Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-10-16
Lady buttons Ward
BY BERTnA M.
Continued.
BY BERTnA NJ. GAY.

gray mist had become damper and
fbiclzer,-it seemed to enfold her like
a garment Despite the cold and fog
when Lady Hilda reached one OF the
iron seats placed in the broad path.
she sat down,-not to rest, but to col
lect her thoughts. Her brain whirled,
it was impossible TO arrange heI
ideas. She was stunned and dizzy.
Could she have been dreaming? Last
night, only a few hours ago, she was
the brilliant queen Of a brilliant
throng, beloved and admired, perfectly
happy, without a cloud in her sky;
now she was sick with the weight OF
her own misery Mingled with ths
grief she felt for her beautiful mothers
cruel fate, came the thought of what
she was,-the Countess of Bayheham,
wife of one Of England's prouuest earls,
the bearer of a name great and illus
trious, yet the child Of shame and re
proach, the daughter of a convicted
falon, of an unprincipled man, whose
cruelty had doomed her mother to
sorrow and death. Through the thick
mist she looked wildly UP to the gray
sky; her little hands were clasped in
agony.
What have I done she cried, that
am punished so. / have done no
wrong,-why should it be? Why has
the calm, still current of my life
changed? Why in my youth and hap
piness and innocence, has shame ana
sorrow sought me out?"
rs she sat there in the first smart Of
her pain, Lady Hilda wished the
mother who lay dead and at rest had
never tried to change her lot. Had
she been brought up to bear it, it
would not have seemed so hard. What
would Claud say il he knew? and how
was she to live with this secret burn
ing and blistering her very life she,
who had never hidden from him one
thought
1t was heavy burden that the sins,
the sorrows, and the caprices of others
lad laid on that fair, dropping head.
What would the stately countess
say?-she, so proud of her stainless
name and spotless race; she who said
so haughtily that the women of her
family had ever been wthl ut reproacn?
How that fair; proud face would whit
an and culver if she knew that her
sons wife was a conyicts laughter!
Where would the shame and misery
end? They would send me from
him." she said to herself, and put
another in my place"
With a sinking, humble heart, she
owned to herself that it was all wrorg
She, the convict's daughter, had no
right to be mistress of that proud
home. wife to the noble, brave lord
who ruled over it.
The golden head dropped more sadly.
She was quite alone; there was only
the gray wintry sky over her head,
and the thick mist around her. No
sunshine Knocked her with its light, no
birds with their song. She I1nelt on
Che ground and laid her head on the
iron rails. In this, the hour of great
sorrow and desolation, there was no
human heart. for her to trust; she
must bear her sorrow alone and un
aided. Lady Hilda wept as she had
never done before and never did again.
She wept for her mother, for the van
ished happiness of her own life. for
the wreck of her hopes and love.
Tears brought relief to her burning.
bewildered brain. The cool wind re-
freshed her. She remembered the
brilliant party who would soon be
waiting for her.
II was then nearly eleven; she had
TO walk home, and prepare to meet
her husband. There was no time to
lose; she went through the park with
rapid steps All was silent in the
Castle; the servants were busy, none
81 the guests seemed to have left
their rooms. She reached her own
apartment unnoticed When she
stood there, with the same dreamnkc
feeling of unreality, there came to her
mind strange, solemn words she had
read, and had never understood before:
''The sins of the father shall be visited
upon the children. even to the third
and fourth generat IL"
CHAI Ter XIX.
~Hilda." cried Lord Bayneham when
me saw his wife. what have you been
doing? Late hours and dancing do
not suit you. You are like a dropping
Gily this morning. Look at Barbara
she is blooming like a rose"
Miss Earle smiled at her cousin. but
looked anxiously at Lady Hilda.
Il am afraid all this gaiety has been
too much for you" she said kindly.
you look very i'll. Rest to-day, and
will do all can to supply your
place"
Lady Hilda was thankful for the
respite, and gladly cor .ented to return
TO her own room unit. dinner time
when she would be obliged to appear
amongst her guests.
Pauline tells me you went out early
Tor walk" SAID Lord Bayneham. '1i
had known it.. YOU should not have
gone alone"
y did two tD7gs." she replied. try.
ing to speak jniifferently turning her
,alr startled lace from him 81 went
for a walk, and called to see a sick
woman Vic has been lying I'll for
some time at the Fir Cottage. She
1iea W7;ln I was there