Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-05-26


loved his little brother Lance, and
Lance was never so happy as when
with him.
\ conversation that Lady Beatrice
overheard one morning between Lord
Selwyn and Rupert did not lessen her
dislike
Papa" said the boy. Mr.. Vernon.
my tutor. says that Selwyn is an en-,
tailed estate Is it true%'
1T has always been SO" replied his
lordship. from the time of the first
Selwyn until now, and it must lie so
until the end
1T is very unfair" cried the boy.
while warm flush rose to his face.
You love Lance quite as much as
YOU love me. do you not papa"
Lord Selwyn looked at the boy be-
fore he replied; looked at Violante's
sunny eyes and sweet lips, feeling
that if he had a preference it was
most certainly for yiolante's son; but
he replied quite sravely:
Certainly; why do ycu ask me?"
Because it seems so unfair" Ru
pert continued; lat some. | hope far
distant. day, | am to have title and
all the Selwyn estate for my own.
while little Lance will have next to
nothing. | say again, it is not fair.
papa Why do you not divide it be
tween us? Why should | have all be-
cause am the eldest. and Lance
nothing because he is the youngest@
Even Mrs Rivers says such a law is
unjust"
His lordship laughed with some
I amusement at the boys earnest gray.
ity.
80 Mrs, Rivers is your authority
for this ate nlpt at rebellion against
fortune. Rupert?" he said
NO; | told Mrs Rivers what Mr.,
/ Vernon said. | told her how pretty
our Lance is, and what a little prince
he locks; then | asked her if it were
! not a cruel law and she said. Yes
/ Why can you not make us 10th equal,
papa? | am quite willing"
II cannot. Rupert" was the grave
= reply. You are too young to under
B.
seems unjust--to me it seems the only
method cf preserving noble families
/ from extinction and ruin"
Then | wish Lance were the cid
est" cried Rupert again.
Heaven knows best" was his
/ fathers reply. 1--WE are all born to
certain duties and we must learn to
fulfill them. | shall never be afraid
You will take care of Lance, | am
sure, Rupert
That | Will he cried; and II !
could dc as | liked he should have
! half of all that is mine
My lord bent over him, and kissed
the fair. frank face, so like NioIante's.
i Il am glad you love Lance so dear
w. he said, 1T is not always that
the sons or two mothers care so much
ior each other.
II love Lance best in all the world,
next to you, papa said the boy, and
then the speakers passed on.
! Did those kindly words soften the
proud, jealous heart of the listener?
heir fer his tender thought of her son?
Did she think of his generosity, his
unselfsh character? No. a thousand
times She hated him the more in.
tensely that he had expressed in such
plain words the thought always gnaw
ing at her heart-that he. and not
Lance. was heir of Selwyn. Like a
smothered fire, that hatred grew and
smoldered
/ No one knew better how to inhict
wound than LADY Beatrice SeIwyn
She had a way of speaking to him
nuiet sarcasm A killing contempt-
that stabbed the hoy. vet careful was
she that there was no word ever
naesed her Inns that could be repeated
- bie father
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