Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-02-28
CHAPTER ].

loads of golden fruit, paced fair maiden
of rare beauty, the delicate curves of
whose slight but well rounded figure gave
promise of a glorious womanhood
Minnie Merton had only just entered
her goth year, and vet on the morrow
she was to be a bride; nay, more even
than that, ere twenty four hours had
passed, she would not only be a wife, but
q countess.
She could not realize it. she felt it must
be a delightful dream and that she would
soon awake and find it all an idle chimera
of the brain.
Yet her little l0ve-story was simplicity
itself. She was the only daughter. only
child, in fact, of John Merton. OF Heath
cote, who, on 1he death of his wife
whom he almost worshipped, transferred
all the affection he had borne her to the
pretty, faxed haired, little prattler she
had left behind
Every wish, every whim of the child
was gratified, and for some years she was
virtually despot of the little household
at Heathcote. The neighboring farmers
wives shook their heads. and prognosti-
Gated ali sorts of evil things for the child
but as Minnie grew up, she proved them
false prophets; for a sweeter, more low
able nature 1t would have been impossi-
BILE to find. And as the farmer looked
at her, and noticed the budding beauties
Of both mind and body, his breast swelled
with pride, and although a comparatively
poor man, ne determined that no expense
should be spared III giving her an edu-
cation worthy of the gifts she had al
ready been endowed with by Nature.
Accordingly, a highly accomplished
governess was brought down from Lon
don, who was as familiar with several
Continental languages as she was with
English; and as she was as painstaking
as she was conscientious. Minnie soon
became an accomplished linguist.
The organist of Cranleigh parish
church was pressed into the service as
music teacher, and the curate guided her
timid footsteps along the intricate paths
of mathematics. So that at the age of
Is Minnie Merton, the yeoman farmers
daughter, was as accomplished and well
read as any of the highest born in the
county.
Then came the romance of her life.
The old Earl of Langdale died childless.
and the title and estates descended to
his nephew, n young man of 30 years Of
age, who had spent the last ten years
of his life amongst the wild hill-tribes
On the Northwest frontier of India.
He was man of almost Herculean
stature, with an austere. stern expression
ON his dark-huel face. But when he first
saw Minnie, which he did ON the occasion
of his calling upon Farmer Merton, re-
cnoofinrr fl,a rar,oTval IF fhn loo Of fy-n
meadows. which the farmer rented for
additional pasturage, as his own holding
was mostly under crops; when he saw
Minnie, ali his austerity, all his stern
ness melted away as snow from rock
under the midsummer sun, and he was
astonished at his own gaiety and live
illness.
That night he had little sleep, for he
seemed to be haunted by fairy like
form, with large liquid violet eyes,
pouting ruby lips, and a wealth of wavy,
shimmering golden hair.
When he arose in the morning, Walter
Saville, Earl of Langdale, came to the
conclusion that he was desperately in
love; and not only that, he determined
that he would leave no stone unturned
to become the possessor of the love of
Minnie in return.
This was an easier matter than he in
his modesty, had anticipated; for, not
unnaturally, when she first beheld him,
Minnie's heart went straight out to the
bronzed soldier, who had been willing 20
separate himself from all the attractions
and allurements of civilization and sac
rfcc himself on the altar Of duty.
The young soldier was not long in per-
ceiving the weakness of the fortress he
was besieging, and with all the ardor
of man desperately in earnest, he de-
tcrmined upon an immediate assault.
But Minnie was not to be so easily
won. At the very moment, carried away
by his enthusiastic fcryor, she was about
to confess his love was returned and that
she was wholly his, her natural maiden
reserve and a modest pride asserted
themselves She remembered the differ
encc in their social positions, and felt
this happiness was not for her.
In firm but gentle tones, for the words
seemed to tear her heart strings as she
uttered them, she pointed out the differ
enee IN their rank, the shortness OF their
acauaintance and his own slight know
edge of that society of which he was so
important n member.
~No. no it can never be-" she sail,
striving bravely to suppress all signs OF
her own emotion--a task which was mo-
mentarily becoming more difficult; you
must take your place in the world as tine
Earl Of Langlade, the proud descendant
Of long line of warriors and statesmen,
who have helped to make England what
she is-queen of the world. 1t must be
Your task to emulate the deeds of those
noble ancestors, and show the world that
the Langdalcs are no degenerate race.
This you might not be able TO do if
hmQpered with wife of lowly birth and
humble origin, such as / am. No, ia,
the Earl of Langdale may aspire to the
hand of one of Englands noblest dauoh-
ters and not be deemed too presumptE-
Gus 10 say that l do not feel honored,
my lord, would be false; but it may not
he You must 90 out in the world more,
mix more freely with your own class, ard
YOU will soon meet with someone who
will help you to forget that there is such
q humble little person as Minnie Merton
III existence"
There was a distressing catch in her
voice, and the tears dimmed her sight as