Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-12-21

her fine. htgh-red, ariStOcraJlc Iace,
with its clear-cut patrician features;
her air of perfect refinement, and per-
feet gOOd-breeding; her quiet, stately
dignity were a perfect contrast to the
blushing. dimpled, country beauty of
Lady ViOlante.
That dinner was an ordeal TO her.
She never forgot Il. II had been the
merly OF Madisan, refused TO accept
things?" she said, despairingly. "Oh,
anticipation of such trials that caused
her. months ago, to try. to fly from the
love that was gaining mastery over
her.
Il have not done we'll" she said to
herself. and / am afraid; all me, /
shall never be at home amongst all
this grandeur. wish-hOw / wish
Vivian had been a lawyer, like my
father. and we could have lived in q
pretty little house, like Oakside."
There was another ordeal before her.
The ladies withdrew, and she dreaded
the prospect Of an hours tete-a-tete
with the stately mother-in-law and the
beautiful. naughty lady, whose dark,
bright eyes seemed to read the secrets
of all her little fears.
She tried in her simple way TO talk
to them. Mrs. Selwyn was not unkind
she was too ladylike and well-bred
TO make the young girl feel the differ
ence between them; but it was not
quite i'm human nature TO get up all at
once an affection for the one who had
thwarted every plan and wish and hope
of her life.
DO you play much? Are you fond
OF music. Lady Violante?" she said.
II sing" replied the young wife;
but / fear my singing would not please
you. taught myself, something after
the fashion Of the birds"
The birds sing sweetly enough,
commented Miss Leigh, par parenthe-
sis.
''Wiu you sing for me?' continued
Mrs. Selwyn. Anything. you like
Just in your own fashion"
u sing nothing but old English bal
lads" she said; Il do not know either
French. German or Italian songs"
Again the two ladies exchanged
looks. Is who should say:
NO manners. no accomplishments;
what did he marry her for?'
Il will sing my fathers favorite, y
she said. and then. in a clear. sweet
voice. she began the old ballad, "On
the Banks uf Allan Water"
Years afterward' they remembered
It. The timid, shrinking girl. with her
sweet. fair face. the satins and dia-
monds cleaning in the bright light,
and the sweet, clear voice that falter-
ed over the line:
There a corse lay She
Faltered as though the words were
prophetic OF the strange destiny that
awaited her.
Miss Leigh made no comment Old
ballads. however full of music and
pathos. did not interest her. Mrs. Sci
wyn thanked her.
a style of singing quite out of date,
unfortunately" she said; ''but very
nice, for all that Do you play much?"
Nothing but the accomplishments to
my own songs" was the timid reply.
And then her face flushed again.
How ignorant, how awkward |
am" she thought. How could |
think of singing such an old-fashioned
song to them?" And there rose again
TO her mind the memory of summer
evenings never to come again, when
she. through the cleaning, had sung to
her father, who thought such music
the most glorious i'm the world.
Then Lord Vivian. hearing the music,
came in, AID Beatrice Leigh awoke to
something like life.
She sat down to the piano, and pres
emily the room rang with glorious mel
ody. Her voice was a rich, soft con
traltO. and she sang a passionate love
sOng-sang it too. with such fire, such
rassion. such power that she carried
the hearts of her listeners with her.
Violante's fair face flushed, and her
dark eyes grew bright. She leaned
over the piano drinking in the music
that fell from those proud lips. When
il was ended she drew a deep breath,
as one who has been in a trance.
How beautiful she cried. ''aow
envy you. Miss Leigh. oh. if could
sing like that, would ask for no
other gift.'
"You would find many others want
ing" replied Beatrice. with a smile.
Music nowadays is almost as common
among young girls as it is among your
favOrite birds"
Sing for me again. Beatrice" said
Lord Vivian, and again the rich. pas
sionate voice rang out. This time II
was a dreamy German melody. that
fills ones heart with vague. delicious
dreams: no words could interpret
them: wild, beautiful dreams, that
seemed like an echo from heaven;
that took those who listened into
another. fairer, more ideal world.
When she had finished, Violante's
sweet eyes were wet with tears.
Z never knew what music was be-
FORE she said; 81 shall never have
courage 10 sing again"