Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-05-09
CHAPTER XIII.

stone had referred. mrs. Beresfori
made all the necessary arrangements
, for her, and 1t was settled that she
, was to go to Queens Elm in the fol
lowing week. She. had resumed her
maiden name; she would not hide
under any alias. Just as she mad
taken off her wedding-ring and placed
It away. so now she laid aside the
name that she dislked and resumed
that of her parents.
The dowager and her children
wanted to annul her marriage, and
they should be gratified: she would
annul it herself. Deep down in her
heart lay the firm conviction that no
human power cound undo marriage,
that it could be dissolved only by
death; but If the dowager and her
children liked to speak of marriage as
though it were a ceremony to be set
aside at will and pleasure, let them
She would adopt the same view, and
so free herself.
Mrs. Carstone listened, as she did
to everything Violet said with
smile. She made no further attempt
to argue to demonstrate, or interfere.
She had begun to realize that time
was the only thing which would
bring matters right and in silence
she agreed to all Violet's whims. She
said nothing about the wedding-ring
that lay in the drawer up stairs.
| Dearly as she delighted to speak Of a
grand acquaintance, she carefully re-
Trained from mentioning the fact that
| the young Lady RIVERS Of Ryversdale
was staying with her. She did all
she could to further Violet's views
and intentions. She told her to make
what use she would Of her name, that
she would be only too pleased to be a
reference for her.
But you will soon tire OF the
position you have chosen to FILL" she
said "A few months will show you
how different 1t IS from that which
you have hitherto occupied, and you
will be ready to forgive even the
dowager Lady RIVERS by that time"
81 will never forgive her while |
live" said Violet. passionately "and
| would rather die Of hunger than go
back TO her"
Nevertheless you are going
amongst arlstocrats again" remarked
Mrs. Carstone. quietly,
Violet looked perplexed,
1T will not be forever" she said,
Il shall work my way back to my own
class in time"
Tho situation promised well.
! Violet was to act as companion to an
elderly lady, Mrs. Ingram, of Queen
{ Elm. who had long lost her husband,
| and wanted some one to be con.
stantly with her. She had neither
sons nor daughters living, only one
grandchld OF this grandchild Mrs.
Beresford knew nothing, except that
| she was very beautiful and would be
| great heiress as all the accumulated
wealth of the Ingram family would
| be hers.
| The granddaughter, heiress and
/ beauty though she was, did not enter
much into Violet's calculations; she
| did not spend much time at Queens
| Elm, and would have nothing TO do
| with her, lnsensibly she grew IN
terested in Mrs. Beresfords account
| OF Queens Elm, one of the oldest
immortal houses in the land, and
| which took its name from the fact OF
| its having once been the residence
| of Queen Philippa of Hainault
There was q lovely alley called
Queen Philippa's walk. a grand old
| oaken room with quaint tapestry
called Queen Philippa's chamber: and
| the long magnificent row Of elms.
some of which the royal hands were
supposed TO have planted, was called
the Queens Grove.
| From the number OF elms about It
the place had taken its name. They
/ also gave the name TO the pretty coun-
! try town of Elm Green, which lay at
distance of about five miles from the
old manor-house, The scenery was
/ very beautiful there were deep
streams. green hills crowned with
trees fertlle meadows, and fruit-laden
orchards.
II was the end of September when
Violet reached Queens Elm. She
had been tiercely independent up to
the very last She had refused any
assistance from Mrs. Carstone; she
refuse any escort. laughed at the
/ idea. and seemed 70 take the keenest
DELIGHT in ignoring every aristocratic
/ tradition.
Mrs Carstone had long since
licensed all remonstrance: she saw
sufficiently clearly into Violet's
|aurluty Surely nothing could b.
centuries ana one built IN the most
. character 10 70 quite sure that
.neIther opposition nor contradiction
would q, Of any use,
The only thing was to let her take.
/ her own way-and Violet did She
reached Queens Elm on fine Sep.
temher evening, when the old place