Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-09-29
CHAPTER. Y

Jacks love-making went on SWIM
mingly during the lovely summer wealth
er and among the beauties of Mailing
ford. The house was full of visitors
now, and, in accordance with Pauline's
wishes, their engagement was kept strict
~ private. Still, in spite of all their
care, the state of affairs was pretty
shrewdly guessed at by most of the peo-
pie about them, and the well-bred guests
wondered immensely at Miss Malling's
sudden fit of unworldliness. Strangely
enough, Babette, with all her sharpness
was one of the last to hear of her mis-
tress' infatuation for the artist chan J"
as he was scornfully described among tha
servants; but the moment she did hear of
it she began wondering and watching un-
til in her own mind she was sure that
Miss Mailing was really deeply in love
with this good-looking Mr.. Dornton
Babette liked Jack, and, knowing, as she
believed she did, the evil of Pauline's
heart, she was sorry to think that such
an altogether too charming yonug man
should be so thrown way.
SO Babette was always on the watch
for some clew that would help her to
discover her young mistress secret; and
at this time she showed great interest
in Mrs. Perkins gossip about the family
hoping to CLEAN some scrap of informa
ton that might be of use to her in fur
thering her revengeful purpose.
And if mademoisele had married
against the wishes of Milford Summers,
or without his consent, she would have
lost the whole estate" she asked, one
evening in August, as she slipped her tea
leisurely.
Yes, if she did so before she was
twenty-five; but after her twenty-fifth
birthday she VIII be free to marry whom
soeyer she pleases; and as she will be
twenty-five on the seventeenth of next
month, there is not much chance of her
sacrificing the estate at this late day,
after waiting until now
THAT is So" observed Babette with
a disappointed air. She reflected for
few moments, and flash of intelligence
crossed her face as she asked, And if
mademoiselle had married in her ex-
treme youth-before she was known as
the heiress of the property-how then?"
Il think she would lose everything"
"Who would have it after her?''
''Sir Godfrey, the late baronet's
brother"
ITO be sure. 1t must have been a great
blow to him when he found himself rob-
bed of everything by his brothers in
justice. What did he do? Where did he
go?"
I don't know. He is as proud as any
of the family, and, when his brother
told him never to come near the place
again, he put on his hat without one
word, and walked away with his head as
high as if he were the heir of thousands.
We've never seen a sight of him since
that day, and it's my belief we never
shall
Babette believed she had found the
keynote to Pauline's secret trouble That
there was secret trouble she never doubt
for an instant She had observed her
mistress too closely to be misled on that
point; she knew that nothing but some
mighty fear could cause those sudden
starts, followed by periods of anxious,
heavy-browed thought, to which she was
subject. And, when Babette went up
stairs, she reasoned the matter out.
4 have heard that she never knew
she was her uncle's heiress until after
her fathers death What is more likely
then than she should have married out
there in Italy-married some poor IDIOT
who was caught by her pretty face? And
then, when my lady suddenly finds that
she is a rich woman, she is tired of this
poor fool, and runs away and enjoys her
life by herself. believe | have found
tie dark spot in my fine lady's life. If
this is as l think, l can take from her
her beloved fance and her riches at one