Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-04-18
Continued.

in a moment what the letter was
and understood, with her quick lu-
stinct, all that had happened. Her
face flushed, her proud eyes fell, the
iewelled hands trembled. The gil
standing before her with set, scornful
face. looked like an injured queen
The dowager felt almost like a
criminal
Read it. and tell me If it be true,
repeated Violet And for few
seconds the two women looked at each
other in silence that was more terrible
than words.
Slowly enough her ladyship took
the letter and read 1t. Violet stood
still and erect before her. When she
had finished, the dowager looked up.
Well. what do you wish to know
she asked, coolly.
II wish to know, first of all, said
Violet. ''if the letter to which that is
an answer WIS written by you?'
1T was" answered the dowager,
boldly.
You have been trying to discover
NDetHcI tHeIb was any ma" III }
marriage with your son, In order thai
you might separate u.s.
Il have done 50" confessed the
elder woman.
You dislike--nay, | may say that
you hate me so bitterly you would fain
rob me of my fair name and my fair
fame9"
Il am so anxious with regard to my
son." replied her ladyship insolently
that | am Indifferent to all else"
You wish, then, that the marriage
between myself and your son couM
be undone?' Intercepted Violet
II do wish it with all my heart |
would give half possess If it could be
so arranged said the dowager. ct
Is idle to withhold the truth from you
| have done my best; but unfortu1-
ately have failed. wrote to one Ct
the mot eminent firms of lawyers n
London; as you have seen, they have
given an unfavorable opinion"
You have really been endeavoriIg
to find some reason that would enabi .
YOU to have my marriage annulled?'
pursued Violet steadily you tell
ne honestly that such Is the case?'
Yes. There is no need for any
n yClcc in the matter. have
k Y three cases myself in which the
marriage has been set aside as null
and void because the supposed hus-
band was not of age. II seems that IN
Ia
hole for escape
With the same white, set face,
Violet drew nearer to her
Tell me one thing more" she sail,
in a voice that the dowager never for
got until her dying day. Does my
husband know that you have done
this?"
Il told him ! should do it," replio |
her ladyship
And he made no effort to stop you?
He has allowed you to crown all your
other insults with this?'
lie did not say one word to pre-
vent II" che answered.
Great Heaven-and they eau this
nobility" cried Violet. She went
an. trying to speak calmly, III the an.
swer OF your most wicked and un-
womanly letter had seen. Yes, that
in the marriage your son and myself
though perfectly legal, there was a
flaw. what should you have done?"
Il should have insisted on my sons
taking advantage Of It, and at any
price have compelled him to have the
marriage annulled." was the
dowagers answer
The two women stood for few
minutes looking dNedly at each other.
Then Violet, with a shudder, spoke rs
one just waking from hideous
dream
4 will annul the marriage myself"
she said. slowly and solemnly. your
son deceived me- Had known that
he belonged to a class hate, had
known that he would bring me to this
place with surroundings that are
utterly abhoront TO me, would not
have married him. have thought
lately more than once that perhaps
mistook the glamour of girls fancy
for love | will trouble neither YOU
nor him again 4 marriage founded
On deceit Us no marriage. | married
iAe handsome simple young artist
one of my own class did not marry
Lord RIVERS OF Ryversda,e You
need not employ lawyers on my az.
count. viii annul marriage that
is hateful 10 myself"