Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-03-07
1horns and Orange Blossoms.
~ THE AUTHOR o.
ROMANCE OF A YOUNG GIRL
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Il thought, having lived all your
! life in the country, you would hardly
enter into these matters explained
8 the dowager.
Living in the country" said Violet
| with smile that was both bitter and
J sweet, does not place limit to any
: ones inteulgence, hope
[ Il do not know" return Lady
RIVERS, slowly. Il have alw iys un'
derstood that 1t did"
| There Is not OF course, so much to
see and hear" put in Lady Lester.
Il like great cities and the rush of
life" said Violet; but think the
finest, noblest, and most poetical ma
lures love the country best. Ran
dolph does and he is as much poet as
painter.
The dowager rose quickly. It was
intolei able to her that this girl should
argue and hold her own with such self
possession. Monica saw that her
mother was ruffied and irritated.
You will not be long, Randolph"
said her ladyship as she passed by her
son. "As he has chosen to marry a
girl OF that kind, he may entertain
her; shall not," she said to herself.
/, Monica had her own method OF
managing her mother The Countess
Of Lester never attempted IT, she al
lowed everything to take its own
course. Monica placed her mothers
easy-chair for her. She knew exactly
how she liked her reading-lamp shad-
ed; she knew the exact page at which
to open the periodical she had been
reading. 1t was Lady RIVERS whim
always to read at the little reading
periodical was Temple Bar; and It
was well understood by her daughters
that the mistress OF Ryversdale chose
those few minutes after dinner for
sleep. But there was no dropping of
the proud white eyelids this time.
The dowager looked particularly
wide awake. Lady Lester settled
herself cozily in one OF the most luxu-
rious OF chairs and closed her eyes.
She did not intend to take any part in
what Monica called the family bat
tues Violet looked around the large,
magnificent room. She wished that
Randolph would come She hoped he
would remember how lonely she must
feel
| Lonely. but perfectly self.possessed
! She was not in the least nervous with
the three ladies'. Mentally she thank
ed Heaven that she should not be com
PEELED to live always with them. If
she could endure her new life-and
she was not sure of it--her time would
not be spent with them. Seeing Lady
Testers eyes closed and Monica busy,
she went over to one OF the side-tables
where some photographs had been
placed She took up one. 1t was of
Randolph, taken when he was boy.
Monica passed as she was looking at
| it.
THAT is a good photograph" she
said. 'It is the one mamma likes
best of Randolph
Hearing the remark the dowager
went up to them. Violet held up the
little picture to her. and, rs she did so,
she saw n spasm Of pain pass over the
proud face.
Yes" said her ladyship, that was
| Randolph as boy. A fine open face.
was proud of him then"
Are you not proud of him now?'
asked Violet.
! The elder woman shook her head,
| mo; | am most bitterly disappoint
ed IN him." she replied. His in
| fatuation for painting has always been
! q keen source of trouble to me; and
now YOU must forgive me il say that
my disappointment is complete over
! his marriage"
! 81 am sorry" said Violet. stiflly.
sorrow viii not mend 1t, fear"
remarked her mother-in-law. 'He Is
/ the head of a noble family and of q
| grand old race. | have nothing to
say against you personally; but my
sons marriage Is to me the keenest
/ disappointment In the world"
Then Violets face flushed hotly, and
IH ii"ht that was not pleasant to see
flashed in her eyes
1T may be So" she replied; "but
qre ton the good taste of saying so 10
me-"
There | differ from YOU al
together" spi1 the dowager 81 feel
bound to evpress nv disapprobation to
veu. think you did wrong to marry
my son.
~ think" rc'oi1ed Violet, trying to
sperk calmly "thet your son did a far
worse wrong "a MARRYING me-. Per
|haps the circumstances of that mar
Irin"" IRE not known TO you?"
They certainly are not s~id the
older woman: nor do / wish to know
them"
Then would IL not he better for
vour l7dvsnip TO suspend your judg-
wcrt until you do know theme You
have spoken vour mind. allow me 10
freak mine, Hold known that your
on wos ord RIVERS. would rather
have died then hove married him 49,