Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-03-14

told him all she thought and felt on
the subject of her sons wife
But, when she confded to him her
intense desire to annul the marriage,
if possible, even the Earl of Lester
felt shocked.
81 do not think it possible he said;
land, even if it were, l do not think it
would be right"
There is no right Or wrong in the
matter" cried the dowager, passion
ately "The whole affair is a huge
mistake: the sooner it is ended the
better"
''But on what ground can you seek
to annul the marriage?" asked the
Earl almost as much surprised as
Lord RIVERS had been. "You cannot
attempt to dissolve it because the girl
has no fortune and no position"
THAT is true. My objection would
be that he was not of age when ne
married, and could not marry legally
without my consent
ct would not hold" replied the
Earl eff you will take my advice,
Lady RIVERS, you will not attempt
anything of the kind You have no
chance of success, and your son will
never forgive you"
Il shall certainly try my best,
whether I succeed or fail" she, de-
clared.
And from that moment Violet had a
strong partisan in the young Earl
II cannot understand" he said to
his wife, "why your mother makes
such terrible fuss. She seems to
hate the girl. I think she would do
her any and every possible injury
She is, without doubt, one of the
most beautiful and charming girls
have ever seen. I do not, as a rule,
believe in unequal marriages; nor do
call this one. Violet has beauty
enough and distinction enough to
make up for all Deficiencies"
The Countess languidly opened her
eyes. It was something quite novel to
hear her husband speak so earnestly.
"You seem to have suddenly grown
very fond of your sister-fn-law," she
said.
"And no wonder" rejoined the Earl
"She has more life and animation
than twenty ordinary women put to-
gether"
Il am very glad that I am an ordin-
airy woman, and relieved from the
trouble of being SO animated obsery-
the Countess.
my dear Marguerite" said the
Earl, you are perfection itself in your
ways. Animation would not suit your
imperial style
The Countess of Lester had never
been jealous-she had always been so
serenely confident of her own powers
of pleasing-but just the smallest
tinge of jealousy colored her thoughts,
and caused her to shun Violet more
than she had done before.
The Earl was most attentive to her.
They agreed and quarrelled, laughed
Lord Lester was amused at her
notions. He called her a Democrat,
a Radical; and she, with all the
eloquence and earnestness of her
nature, denounced him as an aristo-
crat. He delighted in drawing her
out, in rousing her. in debating with
her, and the result was that they be-
came the greatest of friends; and the
strongest ally Violet had in the house
was the Earl of Lester He had no
patience with the dowager. Lady
RIVERS or with his wife Why they
could not accept Violet as one of their
own he could not think More than
once the dowager had regretted send |
ing for this son-in-law who had taken
the very opposite side to the one she |
intended him to take
The family was pretty we'll divided !
now, and, as Monica said, there was
every chance of ga lively time" The |
dowager Lady RIVERS and the Coun- |
tess her daughter, were against the
Earl of Lester and Monica, the cause
of dispute. of course, being Violet.
Monica and Violet were thrown very
much together. On this morning
when they had gone out to feed the
peacocks, Monica had taken a letter
from her pocket; and it was over that
Violet had found her crying.
Violet" said Monica, suddenly.
Come down to the fountain with me:
[ must tell you my story I must talk
to some one, or my heart will break. |
You will think l am very young to
have lover. Marguerite is the eldest
of us all-she is nearly three-and-
twenty; Randolph, you know, is one
and-twenty: I am nineteen. But,
Violet, do you know. I had a lover
when I was sixteen? 1t sounds al
most absurd, but it is true I must
tell you about it."
To be continued