Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-12-07

this downfall came she would nave
wept q few tears, and the tears would
have washed all bitterness away. As
I il was, she most carefully garnered
I all her broken hopes in her own
heart. and buried them there, to
bring forth most bitter fruit at a
g future time.
Beatrice" said Mrs. Selwyn,
come out for a few minutes. Vivian
z is not down yet, and l want to talk
I to you"
She opened the long French window
7 and stepped out among the flowers: a
very fair vision that bright morning,
I fairer than any flower that blOomed.
I Her high white dress fitting her
magnificent figure to perfection; her
raven hair dressed in shiny. massive
coils, in the midst vi which was
placed a pomegranate blossom; her
glorious face, with its rich tints, its
superb ooloring. doubly fresh in the
sweet, clear morning air. Mrs. Sell
wyn came to meet her, and kissed the
I beautiful face.
How well you look this morning,
Beatrice" she cried. After all, there
is nothing that can compare with
\ beauty and youth. oh, child, if he
had but fancied you."
Z Hush. aunt" said Beatrice Leigh,
imperlously. I'VE will not have an
other word OF that kind. After all.
J he is not a grand sultan, and / am
not waiting until he graciously deigns
10 smile on me-"
She walked on, her proud head
raised haughtily. and her lips CULVER
I ing with suppressed indignation. Mrs.
I Selwyn, always quelled by Miss
Leigh's temper, walked quietly by her
side.
Beatrice" she said. gently, Il haG
no wish to offend you"
7 The girl turned round almost
I fiercely.
i am not offended, aunt: but, if
you please. we will look upon my
cousins marriage as a settled thing,
I and leave my name out of all future
1 discussions. AS for the lawyers
daughter, we must make the best of
her. | suppose"
There is nothing else for it," said
/ Mrs. Selwyn. dolefully. Imagine,
Beatrice-the Selwyns have welded
before now with the blood-royal:
fancy a country solicitors daughter
mistress of Selwyn Castle, II will
shorten my life. I am sure"
let us hope not" was Miss Leigh's
quiet reply.
What l wanted to say is this, con-
/ tinued Mrs. Selwyn: THAT as we can
not possibly help it, the wisest and
most polite thing will be to make
the best of IT, Vivian has evidently
fixed his mind on it, and you know
what the Selwyns in love are"
You are right" said Miss Leigh;
I'VE must make the best of it. Let
me, in my turn, aunt. give you one
caution: never say one single word
that can lead Vivian, even ever so
family, to guess at all the nonsense
we have talked about him."
No fear. my dear. Vivian is an
excellent son-nO better lives; but
like all soldiers, you know, he has a
will of his own. l, for one, should
not Ike 10 oppose II.
Did you remark what he said last
night asked Miss Leigh, praying us
TO teach her what she does not know?
/ suppose she has red hands, and
speaks bad grammar; in that case you
must be governess-nOt J."
do not anticipate anything so
dreadful" cried poor Mrs. Selwyn,
looking faint with horror; "a red
handed Lady Selwyn; such a thing
never was"
There must be a beginning" she
replied with a careless smile. Ger
tainly. for your sake aunt, / hope the
girl may be creditable; but l doubt
it."
"She is only seventeen" sighed
Mrs. Selwyn; there is some hope of
forming her"
"All the poppy leaves in the world
would never make a rose" interrupted
Miss Leigh. However. there is little
use in wasting words. If she is some
ignorant. half-bred girl, with nothing
on earth but a pretty face, I. for one,
pity her"
Yes" rejOined Mrs. Selwyn; Il do
not think. in that case. she viii be
very happy at the Castle"
Both ladies seemed to find some
grim satisfaction in the thought.
There is Vivian" said Mrs. Sell
wyn: now we will go in to break
fast"
The morning sunshine had dispelled
all his anxious thoughts. His mother
had never seen him so happy, so light
hearted. He was full of plans. 1t
would not be long now, he said. until
/ September. and there was so much to
do. All the family diamonds wanted
resetting; during Lord Huldibrand's
reign they had been locked away.
/ There must be new carriages. new
horses. everything OF the best and
most luxurious Tor his wife who was
/ to be-
/ Beatrice Leigh's magnificent face
grew pale as she listened. All this