Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-02-04

kOLteU HeT ndHe-WHO WdLCuCu Wy utl
husband while he died upon the
rack"
"Ah, pray stop" cried the countess
with a shudder English again--all
melancholy all sal, all sorrowful. DO
you know no heroine who managed to
live and die happily"
Not in real life" said Lady SelWyn'
"only IN books"
Then we will give up real life and
take To books. Who are your fayorte
heroines in hction?"
The shadow fell from Lady
Violante's face, and beautiful light
glowed upon It.
Il have so many she said; Elsie
In the Golden Legend; Ethel New
ccmbe; Florence, in 'Dombey and
Som; PCrtia In The Merchant of
Venice 'Romola that glorious
creation of George Eliot; Violante,
in My Novel ! cannot tell you,
countessl have 80 many, and love
them ALL"
you have not chosen badly" said
the countess How much you English
ladies read "
~ have read to fiji up my life"
said Lady Viclante, half sorrowfully.
Another English idea" laughed the
countess. "A handsome, devoted
young husband and a beautiful boy
ought to have filed your life, as you
call It. "
The fair face grew cIouded the
golden he d dropped How little any
was SO fair outside, SO dreary
within.
II know so little of English litera'
ture myself" said the countess 81
think we must have n Committee Of
Taste Miss Leigh and yourself, Lord
Solwyn and Prince Cesare will be
president. and we will discard the
English element Of sadness altogether.
We can all meet at my house this even
ing to discuss and select the scenes
that strike us most. We must find
one, though in which we can appear
together Prince Cesare likes Miss
eigh, think"
Does he?" asked Lady Selwyn.
she is worry beautiful and very gifted.
She seems To know everything by in
stlnct. She always dces the right
thing at the right time and says the
very words she should say when they
ought to be said,
You are very generous cried
Countess Sltanl, opening her lovely
eyes, Nov, II were YOU should
be horribly jealous of Miss Leigh"
Why" asked Lady Violante, calm
ly, but her heart beat as 1t had never
done before.
# cannot quite tell why" replied
tho countess. with n shrug of the pref.
y shoulders; only that she seems 50
often to take your place"
"BelauRo cannot take It myself,
Interrupted Lady Belwyn,
II would" said the countess mo
wuman, not even my own sister, should
dc in my house as Miss Leigh does in
yours There, You made me speak
| am indscreet-you must pardon
me"
Il have nothing to pardon" said
Lady Niolante, do others besides
you say and think the same. countess?"
II was seldom that Countess SitanI
thought long on one subject,
Il do not know" she said, "rhe
first time | visited here at the villa
Plsani, to tell you the ruth-before
was Introduced of course thought
Miss Leigh was Lady Selwyn, She
received the guests; did the honors
of the drawingroom. II was to her
Lord solwyn looked when he required
anything You wish me to speak
pardon me II say that ought not to
be, Lady Selwyn; YOU should allow
no one to take your place"
But | was child--an ignorant, UNI
informed ehild~-when my husband
took me from home" she said II
could not do what Miss Leigh did for
me"
Then" said the countess. III YOU
are content to share your throne. no
Que ought to say word | like you.
Lady Sclwyn; we southern women are
quick to love, and love right welt
| liked you the first moment saw your
face, viii I've your friend IL you will
| let me-"
The white ieweled hands of the
dark.cyed Italian sought those of the
fair, dropping woman by her side,
II am caprcicus." said the coun.
tess, Il love myself, think, better
than any one II the world hut love
YOU also, and II you will Let me, will
speak to YOU as though sou were a
sister of my own"
The sweet eyes that Enlightened
under the influence cf her Kind words
/ touched her,
Il am not very wise" continued
Countess Sitani, but have quick
instincts, and forsee both danger and
unhappiness for YOU unless YOU make
ia great effort to assert yourself.
Whose will rules your house?--Miss
leigh's, Who rules your child Miss
"a