Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-05-30


with him.
A conversation that Lady Beatrice
overheard one morning between Lord
Selwyn aid Rupert did not lessen her
dislike.
Papa" said the boy, Mr.. Vernon,
my tutor. says that Selwyn Is an en-
tailed estate. Is il true?'
1T has always been So" replied his
lordship. from the time of the first
Selwyn until now. and it must be so
until the end"
1T is very unfair" cried the boy,
while a 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 Violante's son; but
he replied quite gravely:
Certainly: why do you ask me?"
Because it seems so unfair" Ru-
pert continued; at 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 law is
unjust"
His lordsbip laughed with some
amusement at the boys earnest grav-
fly.
so Mrs. Rivers is your authority
for this attempt 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; thea / asked her if ii were
not a cruel law. and she said. Yes
Why can you not make us both equal,
papa? | am quite willing"
I cannot. Rupert" was the grave
reply. "You are too young to under
stand the law OF entail. To you IL
seems unjust-to me it seems the only
method q preserving noble families
rom extinction and ruin"
"Then I wish Lance were the ED
est" cried Rupert again.
Heaven knows best" was his
fathers reply. I'VE are all born TO
certain duties. and We must learn to
fulfill them. I shall never be afraid.
You will take care of Lance. am
sure. Rupert"
THAT will,' he cried; "and If /
could do as I liked he should have
half of all that is mine"
Ny lord bent over him, and kissed
the fair. frank face. so like violante's.
Il am glad you love Lance so dear
~" he said. ut is net always that
the sons of two mothers care so much
for each other"
"T 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?
Did she love the fair-haired young
heir fer his tender thought of her son?
Did she think of his generosity, his
unselfish character? No. q 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 inflict
a wound than Lady Beatrice Selwyn.
She had a way of speaking TO him
a quiet sarcasm, a killing contempt
that stabbed the boy; yet careful was
she that there was no word ever
passed her lips that could be repeated
TO his father.
She made his home so unccmforta-
BILE that he went oftener than ever TO
the cottage. Lord Selwyn just at that
time was busily engaged in some po-
litical business, and was very often
away from home Lady Beatrice
cared little where the boy spent his
time. provided il was not with her.
So. when his days lessons were over,
Rupert would mount his pony and gal
lop away. He never tried TO explain,
even TO himself. the attraction that
took him 10 Mrs. Rivers. He liked her
gentle voice. always hushed and low;
her quiet. graceful manner; her sooth-
inc words. He liked her TO pet him,
to indulge him; to sit, hour after hour,
telling him tales that reminded him Of
his mother-he knew not why or
how: stories of great men and brave
deeds, true heroism, and grand self
devotion. Those quiet hours in the
summer cleaning, with the lonely
lady whom he was growing TO love so
dearly. did more toward forming
Ruperts character than all the hours
OF study.
He went there one day when Lady
Beatrice had been very unkind to him.
Lord Selwyn was away. and she mad
refused 10 allow Rupert to play with
little Lance. or even see him-refused