Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-25
CHAPTER xxxv.

CHAPTER XXXVI.
Three 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 BayDeham had
ceased to hope. She never breathed
her suspicious, even to Barbara Earle;
but in her own mind she believed that
nilda was dead. nc other fact could
account for ter long-cohtinued silence.
She must De 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 Bayhe-
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 inteIi.-
gence came of her death, Lady Bayne-
ham did not believe he would ever
are Tor another woman he had loved
his lost wife so well.
The grand old race must end, and
that conviction brought deec 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 soreIy humbled. Her son
was an unhappy exile, andering in
fore gn lands, childless and solitary.
She wished-and wished IN vain-that
she had been kinder to her sons wife;
that she had taught the poor mother
less child to love aud trust her. How
different everything would then have
been! Hlida would have flown to her
in her trouble: it was too late! Her
cool, naughty pride, her unkindness
lad done it's 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 winch the coun
tess had been so proud, grew whit
with sorrow, not age; the fair, proud
face Id deep lines. each telnng Q.
grief and long night watches; aud
Lady Bayneham saw no help. S1e
had written several times, imploring
her son to return; but he replied that
the very sight OF Bayneham would kli
him, that he would never return there
until something was known of h G
wife's fate. Her entreaties were all
in vain: and the countess said to her
self that the grand old race was
doomed.
| 1t 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 hel
weeping bitterly.
Barbara started at the sight: she
! never remembered 10 have seen teas
in those proud eyes before.
Barbara, said Lady Bayneham, ID
a low voice, my heart IS breaking;
what shall We do to persuade Claud
to return?"
Il see no way" replied Miss Earie
''but the last thing, the trouble | car
bear least is to see you give way
aunt; that must not be"
Il cannot help It," said Lady Bayi. .
, ham, despairingly; 1T viii kill me
Barbara. have fought against sor
, row, but 1t has mastered me at last
Unless my son returns soon he viii
, not see me again"
Let me write and toll him so
aunt" urged Mss Earle.
No said the countess; he cannot
,ndure the name or Thought o.
} home. If he returned for my sake
pNd evil came of ii, ! could never for
A.ve myself. There is nothing for il
but patience, and patience comes bu'
slowly to one like me-"
"Let me write and tell him so
aunt" urged Miss Earle.
Barbara Earle had many anxieties
il was three years since her cousin
left his home and BERTHE had aske.
her to be his wife,--three years; ant
then she told her lover she was willjns
10 be his wife, but they must wait un
til the cloud had passed from Bayne
ham. But it deepeued instead O.
passing; still BERTHE never complained
He respected her wish. and never
urged his own; and Barbara knew, by
instinct. all that he felt. The las
time he came to Bayneham he looked
tired and worn. His labors accumn
lated. and there was no one to cheer
or sympathize with him. He louged
Tor the time when that noble. soul-ii;
face should shine in his own home
and Barbara read the longing in his
eyes. She had learned to love hin,