Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-01-11
Continued.

an. ANNGNA- AGaAAA@4 MISS A-A~Ar.AAs a.
though the matter under discussion
was one beneath her attention. HAS
Vivian been TO see you tO-day?"
There was a strong impulse in the
YOUNG wife's heart not 20 answer that
questiOn-to repay Miss Leigh's sar-
Casms by silence; but the sweet and
gentle nature that had grown with her
years came 70 the rescue now, and she
answered without any trace OF the
emotion that was raging in her heart.
II asked said Miss Leigh, with a
careless smile. because we have had
some long rides together lately. and
wished 20 know il he was going out
today"
But Lady Violante could not tell,
and not knowing how far the sweet,
forgiving temper Of the young wife
would extend. Miss Leigh thought 1t
best to be civil. She talked a few
commentaries. of the weather, the
ueighboThOOd. the flowers. and then
withdrew.
Lady ViOlante's thoughts were not
very pleasant ones. She tried TO ban
ish them; 10 say 10 herself that she
was blessed and happy yet why had
Vivian been taking long drives with
Beatrice? He had only mentioned
BEING out with her once or twice, yet
Beatrice spoke of it as an habitual
practice. She tried to say to herself
that. even II it were so. nothing could
be more natural; and yet she would so
much rather not have known It.
They are solemn words. spoken long
ago. written by inspiration, and be-
Iieved in by all good people-mOst sol
emn words: Those whom God hath
Joined together. let no man put asun-
der" Did Beatrice Leigh remember
them when she deliberately tried to
torture the gentle heart OF Violante
Selwyn. by sowing the seeds or ieal-
Ousy that were afterward to bear so
fatal and so strange harvest? She
liked TO watch the color come, in itful
fushes, on the lovely face; she liked
90 watch the quivering OF the sweet
lips. when some curious or false word
OF hers struck home
She had never said to herself in so
many plain words that the one object
OF her life was to part husband and
wife; to SOW dIscOrd and strife be-
tween them: 20 make Lord Vivian
ashamed OF his wife; TO make Lady
VtClante jealous Of her husband. Per
haEs she would not have liked such
plain words. but none the less was
that the one object for which she
lived.
Every resource Of her subtle mind
vas brought TO bear upon it. every
word shs uttered was spoken with one
~ these Two objects. While Lady
ViOisnte was III, during the sweet
month 81 May, when the almond bios
SONS fell on the grass, and the syringa
trees bl0omed. she tried TO make her
self indispensable to Lord Vivian. Her
quick intellect her graceful fancy, her
bright wit, we're all his. She was
riCuant, sarcastic. and sentimental by
turns. always proud to others, always
humble 70 him. He could not avoid
seeing Il. and there is no surer way of
fiattering a mans vanity than by treat
Inc him in n different way 20 the rest
al the world
Beatrice oxcelled in this. She was
proud defiant. naughty. and reserved
90 the world In general; to him she
was gentle. deferential. almost humble.
When no one else could persuade. in
huence or coax her. one word from
Lord Vivian was sufficient. He saw It.
She had a clear field when Lady
60 himself. Lord Vivian began 10 look
for the beautiful animated face. and
the interesting or dts that she had
always prepared for him. She had a
gitt rare among women, that OF rare
and brilliant conversational power.
No man could listen unmOved to
Beatrice Leigh; whether she scoffed
or praised. whether she blamed or ap-
proved, whether she argued contra
diCtei, or assented; no matter what
she said, every one listened to her.
People with an hour to spare thought
themselves fortunate II they could
spend IL with Beatrice Leigh Ennui.
mOuOtOny. and WEAKNESS fed from
her presence. She was neither gentle
nor tender of heart. She was neither
spirituelle, nor pOetical. as was Vic
lante; but she was a woman whom all
men liked as a companion. whose So
Ciety was agreeable TO all And this
brilliant witty woman flung her wit.
her accomplishments, all at Lord Wv
ian's feet IL he went TO drive. or to
walk. she manOeuvered to go with him.
and no one could talk about the estate
like Beatrice. II In the soft May
cleaning he sat and smoked a cigar.
she was ready with some story that
never shocked. but always had in It 2
sOupcOn OF something fast When he
looked tired. she sang TO him: not
sweet old ballads. such as ViOlante
sung. but passionate love songs. with
words that made his heart beat fast
and his pulses thrill.
~ he had tires0me letters to write.