[CHAPTER XXV.]
"THE WINDS OF FATE BLOW EVER."
"Of all that life can teach us,
There's naught so true as this:
The winds of Fate blow ever,
But ever blow amiss!"
The days fled fast, and brought the balm of hope to aching hearts.
Contrary to the surgeon's verdict, and in spite of a very dangerous wound, Earle Winans was on the road to recovery.
Youth, health, and a superb constitution had triumphed over the circumstances that threatened the close of his young, promising life.
But it was quite three weeks, and far into the middle of June, before he was able to be removed from the Conway cottage up to Rosemont.
In the meantime something had happened that caused Ladybird's exile from the scene of her mischievous triumphs and coquetries.
The story of her novel lottery the night after the picnic had become public property in the village and shared usual notoriety with the duel.
Nothing was talked of but the rivalry between Aura and Ladybird that had been the primary cause of the duel. It became the sensation of the hour. The gaping of the villagers when either of the rival beauties appeared on the streets was so unendurable that even the bold-eyed Aura shrank with dismay, and was fain to remain indoors, although the giving up of her designs on Earle Winans was succeeded by the vaulting ambition to become Lady Chester.