Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-02-24
HER MARTYRDOM
By tia Author Of Sunshine and Roses
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By shs Author Of Sunshine and Roses.

his wife. He spoke quite openly among
his male friends of the one drawback
to his splendid position-his wife.
Lord Alan never liked to hear him
discourse in this strain. At times he
would not even listen to him.
"You ought not to speak in that
fashion, Wynyard," he would say.
Lady Laura is most sweet woman.
\ 81 never cared for sweets, grumbled
the captain.
mind you do not have too many
bitters some day, for change, sald
Lord Alan. 81 think it most unmanly
for any man to speak against his
wife"
Captain Manton took the same view.
''Talk to some one else, VINEYARD,
if you want to abuse your wife, he
would say. II think Lady Laura one
of the incest of women, and | am
ashamed when | hear you speak OF her
SO unkindly'
But with Sir Hal it was palmer
sailing for the captain. He voted the
old Abbey magnificent; he considered
the fortune grand one; but he oWne1
lust as freely that wife and STEP
daughter were great drawbacks.
They stood together one morning
or the terrace, smoking and talking
after their usual fashion.
'sWhat a grand old place this is"
observed Sir Hal. what fine thing
for you to step into! You were close
to the waters edge at the time, were
you not?'
eyes; l could not have held my
ground another month";" replied the
captain.
''What should you have done if she
had refused your" asked Sir Hal.
81 knew that she would not refuse
me-" said his friend 81 was pretty
sure of success
'rBut what" persisted Sir Hal,
SHOULD you have done if she had said
Mop"
81 must have left the country" the
captain replied.
gratitude" said Sir Hal.
81 suppose So" responded his COM
panion, carelessly.
Then, after few minutes, Sir Hal
asked, abruptly:
"What became of that beautiful girl
we met in London-Miss Rane?"
The captains dark face flushed.
"She is in Paris with Lady Kin
loch," he replied.
Vance?" said his friend.
"She was the one love of my life!
"That is hardly fair to the woman
you have married"
"It makes but little difference" was
the captains comment.
"You have certainly been most for
tunate man." remarked Sir Hal.
81 should consider that I was if the
estate were wholly mine and without
incumbrance," said the captain
81 have heard people speak OF the
late Sir Charles Rooden's Will con-
tinued Sir Hal Rather an extraor-
binary one, was it not?"
"a very foolish one, some people
think" replied the captain. He left
the whole of his estates and fortune,
without any restriction, to his widow,
and after her decease it was to go to
her daughter"
'Then, if Laudy Laura died, you
would be poor man again, Vance?"
81 should. indeed, unless
But he did not finish the sentence.
UNLESS what?" asked Sir Hal.
unless her daughter died also" re-
piled the captain.
"And what then?" asked his friend.
"Why, then-but, remember, Hal, it
is most unlikely thing to happen
the whole of the property would come
to me-
Sir Hal gave a prolonged whistle,
whilst the captain looked at him with
serene Inconsistencies.
"Only these two lives between you
and vast fortune?" he said, musing-
ly.
"That is ALL" responded the captain,
''but those two lives are good ones"
81 do not know" said Sir Hal,
GraVoly. Angela SS0Luo oil Oh5,r SOA
tainly; but Lady Laura looks very
delicate. I do not think hers Will be
a long life" Then, as if suddenly
making a discovery, Sir Hal added:
But Vance, if anything happened to
your wife, you would be worse Off
than you were before your marriage.
You would be dependent on Angela's
bounty"
THAT 1 should never be- said the
captain.
Il cannot understand your conduct,
Vance Knowing all this, l should
have thought you would have taken
every care of your wife, seeing how
much depends on her life. l should
have thought you would not have
known how to take care enough OF
her or to be kind enough to her; in
stead of which, between ourselves, L
must say you are cold and neglectfui.
The poor lady does not look happy"
"She is never likely to be" declared