Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-02-24
Continued.

our land, all that is yours is mine.
LADY Laura declined to argue the
noint: but she recalled the time, not
long since, when the happiest thought
in her life had been that she coulo
share her fortune with him.
$50 you will not invite Lady I'm
loch and her niece?" he asked pres
emily.
81 will not" she answered.
Suppose 1 do it myself, without
anv reference to you?" said the cap
tain
'Tn that case I should leave the
Abbey at once, and I should not return
until they had left it, she answered.
'For which" he said to himself, l
have to thank Angela; and l will DO
so with a will some day"
CHAPTER xxxllI.
1t was. as the captain had predicted,
very pleasant party. Lady Laura
was q. kind and attentive hostess. she
did not spend much time with hef
visitors. for she felt that in some de-
gree she was a restraint upon them.
81 am not like the rest Of them,
she reflected. They are happy, gay
and bright; but for me there is moth
ing but cruel, tormenting misery
She was calm and indulgent, but she
did not share in the general merrl-
ment. and none of the guests ever saw
her eyes brighten with happiness.
At breakfast time she would take
her place at the table, having kind
" word for every one. She was a
perfect hostess, graceful, considerate
and thoughtful. Though she seldom
Joined in the morning rides or drives
she was always present at luncheon
and dinner; but in the intermediate
hours she saw little of her guests.
II can hardly believe this is the old
home, Angela" Lady Laura would say
to her daughter at times; "all the rest
and peace are gone from it.
They were a happy and noisy party;
music laughter, and singing hardly
ceased resounding within the ola
walls. The guests seemed scarcely
ever to be at rest. Every hour of the
day brought some new amusement
some new occupation, and the captain
thoroughly enjoyed hustle and move
ment. Lady Laura, however, felt that
she should be thankful when it was
over and quiet once more secured.
During those days the captain was
not unkind to her. But he paid 1ar
more attention to his guests than he
did to her, and she could not help
seeing that he was relieved by her ab-
sence, andthat he felt her presence TO
be a restraint. She smiled bitterly
when she thought how completely he
had forgotten that Rood Abbey was
her own, and his only by courtesy.
He never seemed to think OF that, out
assumed absolute authority, and did
not. as he had the grace to do at trst,
even consult her. If he had been
less wife he could not have more per-
sistently ignored her claims. She
made no com plant, for she knew that
she had prepared her trouble for her
self: but at times she cried out to her
daughter that she repented bitterly
what she had done.
So the rest of October passed. The
captain contrived always to have the
Abbey full of visitors; but he did not
again propose to invite Lady hinloch
and Gladys Rane.
The state of affairs at Rood Abbey
did not quite escape the notice Of the
guests assembled there. 1t was a mat
ter of comment that the handsome
captain, so chivalrous, so devoted to
other women, was most neglectful
of his wife. Miss BOscawen was out
spoken on the subject.
ct is the way with all handsome
men," she declared Nothing would
ever induce me to marry handsome
man; such men never love their
wives"
''That is & sweeping assertion"
laughed Lady Alan, who, secure in the
love and devotion of her own husband,
could afford to be generous. II think"
she added, that handsome men are
generally kind men; therefore kind to
their wives"
'T do not" said Miss Boscawen. "If
I had to choose this minute between
a plain man and a handsome man,
should take the plain one"
What do you say, Miss Rooden?'
asked Lady Alan.
Pray do not ask for my opinion"
said Angela.
Afterward, when they were alone,
the ladies made their comments on
Miss Rooden's answer.
Sir Hal and Captain Manton knew
all about the Vineyards domestic un-
happiness. Though Lady Laura
never opened her lips on the subject