Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-03-21

better than she can ever do? cried.
No girl in the world is so fortunate as
am
But shadow fell over Paups
bright face. After that, II possible
he loved me more, he came more
often. How 1t was that we escaped
detection cannot think. !. seems to
me now miraculous. WheH the moon
shone went. To the ruined arches.
| and we walked there. always talking
oh, how blind we were!-always Of
the beautiful future before US.
Then my mother and sister re-
turned. The Earl Of Lester came on a
visit. Several guests also arrived
We had dinner-party on the day
after my mothers return, and the
rector was invited. | heard him tell
ing mother about his handsome young
soldier-son, and my mother said ne
must come and see her. He was COM
ing, although no one guessed his
1t was bright June morning, ard the
whole party were out on the white
| terrace.
"'Who is that handsome young
man. asked Lady Belfour, one OF our
guests. What noble head and
facet
my own face burned, my foolish
heart beat fast. longed to cry out
that he was my lover-my brave,
beautiful young lover-and that he
was going to marry me.
Il saw my mothers eyes fixed on
my face, and a horrible sense OF COM
ing evil took possession of me. My
mother, you k now. 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 1t
struck met may have been my
them smiled just a 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:
viii you tell your father that, If
he is riding near the Castle today, |
wish he would CALI?
81 should imagine the Honorable
and Reverend Hugh Caerlyon took
those words as a royal command, for
he came that same afternoon. |
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 n
smile-oh, Violet, my mothers smiles
make me tremble at times that she
had something very especial to say 70
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
would not be eligible. | have 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 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
Il knew that tone OF voice well. II
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, could not be parte'
from him. My mother led the way 70
her own boudoir, the same pretty
room You were In yesterday II she
had sat down. she woUtd have looked
less terrible To me. There she was.
SO proud. so tall, so stately. her eyes
flashing omiuously and dark frows
on her brow. ! remember, Violet, the