Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-07-25


sight of the heir of Ryversdale; but
when he mentioned this to Violet, he
saw her face change.
Randolph" she said, 81 registered
, VOW that I would never go back to
Ryversdale unless your mother asked
me-"
"Will you go if she does ask your
he said. will you go and forget all
that has passed there, and begin a
new life that shall have no cloud?"
Begin" she supplemented with a
smile, ito wear orange blossoms that
have no thorns? Oh, Randolph, how
little | dreamed how sharp those
thorns could be-"
There shall never be another" ne
said. ''Violet, if my mother and
sisters come to you, and ask you to go
to Ryversdale, will you go?"
Eyes" she said; and he sealed the
promise with a kiss.
CHAPTER lVIlI.
The dowager Lady RIVERS was not
the happiest Of women. Estranged
from the son she loved, with dis
agreeable consciousness of having be-
haved cruelty and unjustly to his wife,
she found little pleasure in her life.
Miss Mari had been to see her, but
the visit had not been Of the most
pleasant kind. She had done her best
to heal all differences between mother
and son; but Lord RIVERS had de-
clined to visit Athelstone, and had re-
fused all overtures. Monica was un-
happy, was losing her good looks and
spirits-in fact, life was going wrong
with the dove ger altogether
she knew hit in destroying Violet's
letters she had done a wicked and
cowardly deed. Her conscience re-
preached her with it continually. 1t
was treachery for when there was no
pardon; and the fear of what her so
would say, should he ever know It,
preyed SO much on her mind that
Lady RIVERS felt positively i'll.
Great was her surprise and dismay
when, one day, on taking up the Morn
ing Post, she found amongst the
Births" the following announce
ment-
con Tuesday, May Sd, at Weston-on-
sea, Lady RIVERS, of a son.
So this was why Violet had written
SO urgently, this was why she had
begged of her husband to go to see
her! The doWager was disarmed.
The last glimmer of hope died in her
heart when she read this. If ever
there had been chance of setting
aside he marriage or of finally part
ing husband and wife, she felt that
there was none now. In spite Of all
her GOODNESS, pride, and worldiness,
something warmed her heart as she
thought of the little heir of RIVERS
dale.
She called Monica, and showed har
the paragraph.
ooh, mamma" cried the girl, you
must be friends with Violet now, She
is a person of double Importance.
Poor sweet Violet! I am so heartily
glad!
And, oddly enough, her mother was
not angry with her. The dowager
wondered, with some anxiety, whether
she should hear any further news
but none cane until the beginning of
June, when Randolph suddenly ap-
peared. He had followed her into the
garden, and stood looking at her over
the rOses-trees.
81 want you, mother" he said
Can you find a few minutes for me?
l have something very particular to
say"
She came from amongst the roses,
looking very stately. very handsome,
proud, and pale. He offered her his
arm and led her to the pretty trellised
summer-house, then placed her on the
cushioned seat, and, with his arms
folded, stood looking at her.
Mother" he said at last, my wife
Violet has been very near death. If
she had died, you would have been
the cause" The proud face paled a
little,
You would have been the cause.
he repeated. Mother, why did yol
destroy the letters Violet sent to me?"
How do you know that destroyed
them?" she asked.
my own sure instinct tells me So
he replied.
You do not deny it,
81 do not" said Lady RIVERS
proudly.
why did you do it," he asked.
ct was the foolish act of des-
c1,o
wished you to meet her again; she
had brought sorrow enough into our
lives"
1T was a treacherous deed" he re-
joined.
q considered the end justified the
MEANS" she declared; and for some
minutes there was silence between
them.
Mother he said gently, bending
his handsome forehead over her, 1--WE
are neither of us happy while we are
estranged. I have come to make
peace. I will forgive and forget all
that has passed, if you will come
back to me to Weston-on-Sea and ask
Violet to go home to Ryversdale. She
will never go without. She has near
ly lost her life through you. To make
amends for that, will you, as no one
else can, reinstate her and give her q
hearty welcome to Ryversdale? Oh,
| mother, do this for my little sons
sake. Your heart will relent to the
mother when you see the child
There was g sharp struggle in The
! uowager's proud heart before she az
swered. Then she put her arms
| rom lo7. CONS