Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-06-13

warmed to you the first moment | saw
YOU
Violet wondered whether she would
have liked her at sight had she known
who she was.
Mari. But tell me first, do you won
der at my loving that handsome
face?'
Il do not" said Violet, frankly; cit
is handsome enough to win love-"
Violet in her heart, longed to know
if Randolph had given the portrait
himself. The question trembled on
her lips, but her sense of delicacy
would not let her ask it. Miss Mari
answered it quite unconsciously
The dowager gave me this photo
graph" she said-'indeed, am afraid
1 asked her for it. He did not give it
to me-"
Violet felt a great sense of relief
when she heard that
Il wish he had the heiress went
on. 81 should like to treasure some
thing that he had given me. If he
touched only the withered petal of Il
flower; it seemed clothed with new
life to me. You seem surprised. You
have never loved any one in that mad
fashion, have your"
NO; that l certainly never have"
she replied.
| And Miss Mari laughed a mirthless
laugh that did not suit her youth or
| beauty.
From that hour they were the truest
and warmest of friends.
They were talking one day on the
usual theme, Lord RIVERS, when
Violet, looking up with shy, sweet
eyes at her companion, asked sud
denly:
What was the name of this young
| wife of his whom no one loved?"
Zone did love her. Monica loved
her. She was, believe, devoted to
her, but she never mentioned her.
The dowager would not allow it.
Monica told me that she believed her
sister-in-law was far more sinned
against than SHINING. And, as for
Lord RIVERS, he loved the very
ground on which she stood. Lady
Lester, the other sister, was simply
Indifferent. The dowager was the
only one who actively disliked her,
| and she would not as I have said.
allow her name to be mentioned. I
think she generally called her that
girl l do not remember to have
hear what her Christian name was"
T1u oil no
spent together they had but one
subject of conversation, and it was
Lord RIVERS.
They stood one. morning on the
brow of the hill watching the water
fall that dashed into the basin below.
The heiress turned to her companion.
Have you read" she asked, that
beautiful old story of the two lovers
who were drowned by royal de-
cree?"
L do not remember it," answered
Violet.
ut impressed me-" said Miss Mari,
her dark eyes lingering on the white,
leaping waters; land, strange to say,
always think of it when I stand
here. A great king sentenced man
to death. What do you think the
death was, Violet? He was to be
bound fast to the girl he had long
loved, and they were to be thrown,
alive into the sea. The man was de-
lighted with his death. Perhaps he
had loved the girl long and hopelessly
II cannot say; but he welcomed his
sentence. He declared the supreme
moment of his life would be the last
/ Think know it is a vain, foolish
thought cannot help it think
often, when stand here, that I should
like the same fate"
Violet shuddered at the words
II do not call that love-" she said;
''it is infatuation.''
1T is the truest of love" cried the
heiress; "and the woman who cannot
feel it does not understand even the
nature Of love-"
In some vague way the picture took
possession of Violet. She could see
her tall, fair, handsome husband On
the brow Of the hill, the CLINT of the
him with his arms clasped round this
| woman who loved him so we'll; she
could see them fall together over the
brink, down through the seething,
foaming water, undying love in the
woman's eyes. A cry came from her
| lips, as of one in pain: and Miss Mar
| looked curiously at her.
yI-ho hi In
asked.
/ And Violet, startled, answered
truthfully:
81 was picturing the scene I saw
you go over the fall"
The heiress laughed.
II may some day." she remarked;
''but Lord RIVERS will Lot be with me.
1t is strange that one woman should
value so little what another woman
would give her life for. l wish that
either Lady RIVERS could see her
| husband with my eyes Or that I
could see him with her eyes,
Another morning they stood on the
lawn at Queens Elm feeding the
robins. The heiress had been re-
lating to her attentive listener some
of the incidents Of her late visit TO
Ryversdale. She added, suddenly:
ut is really a terrible thing for a
grand old race like that to become ex-
tinct, all through a mistaken mar.
rage"
Violet looked at her curious1y.
IF you could rule destiny she
said, eff you could control circum.
stances, what would you do? Would