Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-06-13


question.
CHAPTER xLvlli.
'I wonder" said Miss MARI. sud
denly, why | have opened my heart
to you, Miss Beaton? / have not
! told this trouble of mine to any one
else. Lady RIVERS guessed it, but
then she knows how it is. Grand
mamma does not know. She wonders
why care for no lovers, why refuse
all offers, why the world is all a
WEAKNESS to me. And it is weari
ness. / am ashamed to say that my
days are dreary.' am young, and
have everything to make me happy;
but happiness and have parted for.
ever. am glad that have told you
my heart feels lighter. | am impuI
sive, you will say; but my heart
warmed to you the first moment saw
you"
| Violet wondered whether she would
have liked her at sight had she known
who she was.
"Give me my locket," requested Miss
MARI. But tell me first, do you won
der at my loving that handsome
face?"
81 do not" said Violet, frankly; ut
is handsome enough to win love"
Violet in her heart, longed to know
IL Randolph had given the portrait
himself The question trembled on
her lips, but her sense of delicacy
would not let her ask it. Miss MARI
answered it quite unconsciously.
"Tbe dowager gave me this photo
graph" sh. said-'indeed, I am afraid
asked her for it. He did not give it
to me-"
Violet felt great sense of relief
when she heard that
II wish he had" the heiress went
on. 81 should like to treasure some
thing that he had given me. If he
touched only the withered petal of n
flower; it seemed clothed with new
life to me. You seem surprised You
have never loved any one in that mad
fashion, have your"
mo; that certainly never have"
she replied.
And Miss Mari laughed mirthless
laugh that did not suit her youth or
beauty.
From that hour they were the truest
and warmest of friends.
They were taking one day on the
usual theme. Lord RIVERS, when
Violet, looking up with shy, sweet
eyes at her companion, asked sud
denly:
What was the name of this young
wife of his whom no one loved?"
"One did love her. Monica loved
her. She was, believe, devoted to
her, but she never mentioned her.
The dowager would not allow it.
Monica told me that she believed her
sister-in-law was far more sinned
against than SHINING. And, as for
Lord RIVERS, he loved the very
! ground on winch she stood. Lady
Lester, the other sister, was simply
Indifferent. The dowager was the
only one who actively disliked her,
and she would not as | have said.
allow her name to be mentioned. l
think she generally called her that
! girl | do not remember to have
hear what her Christian name was"
During nearly all the hours they
spent together they had but one
subject of conversation, and il was
Lord RIVERS.
They stood one morning on the
brow of the hill watching the water
fall that dashed into the basin below.
The heiress turned to her companion.
Have you read" she asked, that
beautiful old story of the two lovers
who were drowned by royal de-
CREEP"
Il dc not remember it," answered
| Violet.
1T impressed me-" said Miss Mari,
her dark eyes lingering on the white,
ieaping waters; land, strange to say.
always think of 1t when l stand
here. A great king sentenced man
10 death. What do you think the
death was, Violet? He was to be
bound fast to the girl he had long
loved, and they were to be thrown,
alive into the sea. The man was de-
lighted with his death. Perhaps he
had loved the girl long and hopelessly
II cannot say; but he welcomed his
sentence. He declared the supreme
moment of his life would be the last.
think--l know it is a vain, foolish
thought cannot help It'll think
often. when | stand here, that should
Ike the same fate"
Violet shuddered at the words
Il do not call that love-" she said:
1T is infatuation."
1T is the truest of love-" cried the
heiress; "and the woman who cannot
feel 1t does not understand even the
nature OF love"
In some vague way the picture took
possession of Violet. She could see
her tall, fair. handsome husband on
the brow of the hill, the CLINT of the
sunlight on his hair; she could see
him with his arms clasped round this
woman who loved him so we'll, she
could see them fall together over the
brink, down through the seething.
foaming water, undying love in the
woman's eyes. A cry came from her
lips. as OF one in pain. and Miss Mari