Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-09-15
CHAPTER E.-(Continuedl

music; but she liked the pleasant, sooth-
ing effect 1t had upon her. So she went
to the opera two or three times week
and in the intervals whispered scandal,
ate ices drank coffee or dozed gracefully
behind the curtains of her box. This
evening Mrs. Seton and she were scarce
" settled in their seats before Lord Sum
mers begged admission.
The good-natured old gentleman look
cd rather worried, as he took the chair
behind Pauline and exchanged civilities
with both ladies.
y have had a visit from BeHnoir this
afternoon, Pauline" his lordship began.
THE poor boy is terribly upset By your
refusal
He will get over it,"
But. my dear girl have you no heart
at all? To my knowledge this IS the
seventh most satisfactory offer you have
refused. | dare say you have had quite
as many Of which | have heard nothing.
| begin to think you are heartless."
"perhaps you are right" she said, in
differently. But you must allow there
are two sides TO the question. On the
one hand, you ask why l do not marry,
/ answer your question by asking, on the
other, Why should | marry? | do not
love these men who propose to me.
am my own mistress; | have everything
l wish for-and l am happy as l am"
There is the estate, you know, to
think of. The succession lies between
you and your Cousin Ethel, the sweet
faced child | pointed out to you the other
day. If you die unmarried, the estate
will revert to her children at your death
Of course there is nothing against that
But | am sensitive about the trust i'm
posed on me by my old friend, Sir Paul.
AS | read it, his will lays the whole re-
sponsibility of this question Of success
sion on my shoulders. In other words,
he leaves me the power to pick and
choose fitting head for the House OF
Mailing Now, in the event of your not
marrying, the next heir will be the off
spring of this Ethel and her artist hus-
band MIR. Dornton."
Pauline had kept herself well under
control, but she could not avoid an eX-
clamation as Lord Summers put this
point before he.
That Mr.. Dornton, to whom you have
been kind. is aged to your cousin, you
know. Well, he is 4 very nice young
man-clever, well looking, nice manners
and all that; but don't think Sir Paul
would have chosen him as the perpetual
tor OF the Mailing family"
why not:' The question was put
quckly-almost, it seemed, in spite of
herself.
We'll, il seems to me that the question
answers itself. Who is he? What is he?
Whence comes he? Who are his people?
What were his father and grandfather
NJ no iii mo 10 ~ nypatlnnt Inns
band for poor little Ethel, for he is bound
to come to the front"
do you know, whenever you talk of
that child, | fancy You regard me as an
interloper? l am sure your sympathies
are with her.
Not at all-not at ali! You are too
sensitive | am glad to know that
Geolfreys child is not likely to suffer
hardship. This Dornton seems a manly,
honorable young fellow, and will take
good care of that pretty little creature.
/ should not like to think that my old
friends daughter was fated to spend her
life in copying from the old masters of
the kcnsnSron Museum, as she told me
she does now"
1t was we'll for his lordship's opinion
of his wards disposition that she was
sitting with her face turned toward the
stage during his kindly little speech. He
was 4 shrewd old man, and, had he seen
the hatred and malice in her eyes when
he spoke Of Ethel, his previous Judgment
Of her character might have been CON
sidcrahly shaken.
The next day Miss Mailing drove to
the Kcnsiugton Museum, taking Babet;e
with her. 1t was Il students day, and
the visitors made the round Of the gal
leres in quietness, Pauline stopping in
apparent interest by the side of every
lady student. At last she found what
she sought. She passed on until she
reached y quiet corner, and then beck
oned Babette to her side.
You see that very young girl in the
gray dress with her holland apron? That
is tile per~oa whose address I want. Kceu
her in sigh, until She leaves; follow her
honlr. get her address, and then 20 to
some Of The shops close by and find out
her name"
"Madeooisene does not even know heI
nance"
- know her real name, but not the
oac sAe is going by just now Whatever
you DO, don't miss her"
Miss Mailing returned to her carriage
feeling that she had accomplished a
good afternoons work