Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-12-31
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+ A WOMAN'S ERROR !
BERTHA M. CLAY 4
I J

BY
BERTHA M. CLAY

| full creature In the wide world, and
above all it was all her own; no one
could come between her and her baby
He would never be disappointed in
| her, or wish her other than she was
Even In the midst of this newfound
| Joy. when the pure, tender heart thrill
ed with new happiness, even then
vague faint suspicion that Lord
Vivian had perhaps been slightly dis.
appointed In her after all
The baby, the little heir over whom
strange fate hung like shadow
was beautiful child. He had his
mothers golden hair and sweet lips,
with his fathers dark eyes and
straight, dark brows. Pink and dim
pied, and beautiful to behold, like one
of Raphael's child angels. No wonder
the young mother thought him per
lection, and held him as the greatest
treasure on earth.
The May sunbeams peeped into the
room where she lay with the little boy
In her arms, and Lord Selwyn, as he
looked, thought he had never seen so
fair a picture as she, with her pale
sweet face and white lace draperies,
presented. All the love he felt for
the fair-haired young girl was nothing
to the warm, deep devotion that filled
his heart for his wife--the mother Of
his child.
She had asked to see him, because
she had something 80 especial to say
and Lord Vivian had gone UP to her
room, the clash OF the gay bells ring.
ing in his ears
Vivian" said sweet, low voice,
81 want to ask you something about
my baby"
He bent over her, thinking it would
be hard indeed to refuse any favor
she chose to ask.
HE Is so beautiful" said the proud,
happy young mother; "and you know,
Vivian, | can love him as much as
like, for he is all my own"
He smiled with some amusement.
"Am | not all your own, too?" he
asked
She looked wstfully at him, her
clear eyes seeking his.
mot quite" she said you belong
to the world, to your mother, to your
friends; they all have share of your
love and thoughts, and care--he Is all
my very own"
Poor mother! so mercifully blind
to the future. Lord Vivian touched
the little velvet cheek of the sleeping
child.
what Is the favor, Violante?" he,
asked. 81 am like King Ahasuerus;
ask for what you will-half OF my
kingdom Is yours, What moro do you
want ?"
"My own way, in this instance" sha
said, "over baby | should like 81
much to call him Horace, after my
father. Horace Selwyn would be a
beautiful name, | think, II anything
could make me like my baby better,
IL would be calling him by my fathers
name, Are you willing, Vivian?'
But the fond, eager look had died
from Lord Vivian's' face, and a great
look of perplexity came there, The
clear eyes looking into his noted 1t,
1T would please papa so much" she
said; che would think II both a com
pllment and an honor that the heir of
the Selwyns should be named after
him"
She spoke this in pleading voice,
hard to resist
MY darling" said Vivian, gently,
you know that we have certain names
that belong to our family Huldibrand,
Vivian, Rupert, Hugh. we never care
to ingraft new names on the family
tree"
"But my fathers name-there could
surely be no objection to that? Horace.
1t sounds we'll and there have been
some grand men Of that name in tho
world Can you not promise me,
Vivian?"
Again the same expression of EN-
barrassment--the same hesitation.
"rho fact is, darling" he said, gently,
that Beatrice and my mother have al
ready talked about this matter, Beat
rico declares that this wonderful boy
OF yours resembles one of our ances'
tors, Sir Rupert Selwyn, cavalier in
King Charles time who was famous
for his loyalty and his chivalry. Our
boy could resemble no better man"
She was but simple, loving child,
pure and tender OF heart slow to
think evil, inclined by the goodness of
her nature to all that was noble; but
al those words something like pang
OF jealousy came to her.
My baby is my own" she said, ut
is not Miss Leighs"
You do not know" he said, nov
Beatrice has the honor OF our house at
heart In everything but name she is
IA true Selwyn."
But" she said, Vivian, you surely
! can never hesitate II Miss Leigh wish,
es one thing. and | wish another. My
wish must, of course, come before
hers. am your wife,
and very dear little Wife too, he
said, "wilful enough to talk for