Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-04-25

but a moment. Some hours afterWapd
she heard the sound Of a carriage
driven rapidly from the house; ana
| Their she knew that her son was gone
and she wondered vaguely when shl
should see his face again.
my children have not proved an IN
mixed blessing" she said to herself
marguerite has done the best, anu
! naturally she is the happiest. Monica
would drive any mother to despair;
but I 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, fol
he had always seemed greatly inter
ested in Violet, and much attached tC
her; Marguerite would smile seTenely
and no one would know whether she
felt glad or sorry; while Monica, who
iOEGu uoF ) VIE, NOuiu CIV Z
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 i'm
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.
ct 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; ''and why we are sent for like
three children l cannot imagine 1t
seems to me-and I feel sure I am
right-that there is something wrong
with regard to Randolph and Violet.
If it be SO, I shall take Violet's side,
and no other"
When Lord Lester saw the dowager,
he knew that they had not been sent
for 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. II wish to speak to you all
before We meet at dinner. You know
how much l dislike any esclandre be-
fore the servants. l 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
a servant, given to her. She read it,
and, taking umbrage at it, went away.
may as well tell you frankly that I
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 it annulled."
There was muttered sound from
Lord Lester, a 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 a 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 l could do with
it what l would, and that, until he had
found his wife, he would never look
upon the face of his mother or sisters
again. AS l do not wish this scandal tc
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.
the dowager, holding her head very
erect, quilted the room, leaving them
to digest the news as best they could.
To be continued.