Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-06-06
Continued.

W
mistress of Ryversdale, that she was
sure Randolph loved me. She was
equally sure that, when he was OF age
he would ask me to be his wife. Sne
told me that he had peculiar IDEAS OF
marriage; but have discovered since
then that they were Of very different
kind from what ! expected.
Lady RIVERS was very cruel IN
talking to me after this fashion. she
would speak of the time when |
should be mistress OF Ryversdale as
though it was a certainty. one day |
ventured to say to her;
"You speak as though ] were en-
gagged to your son, Lady RIVERS,
whereas he has never said one word
of love to me--never one
"'TIe will do So she said, smiling
when the right time comes
Then asked her shyly why she
was so anxious that | should marry
him, and she told me frankly that
even since she had heard of and seen
me, she had wished me to be her sons
wife.
"Not for your money, dear, she
said, although fortune like yours
gives influence and has great adj
vantages--it will help Randolph 70
make a position for himself second to
none in the land. 1t is because you
are in every way fitted for him.
You have every one Of the gifts and
Al 4 a trA for Ia M
you have not one of the drawbacks
that would have grieved me
1T was very consoling; but ! should
have valued one word Of love from
the son more than all these oyertures
from the mother. We were together
three weeks at Holt Castle; adding
those to the seven weeks at RIVERS
dale count my life ten happy weeks.
Some have ten happy years, some
have a whole happy life; | have had
ten perfect weeks
But you may be happy yet said
Violet; you will not spend the whole
OF your life in lamenting for one who
did not love you"
ut sounds like lunacy" said Miss
Mari; but what am to do? | have
given my love; I cannot recall it. 1t
is not my fault. There are some
things irresistible, and this is one.
would free myself from this bondage
of terrible love II | could, Do you
know what this love viii do for me?"
NO" answe. ed Violet, wondering
iy.
1T will kin me, sooner or later. No
one can live long with a broken
heart. and mine is surely broken
Then Violet wondered more and
more This is how Monica had spoll.
EN-. She asked herself if Randolph
had left her had gone away from
ST, Byao's without telling her he loved
her, would her heart have broken?
Would she have felt as though all
life were ended? And this time
there was a thrill both OF pain and
pleasure in her heart as the answer
came. She was beginning to think
differently of her husband. viewing
him In the light of another woman's
love
The strangest part of the story Is
yet to. come said Miss Mari Lady
RIVERS wrote to me in the month of
April, and told me that her son had
asked. as special favor before he
settled in life. that he might have one
year for sketching-tour He had
promised her that, il she would con.
tinuo her administration of his
estates. and extend her reign until
the expiration of that time, he would
willingly attend TO the duties she was
most anxious to urge upon him
That was in April. In June | went 60
Ryyersdale OF course he was alb
sent, and the difference was as great
as between night and day. Stiu
Lady RIVERS talked 10 me i'm the
same tashion-of what | should do
when | went 20 reign over the grand
old house where she had been mis-.
tress so long, what plan OF life She
wished Randolph TO pursue,
Again came the mingled sense Of
gain and pleasure. SO new 10 Violet.
at the sound OF her husbands name
on her rivals lips
This autumn" continued tho heir
ess, Il was staying with some friends
near Ryyersdale. and / heard strange
rumors about the young heir. At
last ! saw Lady RIVERS. AMI she pray
ed OF me 40 urgently 70 go TO her at
RyyerSdale that could not refuse.
But All me, what O different place il
VAS \ blight seemed 70 have fallen
over It. Lady RIVERS looked like n
woman pressed down by some terrible
sorrow, and after awhile, She told it
10 me, II was a strange story. bur
knowing her sons romantic nature. |
cannot say that il surprised me-.
II was by a supreme effort thar
Violet RETAINED from speaking. she
ielt that 4 was her own story She was
about 70 hear. and, for some inex
plicabie reason, She dreaded heariu,
t.
IT seems, continued Miss Mari
l.