Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-12-19
CHAPTER XXXYI.

| Ihree years passed away. and
brought but little change to Bayne-
ham. The countess watched and
! waited in silence; she had renowned
all active efforts for the discovery OF
her sons wife. At stated intervals
advertisements were inserted in the
papers. but Lady Bayneham hal
ceased TO hope. She never breathed
her suspicious. even to Barbara Earle;
but in her own mind she believed that
Hilda was dead: no other fact could
account for her long-contlnued silence.
She must be dead; and the countess
wished that the worst could be known
Her son said nothing of returning to
England. He seemed to have for
gotten the claims upon him at home.
She spent long hours in pacing up
and down the picture gallery at Bayne-
ham Castle. Her son, the brave,
handsome boy, whose future she map-
pad out with such pride and hope,
was the last earl; his portrait hung
there. Whose would take the vacant
place next to him? There was no one
To inherit the title--it would die out
the grand old race must come TO an
end Claud would never re-marry
while there was the least doubt as
to his wife's fate. Even If inteli-
gence came of her death, Lady Bayne-
ham did not believe he would ever
care for another woman he had loved
his lost wife SO well.
The grand old race must end, and
that conviction brought deep and last
ing sorrow to the proud lady; she had
hoped before she died TO clasp the
young heir of Bayneham in her arms.
TO see. and love, and bless the young
boy who was to succeed her son. Her
pride was sorely humbled. Her son
was an unhappy exile. wandering In
fore gn lands, chlldless and SOLITARY.
She wishedand wished in vain-that
she had been kinder to her sons wife:
that she had taught the poor mother
less child to love and trust her. How
different everything would then have
beeul hilda would have flown TO her
in her trouble: 1t was too late! Her
cool, naughty pride. her unkindness,
had done its work. When sorrow
came TO the fair young child WHOM
her son had welded. the last person
she would have appealed to was her
husbands mother. who ought to have
been a mother to her.
The dark hair, OF WIN oh the coun
tess had been so proud, grew white
with sorrow. not age; the fair, proud
face -..d deep lines, each telling OF
grief and long night watches; and
Lady Bayneham saw no help. She
had written several times, imploring
her son 20 return; but he replied that
the very sight of Bayneham would kill
him. that he would never return there
until something was known of ;
wife's fate Her enueaties were all
In vain: and the countess said to her.
self that the grand old race w>ls
doomed.
II preyed deeply upon her; no rest
came to her Her days and nights
were one long dream of anxiety. Sor.
row and suspense aged her. one
evening. Barbara Earle, going sud.
denly into her aunt's room, found her
weeping bitterly.
Barbara started at the sight: she
never remembered to have SEN tears
in those proud eyes before.
Barbara" said Lady BayneAam, IN
low voice. my heart IS brcoking:
what shall we do 20 persuade Claud
to retumg"
Il see no way" replied Miss Earle
''but the last thing, the trouble | can
bear least. is 70 see You give way,
aunt; that must not be-"
Il cannot help II. said Lady Bayne-
ham. despairingly: lit vii. KIN me.
Barbara. | have fought against SCR
row. but Il has mastered me at last.
Unless my son returns soon he will
not see mo again"
Let me write and tell him SO,