Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-01-10
Continued.

morning; and you were very strange (
last evening. Will you tell me what
is wrong?"
81 was just on the point OF con-
fsding in you" he answered. The
fact is. have discovered a secret.
He uttered the last words in such
portentous and important tone that
Mrs. Carstone turned pale.
"A secret" she cried. "Oh. my
dear, Oscar. what is it?'
Hush, mother! Remember, walls
have ears" he said; "and no one must
hear one syllable Of what l have to
say"
"My dear boy. what can be the
natter" Mrs. Carstone asked, in some |
alarm.
Come out on the terrace with me-"
he said; mo one will overhear us
there"
Mother and son went out together.
Mrs. Carstone laid her hand on her
sons arm as they walked slowly up
and down. for Oscar appeared in no
haste to impart his news.
Il have discovered a secret" he
said, at length. "and one that seems
to me of great Importance. was ad-
vised not TO mention the subject; but
| must tell you"
You are quite right, Oscar" his
mother declared decisiyely. You
ways say to your dear father that wo-
men are the safest confdents. after
all. What is your secret?"
81 hardly know how to tell you" he
replied. Il have never been so sur
prised in all my life You know that
we have none of us liked Mr. Ran
dolph. as he calls himself We
thought he gave himself great airs
and graces."
$50 he does" agreed Mrs. Car
stone.
who in the world do you think he
turns out TO be. mother!"
Himself, | should say" she re
piled. My dear Oscar. who else
could he be-"
Mother, you will be astonished.
He is no artist-at least. he is not a
professional artist: he is Lord RIVERS
of Ryverswell. one of the richest men
in England"
Lord RIVERS" she gasped Lord
RIVERS, And we have been so uncivil
to him. oh, Oscar. what shall we do, |
what shall we do?"
Il am not concerned with regard to |
ourselves mother" he replied. III Is
this which troubles me-if he is LORD
RIVERS, who is the beautiful girl he
calls Mrs. Randolph"
"0h. my DEAR" cried Mrs. Carstone,
piteously, what can you mean?
Surely no harm TO bright, beautiful
violet-surely none to herr"
81 do not know. hope not mother.
But / want to know what you think
about it. The whole matter has TO me
very awkward look. This man is
really Lord RIVERS of Ryverswell.
He has several fine estates. is reputed
to be enormously rich, and holds a
very high position. Now why should
he be living here under an assumed
hame? When people take a false
name, is because they want to de-
ceive some one. The question is.
whom does he wish TO deceive or mis-
lead?"
My dear Oscar. how clever you
are" cried the perturbed lady. How
well you argue the point"
The only person can zee he de- H
ceives is bright. beautiful Violet, as
you cell her. mother. II is quite evil
dent that she is ignorant of all these
things. She does not know his name.
mis- rank, or anything about him. She Il
believes him to be an artist working
hard for his living. The question is,
why has he deceived her? And fear /,
there can be but one answer"
What an awful thing" cried the
kind-hearted woman. 81 have always
heard that young noblemen are very
foolish and willnl; but, Oscar, he
seems such a good mani"
Seeming and being are different
things, mother" replied Oscar. sen.
tentionsly. What is your own
opinion? II everything be quite right
and Straightforward. what need of
disguise?"
Very true. Oh. Oscar. what
lawyer you would have made"
Never mind me. mother" ! want
you 20 think OF this girl. not Of me.
II she has been cruelty deceived. as
IL seems 10 me she must hsye been.
is IL not our duty to open her eyes?"
But Mrs. Carstone looked very
grave.
DO you think il does any good to
try to open peoples eyes?" she said.
Il am not very wise. my dear. or very
clever; but have learned one thing
from experience. and ii is not TO inter
fere with other peoples affairs"
''Fhat IS right enough in the abb
stract. mother; but this Is a peculiar
case. what would you think II Mrs
Randolph, as VIC have learned to call
her. were a daughter OF your own?
You must DC 10 her what you would
wish any Christian. under similar
circumstances. 10 DO TO a daughter OF
yours. ny firm belief is that the
marriage. eyen granting that there