Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-15

l
The housekeeper looked at me ear
nestly.
I'm all the country" she replied,
there is no one who dresses so mag
nifcently as my lady; but she will
never get that which she dresses for
never"
took out dress of plain black silk
and some holly-berries.
Il will not forget it is Christmas, if
every one else in the house does,"
cried. as | placed spray of red ber-
ried holly in my hair and one in the
bodice of my dress.
| A few minutes afterward / stood at
| the drawingroom door with beating
heart. There was a deathlike silence
within; the wind was wailing outside,
the shadows were deepening and gath
ering around me. l took courage,
opened the door, and found myself in
q magnificent room, lofty and beauti-
| fully decorated. The ceiling was
| painted; there were fine pictures, a
| few rare statues, jardinieres filled with
/ costly exotics, luxurious furniture; al
together it was most charming apart
ment. 1t was lighted by wax-tapers.
Lady GILMORE was seated before the
ruddy fire.
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. | took a seat, and then
Lady GILMORE forgot all about me She
| sat looking into the fire, holding in her
white hand fan of delicate feathers.
Evidently she saw pictures in the fire
which | could not see. she read, stories
| there which | could not read.
After short interval, a servant
| brought in 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 | 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. | noticed
that she placed one hand over her
heart. as though she would sui it's
| beating. | have never seen such pain.
such passion, such intensity of longing
in any human eyes as | read in hers.
| Again the door opened and Sir
| Rudolph entered. | forgot at first to
| look at him. in the wonder / felt at
| her. The agony in the eyes of a
frightened bird when the snake first
fixes it would give a 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 model of manly
beauty; but he had a face that, once
seen, could never be forgotten. He
was tall, with the erect figure, the
broad shoulders, the muscular limbs
that distinguish true Englisnman
The chief charms of his face lay in his
mouth and eyes. The mouth was ten
der, proud and firm, its graceful lines
unhidden by the dark mustacne. |
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, 1 read
aversion and fear in them.
Sir Rudolph held out his hand, and
babe me welcome to Uuuamere. His
| greeting was u thousand times more
| kindly than Lady Culmore's had been.
| q % I oh n IND
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 We're 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. see the whole scene
so plainly-the magnificent room. with
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
, GILMORE, 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
look at her. When he spoke to me, his
eyes met mine with frank open ex-
preston. II Lady Culmore addressed
him. they were studiously fixed on
anything but her.
As tea proceeded. the wonder to me
grew greater. When Sir Rudolph adj
dressed his wife. he seemed puite un-
conscious of the ccustraint 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, could not say that Sir Rudolph
was wanting in civility or attention TO
the beautiful woman who looked M
him with such passionate. entreafing