Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-03-07


one viii trouble about her opinions
while she has that beautiful face
She was positively rude to NE,
arguerite-rude-and to me. No
one has ever spoken to me in such a
fashion; and she says.-listen. my
dear.-she says that, if she had
known Randolph was Lord RIVERS.
she would not have married him. Dc
you believe it?"
she looks truthful said the Coun-
tess of Lester; and Randolph has al
ways had strange notions It may be
ture; but mamma, l would not, if !
were you, come to open warfare with
her. 1t will not be wise"
''She will not be easily crushed, .
replied Lady Ryvers,-'T can see
that"
Not one word more was exchanged
that evening between Lord RIVERS
mother and his wife. Violet's heart
was heavy with Indignation, hot with
anger. She said to herself, over and
over again, that she could not bear it,
that she would not bear it.
She said nothing that evening to her
husband. He looked SO bright and
happy, she would not trouble him; but
in her heart she hated it al,-the
luxury, the magnifcence, the gran
deur, the CEREMONY it all, and
longed even for her old home at St.
Byno's.
There was no one to whisper a
warning that, unless she We're care
full, in learning to hate her husbands
surroundings she might learn to dis
like him.
CHAPTER XxxIIl.
Mother" said Lord RIVERS, do you
like my wife? I should be pleased to
know what you think OF her. She
is very beautiful and graceful Al
her projections will be doubly dear to
me if you admire them"
1t was the morning after their ar
rival. The dowager Lady RIVERS had
excused herself from attending the
breakfast-table under the plea of a
headache; but her son, hearing that
she was not writing letters in her
boudoir, had gone to see her. He was
anxiosuly awaiting his mothers YER
dict
He had been delighted with Monica,
who gave her unqualified approval,
and who. with a rapturous flash from
her eyes and a warm kiss. had cried
out:
q love her, Randolph; she is so
beautiful. I shall love her, and fight
all her battles for her"
I hope there will be no battles to
fight, he answered.
There will, and plenty, too she
said.
Those words had made the young
lord anxious, and he had gone to see
his mother. She looked very stately
and very handsome that morning.
she wore tight-ftting dress of some
black material, with rich ruffles of
pOint-lace at the wrist and the throat.
her white hands shone with Jewels:
the pOint-lace on her hair was fasten-
ed with q golden arrow. She looked
up with q doubtful smile when her son
entered. She did not return his
hearty embrace. Then he went to the
fireplace, and stood Watching her
with anxious eyes.
Tell me, mother" he said what
you think of my wife Every word
you utter in praise of her will be
sweetest music to my ears"
Then Lady Ryvers laid down the
pretty pen with which she had been
busy, and, pushing aside her writing
desk, went to her son and stood by
his side. She laid her hand on his
shoulder, with a gesture that with her
meant caress.
My dear Randolph" she answered,
slowly, Il do not like your wife at all.
[ am sorry to pain you. After the ell
tire devotion Of my life to you, I hoped
that you would bring me a daughter
in-law somewhat to my taste and one
whom I could love. It is not So
She never forgot the little cry OF
pain mat came from his lips, nor the
haggard expression that seemed in
one moment to crush out the beauty
of his face.
4 will not reproach you,'' continued
the dowager, although I am quite at
a loss to know why you acted as you
did. I think, after | had devoted my
life to you and to your interest, the
least you could have done would have
been to consult me in the choice of a
wife; you failed to do So"
MY dearest mother, I fell in love, -
he said as though that would excuse
everything. 81 never thought I should
do such thing"
eft would have been just as easy to
have fallen in love, as you phrase it
with girl in your own rank OF life"
My dearest mother. Violet is q
lady" he demonstrated.
To be continued.
HOLMAN AT HEAD.