Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-04-25

\ bNiNu my WIZ.
, And after that she said no more. He
| left the room, and II seemed to her
| that the best part of her life went with
him. Not that she hated Violet less
but that she loved her son more They
had been so loving, SO devoted to each
other She had always thought there
| was nc such son, ne thar there VAS no
such mother; and now this girl with
the beautiful face and proud willful
eyes had come between them.
He will not CO." she said to herself.
| lie, who has never been cool to me In
his life, will not leave me SO.
She sat still for many hours; her
pride was too great to allow her to go
in search OF him, to plead or remon-
straue with him-besides which, she
had an idea that it would be quite use
less She sat still, her heart, proud
as she was, torn with different pas
sions-love for her son, regret at los
ing him. and hatred against the girl
who had come between them. Once
she thought she heard his footsteps in
the corridor that led to her room.
Her heart beat fast. He was coming
back to her, this idol of her heart
coming back to say he could not leave
her. that the new love might go, but
the old must remain. But the foot.
steps passed on, and the dream lasted
but a moment Some hours afterward
she heard the sound OF carriage
driven rapidly from the house; and
| then she knew that her son was gone,
ard she wondered vaguely when sha
should see his face again.
"My children have not proved an un.
mixed blessing" she said to herself,
Marguerite has done the best, and
naturally she is the happiest. Monica
would drive any mother to despair;
but | 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, for
he had always seemed greatly inter-
ested in Violet, and much attached to
her: Marguerite would smile serenely,
and no one would know whether she
felt glad or sorry; while Monica, who
loved her brothers wife, would give
way to 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 LcXt, 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 oboyed the somewhat
imperous summons. "She seemed to
think the world has been made for
her"
1T 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 Il queen by nature
she is an outocrat," returned Lord
Lester; "and why we are sent for like
three children | cannot imagine. 1t
right-that there is something wrong
with regard to Randolph and Violet,
If it be so, | shall take Violets side,
and no other"
When Lord Lester saw the dowager,
he knew that they had not been sent
O., or w thppn
was an expression on her ladyship's
proud face which he had never seen
there before.
"Will you close the door," said the
dowager. Il wish to speak to you all
before we meet at dinner. You know
how much dislike any esclandre be
fore the servants. | 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 we'll tell you frankly that |
have written to ask if it were possible
to find any flaw in Randolph's mar
rage. 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 unon myself the whole re-
sponsibility or having written that
letter. said Lady RIVERS, She went
away leaving a letter fer Randolph
telling him that she had annulled the
marriage herself, and should never see
him again He, in his turn, came TO
Euphraid me, 10 tell me that he shonld
! leave Ryyersdale, that | could do with
! L wh2t worla and that, until he mad
found his wife he would never look
upon the face OF his mother or sisters
apuin As | do not wish this scandal 10