Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-07-11


feeling sure that Violet would write
at some time Or other, had ordered al
letters sent to Ryyersdale to be for
warded to Athelstone. The son hat
been too wretched, too Indifferent tC
give any directions W regard to his
letters; he did not expect any from
Violet. The dowager opened botI
letters, read and burned them-ther
| thanked Heaven that the danger was
past, and hoped that the girls wore
would come true, and that she wouli
soon die.
One morning, Miss Marstone, goine
| into her lodger's room, found her lyins
with her face on the ground and {
newspaper crushed in her cold white
! hand.
CHAPTER LV.
The fair sweet month of May
| bringing its own fair crown of nav
| thorn-the fairest May that for many
years had blessed the land It came
with the smile OF sun and song Of
birds and sweetest bloom Of flowers
Over the land lay q veil of tender
green, the sea shimmered beneath the
glorious sun.
To one heart the sunlight, the song
and the flowers brought no joy, nc
happiness, no hope, nothing but the
chill of despair. For the long weeks
had passed without bringing Violet
any intelligence of or from her hus-
band. Mrs. Carstone had been
several times to see her, and found
her on each visit looking paler and
languid, and more i'll, each time more
hopeless.
II shall never see him again." was
the burden Of her cry I must not
blame him. 1t was all my fault
When l had his love, did not value
it; now that l have lost it, am dying
for it. 1t is strange, loving me SO
dearly, that he should not have sent
one word"
do you think it possible that he
may never have received the letters p
asked her friend.
No; had there been any mistake in
the address, they would have been
returned to me. It is that he will not
come; l have tried him too far. 1t s
best perhaps as it is. l shall die, and
he will be free to marry the girl his
mother has chosen for him.
And Mrs. Carstone this time had no
cheering words. She agreed with
Violet that he had lost patience and
cared no more for his wife. She was
terribly anxious concerning Violet
for the girl had chung to her with
kisses and tears, imploring her not
to tell any one, either friend or foe
where she was, threatening that if she
did so, she would go where no one
could follow her or find her; and Mrs
Carstone knew that she would keep
her word, so that to neither husband
nor son could she say one word.
I am sure I shall die" Violet
would say to her quite calmly, her
Woeful eyes looking over the restful
sea; and then they will all be happy
[ shall be out of the way, and no more
trouble to them
But what if you do not dep asked
Mrs. Carstone, anxious to rouse her.
You are a good woman" said
Violet, and Heaven hears the prayers
OF such. Pray for me that l may die.'
AS she spoke she wrung her hands
with a gesture Of despair. She had
given up hope. Once or twice she
thought she would go home to Aunt
Alice and ask to die near the bonny
woods Of st. Byno's, where Randolph
had first met her. AS her strength
decreased a terrible languor came
over her. Her brain and mind were
ever employed. In imagination she
was always with Miss Mari and her
husband. She was sure that thew
were together. The dowager's in,
t1uence had prevailed; Randolph had
learned to look upon her coldly. and
almost forgotten her. Oh, welcome
death that would take her from such q
troubled life!
One morning she felt strangely i'll
and weak. She went down to her
pretty little parlor, where breakfast
was prepared for her. Lately a crav.
ing for news had possessed her, and
she had ordered two or three fashion
able journals, hoping to see her nus.
bands name mentioned, hoping to find
out where Miss Mari was. This
morning she was rewarded, for one
little item of fashionable news ran
thus:
The Earl and Countess of Prince.
thorpe have been entertaining large
and select party Of guests at Prince
thorpe Manor. Amongst the visitors
were Lord and Lady Kintall, Miss
Mari, Colonel Morton, and many
Others"
To be continued.