Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-02-05
CHAPTER XVII.

Ag Coming every day to rehearse with
Lady Dora, Winifred saw, with the ter
rible instinct of jealousy, that the pale,
Beautiful, languid French woman loved
the master of HAZEL Court. She watch-
1 ed them narrowly. not seeming TO see
them, and yet painfully conscious Of eV-
cry word that passed between them. She
fancied, and perhaps it was not only ian
ey. that the old tenderness Mr.. Hastings
had saown for her was creeping into his
manner to the Princess Zelikoff. He was
. always at her. side now-when she rode,
when she sang or when she sat apart
from the rest of the company. Sometimes
WinifFed, stung with Jealousy, would try
the power of her old destinations upon
him. She spoke to him In the low. SOFT
voice he would have given half he pos
.sessed to hear in the time that was past
she looked with pleading eyes mo ms
face and sang the songs he loved, anu
yet ste could not keep him by her side.
The agitation and excitement of the
last few Gays before the Court bali were
almost TOO much for Winifred. She had
no sleep AZ ght. she could scarcely be
induced to touch 70 /. and Mrs. Cham
pion really felt littl. anxious at seeing
aer so hotioweyed.
Every one was charmed with the enter
tainment II had not been too long. The
8ableaus were lovely and as for the play
s'Cross Purposes" it was charming. Not
very much plot in it, perhaps. but 50 won
aderfully acted. Ii was so rare to see
gentlemen and ladies play thoroughly
well; and they had all been so handsome.
so graceful
Miss Champion and Lady Laura may
have suffered some pangs of jealousy at
the admiration Miss Eyre excited, but
the Princess Zelikoif was in a torment of
jealous pain She, the unsusceptible, the
pale, impossible Diana, as she had been
called, was at last in love, and with Mr.
Hastings She did not know if he cared
for her; nay when she saw his passion
ate look at Winifred at the end of the
play, a terrible fear seized her that his
affections were conferred on the graceful
English girl. She must love him, too:
the most finished &c .ress could not have
thrown such exprt ssion into her eyes.
had not some deep emotion been working
i'm her heart.
Two weeks later the marriage Of Flora
Champion to Mr.. Maxwell took place.
Ii was grand and stately affair, yet it
was r4lief to every one when the break
fast was over and the bridal pair had
started on their journey. As she drove
off In the barouehe, drawn by four mag
nificent bay horses, Flora Maxwell look
ed like a queen Perhaps she felt like
one as she bowed right and left to the
crowd of country people who stood on
either side OF the Manor gates to see her
pass.
Mr.. Hastings and Winifred danced to-
gether at the ball in the evening; but
there was an ml pleasant kind Of stiffness
and reserve between them. She fancied
he wished to avoid her; he thought the
same Of her, and danced more than usual
with the Princess Zelikon.
How glad shah be to get away from
thisr' poor Winifred said to herself, with
exceeding bitterness. Il think l should
die If / were forced to stop and see him
love another woman. Perhaps when
am back at Endon Vale | shall forget
friul
She was delighted when the day came
for her to leave Hurst Manor Her only
regret was in parting with her grand
father, who had been very kind to her,
and TO whom she had really become at
taehed
Lady Grace was expecting a party Of
guests at Endon Vale, and invited Lady
Ada Fordyce to accompany Winifred
home. as Lady Naianton and her eldest
daughter were going to visit in the north.
All the household were glad to have
A.. els In aud &fr
Clayton. he had such long arrears of
copying and references for her to make
up, that Lady Grace was obliged TO in
terfeve and rescue her from her musty
labor.
Lord Harold, who was at the house
again. complained bitterly Of her frequent
and prolonged absence; but after a time
he grew more tolerant. and seemed to find
some consolation In the company of Lady
Ada Fordyce He was stiil very much
In love with Winifred. but he began now
to reflect sageiy that il was folly for him
to be pining aud signing after her if she
had really made mp her mind that she
would not marry him.
Seine one gave out the intelligence at
dinner at Endon Vale that Mr.. Hastings
had gone on u yachting expedition. and
fhttt Lady Dora and the Russian princess
accompanied him. Mrs. Clayton looked
from underneath her lashes at Wnifred,
aud noted the sudden sickly whiteness
which came into her face. All. how
wish could help her." she thought pitt
fully. "A real friend might often he able
TO save a girl years Of unhappincss and
regret. II she would only tell me-"
HI 4szT
winaowed sitting room to Mrs, Clayton $
use, aud there she and Ninifred often
sat for hours together undisturbed. They
were very fond Of each other. very sym
pathetic aud caressing. yet neither men
toned the subject that was nearest her
heart.
At last Mrs. Clayton resolved TO dissi
pate the reserve She knew that 10 gain
confidence you must be prepared to give
ii, and strengthened herself tc the task.
They were sitting together as usual
one each side of the window, sometimes
speaking, oftener silent. The day hac
been sultry. aud the windows wert
thrown wide open to let in the little ali
that was stirring, Mrs. Clayton had beet
watching her 70. some time, At last sh,
spoke
"Ny dear Winifred, you win 70 on
reading and dreaming about Oenone unit
sou have completely identihcd yourself
with thar foriorn maiden"
Winifred turned her eyes dreamily tt
the speaker. 4 was NOT even thinking OF
Ononee and then her hand closed tbs
baos which had been open a her favor
Ste poem.
Confess now-you are jealous 90 thC
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