Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-06-13
CHAPTER XLViii.


CHAPTER xLVHi.
~ wonder" said Miss MARI sud
denly why have opened my heart
TO you. Miss Beaton? ! have not
told this trouble of mine to any one
else. Lady RIVERS guessed it. but
then she knows how it is. Grand
mamma ecc~ M rrow. She wonders
why care 20 no overs, why refuse
all offers, Why the world is all o
weariness to me And it Is a weari-
ness am ashamed to say that my
days are dreary.' arr young, and J
have everything to make me happy;
but happiness and ! have parted for
ever am glad that have told you;
my heart feels lighter | am impul-
slye. you will say; but my heart
warmed to you the first moment saw
you"
Violet wondered whether she would
have liked her at sight had she known
who she was.
GIVE me my locket," requested Miss
Mari. But tell me first, do you won.
der at my loving that handsome
face?"
II do not" said Violet, frankly; ut
Is handsome enough to win love-"
Violet in her heart, longed to know
il Randolph had given the portrait
himself. The question trembled on
her lips, but her sense OF delicacy
would not let her ask it, Miss Mari
answered it quite unconsciously.
"The dowager gave me this photo
graph" she said--"indeed, am afraid
/ asked her for it. He did not give it
to me-"
Violet felt great sense of relief
when she heard that.
Il wish he had the helress went
on. II should like to treasure some
thing that he had given me. If he
touched only the withered petal of II
flower; it seemed clothed with new
life to me. You seem surprised. You
have never loved any one In that mad
fashion, have you?"
mo- that | certainly never have, y
she replied,
And Miss Mari laughed mirthless
laugh that did not suit her youth or
beauty.
From that hour they were the truest
and warmest of friends.
They We're talking one day on the
usual theme, Lord RIVERS, when
| Violet. looking up with shy, sweet
eyes at her companion, asked sud
denly:
What was the name of this young
wife of his whom no one loved"
"One did love her, Monica loved
her. She was, | believe, devoted to
her, but she never mentioned her
The dowager would not allow It,
Monica told me that she believed hes
sister-iu-law was far more sinned
gSainst than SHINING. And, as for
Lord RIVERS, he loved the very
ground on which she stood. Lady
Lester the other sister, was simply
Indifferent The dowager was the
only one who actively disliked her.
and she would not as have said
allow her name to be mentioned. /
think she generally called her that
girl do not remember to have
hear what her Christian name was "
During nearly all the hours they
spent together they had but one
subject OF conversation and it was
Lord RIVERS.
They stood one morning on the
brow OF the hill watching the water
fall that dashed into the basin below.
The hcircss turned 20 her companion.
"Iaye You read sha asked, that
beautiful old story Of the two lovers
who were drowned by a royal de-
cree2'
81 DO not remember IT," answered
Violet
"lt impressed mn" said Miss Mari
her dark eyes lingering on the white,
Ie3pjug waters and strange 70 say,
Z always think OF 70 when stand
here. A great kiug sentenced q man
70 death What do YOU think the
death was, Violet? He was to be
bound fast 10 the girl he had long
loved. and thgy were TO be thrown,
yliNo iuto the sea. The man was de-
lighted with his DEATH Perhaps he
had loved the girl Ions ana hopelossiy
j ,Wnol Say bgi he Welcomed his
sentence He declared the supreme
w0mo"t OF his ne would be the last
think know ii is d vain, foolish
thought cannot help i'll think
often, WHOM stand here, that I should
Ike the same fate"
Violet shudjered al the words
u do not call that love" she said;
1T Is iufatuauon."
"lt is the uuest Of love" cried the
helress; and the woman who cannot
teel IL does not understand even the
nature of love"
In some vague way the picture took
possession OF Violet. She could see
bar tan fair, handsome husband on
The brow Of the HILL the CLINT ol tn,
sunlight on his hairs she could see
him with his arms clasped round this
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