Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-01-17
CHAPTER XIV.

Mrs. Carstone you must give me |
time to think and to speak. You
must not hurry me-"
Then you have something to tell
mel" cried Violet 81 felt quite sure
of it. What is it. Mrs. Carstone?"
81 do not like my task at all. L
would not have undertaken it, but my
husband and son insisted upon it
"Your husband and SOM" said
Violet, proudly. What have they to
do with me?"
Nothing; but they felt that the
mystery ought to be cleared up
what mystery? There is nc mys-
terry concerning me- said the young
girl, more proudly still.
Unfortunately there is very I'M
mistakable mystery" replied Mrs.
Carstone.
Then Violet rose from her pretty
garden-chair, and stood. erect and
! naughty before her companion.
"You must say more, now that you
have said so much" she declared.
''To my mind, the very word mystery
is distasteful and l am proud to say
there is none attached to me-"
She stood erect and naughty
enough, most fair to see. her dress of
pale blue sweeping the ground in
graceful folds. the slanting sunbeams
falling on her golden hair and beauti-
full face-a face flushed now with in
dignation. The proud. sweet lips
trembled, and the white hands toying
with the vien-leaves were not quite
steady
Nov, Mrs. Carstone. what is the
mystery?" she persisted.
eff you are going to be angry with
me- said Mrs. Carstone. Il cannot
tell you at ALL
And she looked so distressed that
Violet's heart smote her.
81 am not angry" she replied.
why should be? I am q tie sure of
one thing-you would not do or say
anything knowingly to hurt me-"
81 wish I knew how to tell you in
, such words that could not annoy you.
Perhaps you will think it is not my
business, and that I need not have
spoken. Still it seems right that you
should know Mrs. Randolph, your
, husband is not what he seems to-be.' u
Violet's face grew paler and
, prouder.
+ 'In what way?" she asked. 81 will
+ believe nothing but what is good OF
+ him.
"He is not what he seems to be-" re
[ peated Mrs Carstone. ''He calls him
Z to be an artist, in both respects acting
+ untruthfully. Your husbands name
( is not Randolph neither is he al
artist"
who and what is he. them" asked
the girl, in low. hoarse voice.
, 1t seemed to her impossible that he
,, should be anything but the gallant
loyal lover she had always known.
. HE is Lord RIVERS of Ryversdale
:, one of the wealthiest men in Eng
;, land"
! The effect Mrs. Carstone's words
q produced was quite different from
o what she expected. The beautiful
;. face before her grew white to the
. very lips. and the light died from the
q violet eyes.
= 81 do not believe it," the CIR
p gasped, at length II will not believe
it, I should hate him if it were
!. true?'
''It is as true as that the sun shines
; in the heavens" replied Mrs. Car
. stone.
81 will not believe it," Violet re
peated.
ct is most positively true" said
Mrs Carstone. HE is Randolph LORD
RIVERS, and he belongs to one of the
grandest old families in England; he
is a thorough aristocrat."
can aristocrat!" cried the girl: and
the word, as it came from her lips
, was worse than sheer. "I-I hate
them" she gasped. 81 will not be
lieve it."
! tIt seems to me that. if l had told
! you your husband was thief. of q
forger, instead of nobleman. you
could not be more angry" said Mrs.
Carstone
Il should not be one half SO angry,
declared her companion. You can
not understand; you have not been
trained as 1 have been. Hatred of all
such runs with the blood in my
veins"
1T is very foolish" Mrs Carstone
said, astonished; there is no sense
nor reason in it,
But Violet flashed a look from her
grand eyes which almost silenced her
you canont understand" she said
loftily.
And Mrs. Carstone felt that she
spoke the truth. Such sentiments as
Violet had uttered were beyond her
comprehension. The girlish, graceful
figure was drawn up to it's full height
the flashing eyes looked down upon
! her.
why do you say this of my hus-
band?" she asked "And who has
told you?"
Mrs. Carstone repeated the story
exactly as she had heard it. An old
college friend Of Lord RIVERS had
recognized him. and had gone away
lest any complication Or unpleasant
ness should arise through his recogni-
! ton.
Il do not believe one word Of it,"
declared Violet, emphatically, when
Mrs. Carstone had finished her recital
He has been deceived by Mr.. Ran
dolph's resemblance to some one else |
he knows. Such a thing frequently |
happens. 1t is easier for me to be- /
lieve every man in the world mistaken
RI Io int