Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-09-25


listing between then. Lady Bayneham
tried hard, but she could not forgive
the fair young wife who had usurped
Barbaras place. She misjudged her
misunderstood her She was never un-
kind to HiIda, but she treated her
with cool, stately reserve. distress
ing to the gentle girl who had been so
fondly loved by Lndy Hutton.
q must win her love-" said Hilda;
81 must be like real daughter to
her
1t sounded very well in theory; but
to put it into practice was very diff
cult. Lady Bayneham had quiet
way of waving her gentle attentions.
Do what she would the young girl
could find no place in that proud
heart. She was not admitted into
Lady Baynehams PRESSING room, that
little sanctum where Barbara spent
such long hours. Still her sweet
patience never tired. Claud never
heard one word from his wife except
in praige of his mother.
1T will all come in time" thought
the young girl.
With natural ease and dignity, all
her own sre fell at once into her
place as queen of that brilliant throng.
Every one was charmed with the beau
tiful young hostess, so thoughtful
of each ones comfort and amusement
There was plenty of society at Bay
neham; the neighborhood abounded
in what the countess called, with
great emphasis, really good fam
ilies;" and the really good families
FASTENED, one and all, to attend the
court of the young queen who had
come to reign over them. There were
times when even the dowager herself
could not help being charmed by the
winning grace and pure loneliness of
her sons wife.
Il have quite come to the copclu-
sion, Barbara" she said one day to
her niece, that Hilda was a relative
OF Lady Hutton S, perhaps the daugh-
ter of some poor cousin. One can
tell she belongs to a good family.
never saw any one more thoroughly
ladylike or better bred"
Miss Earle agreed with her aunt;
she was pleased, too, at seeing how
thoroughly BERTHE admired his friends
wife.
To Hilda herself life seemed one
long, beautiful dream. She was but
fair, loving, gentle child. She had
been nursed in love; she only knew
care and sorrow by name. The one
single grief of her life was softened
by the healing hand Of Time. The flow
ers that bloomed brightly beneath the
summer sun were not more fair, the
birds that sang were not happier than
she was. She liked to be alone at
times and think of ito dream over
again every event of her short, happy
life.
One morning, the first time for
many days, she found herself free,
and without any duty that required
attention. Most of her gl4ests had
driven over to LalekaIl Priory, and
she had not been able to join them.
Lady Grahame, who also declined the
ride, was in close consultation with
her maid, and Sir Harry Higham had
remained at home to write letters.
Out in the garden the sun was
shining brightly; the flowers were at
the height of their beauty. The large
branches of the tall trees waved as
though inviting Hilda to enjoy the
shade beneath them. It was all
pleasant and fajr. She hastily threw
a lace shawl over her pretty morning
dress. and placed coquettish little
hat on her bright golden hair, and
went through he garden The gate
that led to the park was open, so she
passed through it, and down the
broad shady path that led to the
lodge
The lodge was pretty cottage.
picturesque enough in its rich dress
of green creepers with their purple
flowers, Lady HiIda stopped to
speak to- one OF the children playing
near the gate; then, without any
definite purpose, looked down the
high road that led to the town of
Oulston.
Suddenly her startled glance fell
upon the figure OF a woman who was
seated upon the nosscovered stone
near the gate, woman poorly
dressed, but with something strange
in her attitude. She had been look
ing eagerly down the broad path,
when the first glimmer of the white
dress shone through the trees. She
asked one OF the children Who is
that lady over there with the white
dress and golden hair?"
THAT" said the child, lis the young
Lady Bayneham, my lords wife"
Then. not being particularly clean
or presentable the boy ran off. where
her ladyship could not see him.
The woman seated herself upon the
fiat moss-covered stone: a strange
look, as of deep quiet, came over her
face; her eyes seemed to drink in
every movement of that tall, slender,
whiterobed figure. But Lady Hilda
never saw her until she looked out
of the park gate into the high road.
Then she noted with wonder the
careworn. heautiful aace, the tired
toILy CF tha larcro o.raz