Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-04-18

THE MIKADO BECAUSE OF HI
write down something he had asked
for. Mrs. Rivers raised her veil. and
they looked i'm surprise at one of the
gentlest and sweetest faces ever be-
held Fair. with sweet, sensitive lips,
colorless as white marble, with deep
! line of sorrow round the mouth; black
hair. neatly braided under a widows
cap. and dark brcws that contrasted
strangely with her fair face.
The ladies made mental notes as TO
her age, and they found, afterward,
that none of them agreed.
you are not, perhaps, aware" said
the rector. that Lady Beatrice
Selwyn is the patron of the schcol?"
It was impossible for the pale face
to grow whittier; but, to his surprise
the rector saw her lips blanch and
spring apart as though she would ut
ter a Mortified cry. Then she looked
up at him.
Il do not understand" she said,
simply.
He was puzzled
What do you not understand" he
asked
Nothing" she said, with some little
confusion of manner: nothing, only !
had heard that Lady Selwyn was
dead"
"Ah. yes" interposed Mrs. Tatto1;
that was poor Lady Violante, the
young heirs mother. The present
Lady Selwyn was Miss Beatrice
Leigh"
No one saw the passionate clench-
ing of the small white hands under the
black cloak A sudden culver of
pain seemed to pass over the white
face and the slender figure!
you will consider yourself as
responsible to Lady Selwyn," con-
tinued the rector. "She has the entire
control of the school"
Mrs. Rivers bowed her head; what
ever of sharp rebellion there had
been, was over now, and she said to
herself:
Anything. anything. so that | may
see him. No torture can be too great
for me, if may only see him."
Il think. then" said Lady Percy,
that Mrs. Rivers may consider her
self engaged" And Mrs. Beauchamp
murmured something to the effect that
it would, perhaps, be as we'll to wait
for Lord Selwyn.
The rector thought not. Lady
Beatrice had empowered them to act
as they pleased, and he thought the
real interests of the school would be
best attended to by engaging Mrs.
Rivers at once.
Have you any children" asked
Mrs. Tatton, in a gentle voice.
And the pale face saddened as the
candidate replied that she was alone,
quite alone in the world.
Then came the task of formally en-
gaging her, and of dismissing the dis
appointed ladies in the drawing-room
Mrs. Tatton softened the blow by
means of some excellent sherry and a
dainty little lunch. They went
away. only the more convinced that
the world was unjust to them.
Mrs. Rivers. in consideration OF her
extremely ladylike appearance and
refined manner. was cordially invited
by Mrs. Tatton to spend the remainder
of the day and the evening with her.
you are very fcnd of little chill
dren." she said, "ald have so many;
YOU will enjoy few hours with them. y
Even kind. mOtherly Mrs Tatton
was surprised at the sudden outburst
of tenderness with which those gentle
arms were thrown round each little
figure. Among them was little boy,
not more than five years old. with
golden-brown curls, and the lady's
I face clouded over as she looked upon
him. She kissed him. and her pale
lips fingered over his 5onny hair.
"YCu have lost a child?' said kindly
Mrs Tattol.
yes" she replied. in low. strange
voice: u had little son. and / lost
him
She won all their hearts. this pale
sad lady in her deep mourning. She
was so patient. so gentle. so kind
There was more of heaven than c
earth In her face. and her voice was