Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-05-15

Come in, Miss Forster" she said !
''You will be glad to have some tea, |
am sure"
A coy little table was drawn to the
fire; a silver tea-service, with cups
and saucers of SeVres china, was /
placed on it. l took seat, and then |
Lady Culmore forgot all about me. She
sat looking into the fire, holding in her
white hand a fan of delicate feathers. !
! Evidently she saw pictures in the fire /
which I could not see, she read; stories ,
there which I could not read.
! After a short interval, a servant
| brought in a silver stand and kettle, !.
and placed them on the table.
''Sir Rudolph is coming, my lady,
he said
| had thought her cold and without
emotion, but l saw now that had been
mistaken Her face changed. The
peculiar pallor of the lips disappeared,
the mask as of stone fell; there was
the flushed, passionate, beautiful face
of living, loving woman. l noticed
that she placed one hand over her
heart, as though she would stIll its
beating | have never seen such pain,
such passion, such intensity Of longing
in any human eyes as l read in hers.
i Again the door opened, and Sir
Rudolph entered. l forgot at first to
look at him. in the wonder l felt at
her The agony in the eyes of
frightened bird when the snake first
fixes it would give faint idea of the
expression in hers; yet in them shone
. a CLEAN of Uncomfortable despair
ing love. But, when he spoke, looked
at him. He was not a model of manly
beauty; but he had face that, once
: seen, could never be forgotten. He
J was tall, with the erect figure. the
broad shoulders, the muscular limbs
that distinguish a true Englisnman.
The chief charms of his face lay in his
r mouth and eyes. The mouth was ten
: der, proud and firm, its graceful lines
unhidden by the dark mustache.
5 could never describe the beauty, the
power and the pathos of his eyes.
: When they looked at me, they were
kindly, clear and bright; when they
fell on Lady Culmore's face, I read
aversion and fear in them.
Sir Rudolph held out his hand, and
1 babe me welcome to Uuuamere. His
greeting was a thousand times more
kindly than Lady Culmore's had been
He said that he hoped I should not find
it dull-that he spent his own time in
reading, boating, fishing, and rambling
over the hills. And all the time he
spoke his Wife's eyes were fixed on
him with the look Of a frightened bird
We sat down, and, if ever there was
a study, these two, husband and wife,
{ presented one. I see the whole scene
so plainly-the magnificent room, with
5 the pale clear light from the wax
tapers, the glow of the fire as in fell
on the pictures and statues, the bloom
and fragrance of the dollhouse flowers
| shall never forget how the freight
fell on the rich dress and jewels, the
fair hair and beautiful face of Lady
CulmOre, and on the dark head and
noble face of Sir Rudolph. Had she
dOnned the rich robe and gems to
, please Sir Rudolph? If so, it was in
deed labor in vain. After the first
half-shrinking look, his eyes were
carefully averted from her. | could see
: that plainly. 1t was not careless in
, difference; it was that he would not
l look at her. When he spoke to me, his
eyes met mine with a frank open ex-
} preston. If Lady Culmore addressed
him, they were studiously fixed on
anything but her.
: AS tea proceeded, the wonder to me
grew greater. When Sir Rudolph ad-
dressed his wife, he seemed quite I'M
conscious of the cOnstraint and cold
ness that came into his voice, as she
seemed quite unconscious of the plead
ing that came into hers. There was
no attempt at conversation between
, them. I could not say that Sir Rudolph
was wanting in civility or attention to
the beautiful woman who looked at
him with such passionate, entreating,
love-lit eyes; but he did only what was
lneedful-nO more. There was more
below the surface, unless I was greatly
mistaken. [ read shrinking aversion,
something more than dislike-loafhin
even on his part; on hers, love that
va" Pe"lllAuA III 1Co passionate enIFedty.
Altogether I felt that I was in an at
mosphere of mystery. The gloom of
the house, the silence that reigned in
the splendid rooms, the curious aspect
of husband and wife, all confirmed the
idea.
One little incident impressed me
much. Lady Culmore wore a very
handsome diamond bracelet. the gold
of the setting of one of the stones was
slightly damaged, and hurt her arm.
She raised it suddenly with a little cry
Of pain, and went over 10 her husband.
To be continued.