Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-01-04

young nGlf udu TeCe1N6u tA6 name VI
Rupert. His sponsors were their
graces the Duke and Duchess of Hal.
! ton, and no royal baptism was ever
| conducted with more grandeur OF
i greater ceremony.
Lord Vivian had not quite liked to
tell his wife that her request was re-
fused, that her wish could not be graf
| flied. Still it had to be done; there
was no resisting the eloquence OF
Beatrice Leigh. That young lady had
a fashion of speaking as though her
/ lips had been touched by fire. She
had the gift of eloquence- so useful
to a man, SO useless to a woman. When
she spoke of mere passing events, it
was with an energy that carried all
hearts with her. Her words were al
ways well chosen, picturesque and
graceful. She could always, as Wv
ian said of her, make a good picture
I in words.
She had used all her eloquence to
prevent the young mistress of Selwyn
Castle from having her own way over
the name to be given to her child.
So Vivian had gone up to see his
wife, with something of shame and
hesitation on his handsome face.
"Violante." he said. very quietly,
Il am afraid you will be disappointed;
but cannot do as you wished over
the naming of our boy. He must be
called Rupert"
She looked calmly at him-no flush
es of angry feeling rose to her fair
/ face.
miss Leigh would not have it, l
suppose?" she said; and he did not
detect the pain hidden in her voice.
ct was not all Beatrice" he replied.
''My mother strongly objected; and
enc must comply with the family GUS
toms The eldest of the Selwyns is
generally called Rupert You must
ask me something else, that | may
have the happiness of granting your
request"
'I have no other to make" she re-
piled. too proud to allow him to see
that she was hurt. 1t had been on her
lips to ask that Horace Temple might
be sent for from Oakside, and asked to
he her baby's sponsor; but with one
direct refusal she did not wish to
risk another.
She said nothing to him of the pain
that began then, and ended-when did
it end? The words of the Bible are
strong. What say they of jealousy
dark and burning, and bitter as death.
For the first time, Lady Violante was
Jealous of Beatrice Leigh.
"She can do more with my husband
than | can" thought the poor child.
"Why is it? | love him, and she does
not. Why should a wish of hers over
rule a wish of miner"
Lying there in the fragrant solitude
of her room, the May sunheams peep
ing in. and odorous lilies sending up
sweet messages, Lady Violante thought
much of Beatrice Leigh.
"She does not like me-" said the
young mother to herself. "Her eyes
are so beautiful, yet they always look
cold and cruel TO me. She smiles
when she speaks to me, but her smile
is like sheer. l have never wronged
her, yet she does not like me, know"
When she recovered, and sat looking
like a beautiful white lily in the pink
glow of her room hung with rose-red
silk, Beatrice Leigh went in to see her.
The little heir of Selwyn lay in his
bassinet, a very marvel of white lace
and ribbons and silk. The little gold
en- head nestled on the pillow, and the
fair, pearly face smiled even in sleep.
Miss Leigh bent over him; her dislike
to Vivian's wife did not extend to Wv
ian's son.
He is very pretty, is he not?" asked
the young mother, proudly.
Il suppose So" was the careless
reply. 81 can never see any difference
in babies-they are all alike. 1t was
not a wise thing of you, Lady Selwyn,
to take Theresa Bowden as your
maid
"Why not?" asked Violante.
Il told you when l first saw her"
replied Beatrice, with a shrug of her
beautiful shoulders, that she bears
most unfortunate resemblance to your
self. and now it seems to me that the
baby here is more like her than any
body else"
How can you say so, Miss Leigh
Indignantly cried Lady Violante. MY
baby like my maid! Why, you told
Vivian yourself that he was like Sir
Rupert in the gallery there"
Nay" said Beatrice, carelessly;
"do not excite yourself over few care
less words. / trust, for Vivian's sake,
the child may turn out true Selwyn
after al"
why should he not?" asked Lady
Violante, her fair young face flushing
'Is there any reason why my little son
should not be a true Selwyn?"
None that l know of, said Miss
Leigh. "It is always uncertain, sup
pose. which side of the family children
will take after"
'Tf he takes after NINE" said Lady
Violante, reused into something like