Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-03-21

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that he was my lover-my brave.
beautiful young lover-and that he
was going to marry me.
q saw my mothers eyes fixed on
my face, and horrible sense of COM
ing evil took possession of me. My
mother, you know, Violet, is one of the
shrewdest, quickest people in the
world. Paul came up, looking so
brave, so handsome, so gallant, the
sun shining on his face and his hair;
and, when he saw mel was standing
next to Lady Belfour-such a light
came into his eyes that it was not
difficult to guess our secret.
My mother received him very kind
| ly, though she did not ask him to stay.
Lord Lester was amiable and inter
ested; all the ladies praised him, and
said how handsome he was. And it
struck met may have been my
fancy, but it struck me that most Of
them smiled just little when they
| glanced at me. He fingered, poor
boy, but no invitation to remain for
luncheon came When he babe my
mother good-by, she smiled at him
Violet, how can people smile when
they do cruel things ?-and said:
Will you tell your father that, if
he is riding near the Castle today, l
wish he would call?'
Il should imagine the Honorable
and Reverend Hugh Caerlyon took
he came that same afternoon. l
learned afterward from Paul what she
had said to him She congratulated
him on his sons good looks, and on
his prospects, and then added, with
smile-oh, Violet, my mothers smiles
make me tremble at times that she
had something very especial to say 30
him.
Your son must not come here, my
dear Mr.. Caerlyon; he is far too hand
some. Although | admit that he is
brave, gallant, and, in fact, as fine a
young man as one might wish to see,
still you quite understand that he
"ouIu uOL US 0l1SlUl6. L nave TWO or
three young ladies her whose mothers
have trusted them with me, and |
must not introduce an ineligible young
Adonis like your son. Besides, there
is my own daughter
THE good rector knew nothing of
our mad love affair, SO that he did not
look in the least degree guilty.
Perhaps you are WISE said the
rector; at the same time, you are
rather hard. 1t seems that my sons
good qualities are the cause of his
being deprived of your society,"
Precisely SO, said my mother.
Those same good qualities render
him great deal too charming
But, Violet, before the rector
reached home my lovers patience had
given way. He had written a long
letter to my mother, telling her how
dearly he loved me, and asking if he
might make me his WIFE The most
terrible moment in my life was when
my mother came to me, her face dark
with frows, and that letter open in her
hands.
"'Will you follow me, Monica?' she
said
L knew that tone of voice we'll 1t
froze the blood in my veins. Still, in
my happy ignorance, | said to myself
that no one could part me from my
lover; no matter what any one did,
said, or thought, l could not be parted
from him. My mother led the way to
her own boudoir, the same pretty
room you were in yesterday If she
had sat down, she would have looked
less terrible to me. There she was.
so proud, so tall, so stately, her eyes
flashing ominously and dark frows
on her brow. I remember, Violet, the
very square of carpet on which II
stood; I remember the red rose that
came peeping in at the window. NV
mother looked at me for some
minutes in silence; then she said:
"I am trying not to be angry.
Monica; | want you to tell me the
meaning of this
"She placed my lovers letter in nv
AANAAoo. Wy tColo 4Sii upon IL NOT anu
fast. 1t was so touching, so beauti-
full. | wondered that she herself
could read it without tears. It told
how he loved me, and how every hope
of his bright, eager young life was
wrapped up in me.
I am trying repeated my mother,
not to be angry. We must not be too
hard on the faults and follies of youth.
How this boy found the audacity to
write this letter, l cannot think! II
do not blame you; I shall not even ask
you any questions about it; but, under
stand, the nonsense must be ended at
once. Read that letter through
I read it through my fast-falling
tears.
To be Continued.