This man Is
really Lord RIVERS of Ryverswell
He has several fine estates. is reputed
to be enormously rich, and holds g
very high position. Now why should
he be living here under an assumed
name? When people take a false
name, is because they want to de
Ceive some one. The question is
whom does he wish to deceive or mis-
lead?
MY dear Oscar. how clever you
are!" cried the perturbed lady. "Hov
well you argue the point!''
"The only person l can see he de
ceives is bright, beautiful Violet, as
you call her. mother. 1t is quite evi
dent that she is ignorant of all these
things. She does not know his name
his rank, or anything about him. She
believes him to be an artist working
hard for his living The question is
why has he deceived her? And l feal
there can be but one answer"
What an awful thing!" cried the
kind-hearted woman. 81 have always
heard that young noblemen are very
foolish and willful; but, Oscar, he
seems such a good mani"
Seeming and being are different
things, mother" replied Oscar, sen
tentionsly. What is your own
opinion? If everything be quite right
and straightforward, what need of
disguise?"
Very true. Oh, Oscar. what a
lawyer you would have made"
Never mind me. mother" I want
you to think of this girl, not of me-
If she has been cruelty deceived, as
it seems to me she must have been
is it not our duty to open her eyes?'
But Mrs. Carstone looked very
grave.
DO you think it does any good to
try to open peoples eyes?" she said
Il am not very wise, my dear, or very
clever; but l have learned one thing
from experience, and it is not to inter,
fere with other peoples affairs
THAT is right enough in the alb
stract, mother; but this is a peculiar
case. What would you think if Mrs.
Randolph, as we have learned to call
her, were a daughter of your own?
You must do to her what you would
wish any Christian, under similar
circumstances, to do to a daughter of
yours. My firm belief is that the
marriage, even granting that there
has been one, is illegal, and that he
knows it. If it be 50, it is our duty,
mother, to rescue the girl; it is in.
deed
How can we rescue herr" asked
Mrs. Carstone. "I-"
you must do it, mother" he cried
vehemently How can we sit by in