Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-01-24

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I ing her 10 JON some party or other.
But from this generally Objectionable
state of things there rose a distinct
ana overriding cause of apprehen-
sion.
There was not only an Earl and
Countess of Howth but a Viscount
Beaumont. their only sen and heir.
The great desire OF the earl's life was
that his son should marry and settle
down, and Philip Dyce knew only too
well that the earl would welcome such
a daughterin-law as the young and
beaUtifu mistress of I.orme Abbey
would prove
Lord Beaumont was about twenty
three, and the very opposite in appear
ance and looks to his illustrious father
! The earl had been a soldier-had
gone through the Crimea. and taken
the Victoria Cross. and had been quie;-
| ~ slipped INTO his position as lord of
the county, and settled down into
| breeding shorthorps. keeping hounds,
and dispensing a princely hospitality.
He had finally hoped that his son
would follow in his footsteps; but.
alas Lord Beaumont had. at an early
age, shown signs of strange tastes for
the heir TO an earldom. He had de
clared that nothing should induce him
to enter the army; he discovered an
intense hatred for farming. and
would not be persuaded TO take any in
terest in shorthorns unless they were
en- canvas That was the whole gisi
of the matter Lord Beaumont was
born artist, and cared for nothing
, beyond the sphere Of his art.
| While he could WOO his mistress.
! which he did with the devotion of a
devoJee, ne wanted no other, and thus,
at the age OF twentythree, the heir
, TO one of the largest earldoms in the
I kingdom was as Indifferent to the
wealth and might Of his inheritance as
a hermit might have been, and moved
among men as one in a dream. He
was very slim and fair, with yellow
hair that, brushed back from his fore.
head hung almost to his collar his
: eyes ,3ere dark and somewhat cold,
people said, but those who had seen
them light up at the sight OF beauti-
full picture, a glorious sunset, declared
hat they were warm and expression.
able enough. He was very quiet and
reserved, especially in the presence
OF the other sex. which caused some
/ persons to say that he was woman
hater; but as a matter of fact, not one
person in a hundred understood the
young lord The world misSook his
reserve for his pride, his thoughtful,
ness fer insensihility, and modesty TO
indifference.
1T would not be at all an unusual
thing if Lord Beaumont refused to
show up this afternoon, said Lady
Vaux, with a little laugh
IF he does, my dear Leola,' she
continued, looking at LeoIa with
smile, you must be careful how you
treat him
Indeed said Leola, surprised and
amused. Why
"He is so peculiar" said her lady
ship. who had had a conversation with
her brother. and was carrying out his
commands HE is a confirmed woman
hater, you know
Leola laughed softly.
4 shall not tempt him to change his
opinion of my sex
Lady Vaux leaned forward, and tap
ped her pIayfully on the face.
Il don't know that" she said "Bu
seriously, dear, he is terribly eccen-
tic, and gives the dear earl great
trouble. Goes in for art, and all that;
70 absurd in young man Of his posi-
ton. Fancy the heir to Howth spend
ing his time painting pictures, which
he can't possibly wane to sell, and no
body want TO buy They say that he
is shut up in his studio for days to-
gether."
4 am quite curious to see him., said
Leola.
Lady Vaux did not look altogether
pleased at this remark.
you will be terribly disappointed
my dear Leola," she said, that is ii
you have FORMED any proper idea of
what the son of the Earl of Howth
ought to be- Some people say that
he is good-looking, but I can't see it.
don't like wax-doll men"
And she stared absently at the
dark face Of Philip Dyce.
A moment or two afterward the car
riage reached the lawn. AS Philip
Dvce predicted mentally, a crowd of
people, who had been introduced to
the mistress of Lorme Abbey, came up
instantly, and it was some minutes
before Leola and her party could reach
the countess.
Lady Howth had, of course, called
at tn Abbey, and, equally of course.
she lad been immensely taken with
LeoIas beauty and unstrained natural
ness.
She kissed her, a high mark of
esteem from the countess, as she took
her hand and said
q am very pleased to see you. my
dear" Then she laughed Don't
let them tire you"
For two or three gentlemen were
waiting with respectful impotence to
carry Leola off to lawn-tennis.
Il can't play" said Leola.
Wen soon teach you, Miss Dale"