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

detested men, love, lovers and mar
riage. She prophesied the most terri
BILE things for me-"
"None of them have come true, l
hope?'' said Mrs. Carstone.
Nc laughed Violet, blithely, mot
one Of them; and they never will
Your aunt went to your wedding
with you, I SUPPOSE" said Mrs. Car
stone
Eyes, she was present, but, as Mr..
Randolph said afterward, it was like
a Death s-head at feast. She never
smiled, and she looked profoundly
miserable all the time
1T must be all right" thought Mrs.
Carstone. This aunt was evidently a
keen woman. If there had been any
flaw in the proposal, she would gladly
have seized upon it. Certainly there
must have been 2 marriage. The only
question that remains is whether it
was a legal one
'Why did you marry an artist?" she
denly occurred to her.
But there was no consciousness on
Violets face as she answered.:
ct must have been my fate"
Evidently she had no idea that her
husband was anything but an artist.
''You must forgive me if 1 say that,
with your beautiful face, you might
have done much better. You might
have married lord
"a lord" cried Violet, with in
dignant scorn. 81 would not have
married a lord to have saved my life. -
why not?" asked Mrs. Carstone,
wonderingly.
81 hate all aristocrats!" cried
Violet. $50 did my aunt; she brought
me UP to hate them
"How strange!" said Mrs. Carstone.
But she never thought of the con-
meeting link. It did not occur to her
that perhaps Lord RIVERS had hidden
his name and title to win his wife.
She looked at the beautiful face that
would have graced any station.
do you know, Mrs. Randolph" she
said, you are quite an original
character? You are unlike any one l
have ever met"
Then her doubts assailed her again.
That marriage could not have been
legal, or why had Lord RIVERS kept it
so secret?
II do not see that l differ from
Others" Violet replied, except that I
have strong likes and dislikes, and
am true to them"
Mrs. Carstone did not believe that
such a thing was possible as a true
dislike to the aristocracy. 1t made nc
impression on her. Her one desire
now was to find out if the marriage
| were legal or not.
do you visit your husbands family
at a1l?" she said, trying to speak az
though the idea had occurred to her
quite accidentally.
mo" was the girls reply. II dc
not know anything of them
| THAT seems strange" said Mrs
Carstone; "but of course they know
he is married.
II do not know. 1t is a subject we
have never discussed. Mrs. Carstone.'
"a young husband is generally sc
proud to introduce his wife to his
friends. 1t is one of the first things
of which he would think. My hus
band was delighted, l remember, tt
take me home"
81 have never thought of it," replied
Violet. II should think my husband
is very much like myself, almost alon'
in the world"
And again Mrs Carstone felt at /;
loss what to say.
do you think-have you any reason
ried without the knowledge of hi
family?" she inquired.
NO" laughed Violet; 'I have no
thought of his family, nor do l thinl
that he himself has. l must ask him.
Would it vex you to find that ht
has done SOP Mrs. Carstone asked.
mo, l do not think it would" re
piled Violet. 81 should feel sure tina
he had some reason for it. If he hat
relatives living for whom he cared. h
would have talked about them"
HAS your husband always been al
artist?" the other pursued.
eyes, SO far as | know At least. h
must have been; he is so young now
and he has been studying all his life
He could not have been anythin,
else"
you do not seem to know much O
his past, my DEAR" remarked Mrs
Carstone
Mrs. Carstone." the girl said, sud
denly. you have something to tel
me. All these questions and sugges
lions make me feel quite sure of it
You are, as Mr.. Carstone would say
beating about the bush. Now tell me
at once what it means"
To be continued.