Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-01-18

her head. She was dressed with the
utmost magnificence, and looked with
something like envy at the fresh, deli
cate face OF Lady Selwyn. Her grace
was always envious of new beauties.
The younger they were the less she
! liked them. To Beatrice Leigh's SUI
, perb beauty she was accustomed,
therefore Indifferent; the spirituelle,
graceful loneliness of Lady Selwyn
annoyed her.
She responded most graciously to
the introduction.
you are younger than / expected,
she said to Lady Violante. when l
was younger. took the lead amongst
blonde beautjes-a place you will occu-
ny now, / suppose. There are few
/ blonde bellies nowadays"
1T is a place I should not care TO
Iccupy," said Lady Violante, with a
smile.
"Ah, indeed" said her grace; sim
pie habits, and all that kind of thing,
I suppose; sorry I cannot sympathize
with you. I like what is called life 4"
She shrugged the bare, lean should
ers. and looked at Miss Leigh for APP
PrOval.
Then they passed on with the crowd,
and Lady Violante's heart beat fast.
On all sides they heard murmured
remarks of admiration. A face like
hers-bright. fresh, and fair as a May
morning, pure and sweet as an angels
lis not often seen.
Once she heard more than was in
tended for her. Il am told" said
lady, whose name she did not know.
that Lady Selwyn is here to-day: that
the Duchess of Roxminster is to pre-
sent her"
There she stands" replied her
friend; by the pillar there, next to the
duchess"
What! the one with the light hair,
who looks so tired already"
No" was the reply; that magnifi-
cent woman with the dark hair; the
one with the rubies and diamonds is
Lady Selwyn. saw Lord Selwyn with
her at the opera once-before they
were married"
Il thought the fair one with the gold
en locks hardly suited to him." was
the reply; and the speakers passed on,
little thinking every word had been
audible TO Lady Selwyn.
II was an absurd mistake. of course.
hut it hurt her. Why should she not
suit Lord Selwyn?-why should they
make sure that Miss Leigh was his
wife?
Had she not been a child, sensitive
and loving. she would have laughed;
as it was. the tears filed her eyes.
Lady Selwyn." said the duchess,
what are ~ou doing to your face? Is
1t possible there are tears in your eyes
real tears? Good Heavens, what
can you be thinking Of? Surely you
can never dream of going into her most
gracious majesty's presence with rel
cyelids; such a thing never happened
ar Court before!"
The tragedy of her voice brought
smiles to the trembling lips.
If there are tears in my eyes, she
said. spiritedly, they must be of utter
WEAKNESS. / never dreamed of such
a crowd and such a struggle as this. -
Probably not" said her grace COM
Placently. There has never been a
sovereign so much loved as our queen.
No one misses the opportunity of see
ing her who can possibly help it"
But those few words fingered in
Lady Violante's mind. All the CAV
Pageant was nothing to her. Why did
those strangers think Beatrice more
suitable to Lord Vivian than herself?
She did rot hear the murmurs C
admiration that greeted her. She
stood in the midst of that crowd like a
white lily with the sun shining upon
Il. forgetting her share altogether.
Now. Lady Selwyn," said the sharp.
clear voice Of the duchess, 1T is our
turn"
She was suddenly aroused from her
train of thought. and felt confused
and embarrassed. All her old fears
returned; the train. the entrance into
the royal presence. the kissing of the
royal hand; how should she possibly
get through IL?
Beatrice" she whispered TO Miss
Leigh. who was smiling maliciously at
her evident confusion: Beatrice. do
YOU think I shall make any mistaken"
II must have been a hard heart that
could resist that lovely, pleading face.
/ Beatrice Leigh was hard-coller than
stone A mistake that would have
covered Lady Selwyn with r!dicule
would have delighted her.
Most probably you viii she re-
piled. carelessly Strangers to this
kind OF thing often do
And those harsh words brought a
look of pain 20 the young face Go
that. after all. Lady Violante Selv~1
! entered the royal presence confused,
embarrassed. and bewildered.
The best remark one could make on
the subject of her presentation was.
that It was not a success. In after
years her face burned to remember IL;