Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-08-08

chamber.
"Still you are wrong said Alice,
smiling and pointing with her whip.
go straight along and you will
reach the big staircase; then you will
soon find your way. That door leads
to the empty part of the castle-the
treasure rooms, as the servants call
them. Yes, now you are right"
eau revoir, milady!"
Count Jura strobe down the corrl-
dor.
Treasure rooms!" he repeated to
himself. "Paul was right and yet
among all the treasures Of the castle
she is to me the rarest."
Alice strobe her way down the
staircase to the central hall. She felt
exhilarated and almost happy. She
always had that strange f1utter at her
heart when near her husband.
Valerie, looking like a goddess in
her perfectly-cut habit, was standing
in the doorway, beyond which the
horses we're waiting. A mans form
was beside her and Alice noticed with
a sickening sensation how low he was
whispering and how eager was his
look. She came slowly up to them,
and caught a few words:
t'When I think of it, Valerie, I am
nearly mad to know what have lost.
My life is misery to me tied as |
am to a"
Valerie heard Alice's footsteps, and
she drew her hand away from his.
ct is getting late, we had better
start" she said quietly, giving him
a look full of sympathy, and glanc-
ing another Of triumph at Alice as she
hurriedly descended the steps.
Lord Radine now Joined them.
''May help you mount, countess?'
he asked eagerly.
He was a young man, and Alices
fair loneliness had won his warmest
admiration.
eff you please"
She was still hearing her hus-
bands voice, passion-laden, breath
ing his love and misery into Valerie's
ear.
The earl assisted Valerie to mount,
and then the four rode away
eve don't want grooms, Roy,
said Valerie authoritatively.
So the earl waved the attendants
back.
Lord Radine glanced now and then
at his companions face.
s'Who was it said Darrell had mar
ried a farm-girl?'" he unused. What
a cruel scandal! This woman is
peerless! Countess" he said aloud,
"are you in any way connected with
the Arnolds-you know who I mean;
they are very old family-the head
is always called the master of Ar
nold?"
Alice had blushed, but now she
was pale.
"I have no aristocratic connec-
lions, Lord Radine," she answered
quietly; ct am only farmers niece"
"But you have their face. The
Arnolds are strangely lovely family
forgive me for paying you so gauche
compliment; but you are fairer
than was the Lady Enid Arnold,
whose portrait hangs in my mothers
room and who died years ago, and
she was supposed to have been the
greatest beauty of her time
''E have no family repeated Alice.
ST was only a farm girl. You will
have heard how I came-to-to marry
the earl; before then I was neglected,
ill-used, and miserable. l even
taught myself-at least, the village
schoolmaster helped me for some time,
but he died two years ago and then
had no one to assist me.
''I do not care what you were,
cried Lord Radine fervently, reaching
for her small hand and carrying it
to his lips; 'but to me you are the
embodiment of everything that is
perfection
Valerie turned at this instant and
the earl, looking back, also saw the
young mans act of courtesy and ad
miration.
''My Lady Alice progresses" re-
market Valerie with a sheer. Roy,
You must look after your wife"
Lord Darrell did not answer. He I'M
consciously frightened his hold on his
reins and his brows met in frown.
Something in the sight he had just
seen vexed him strangely, and for the
first time since his return he beheld
Alice's beauty in all it's power.
Valerie saw the frown and her
heart leaped.
''He is angry with her," she said to
herself.
She checked her horse and the earl
did so too.
''What is ft?" asked Lord Radine.
II forget the exact path said
Valerie, ''and Roy knows absolutely
nothing about it."
ST will go and inquire" said the
earl hurriedly.
mo, Darrell, let me-" and Lord
Radine rode rapidly down the path
to the right.
Alice, whose cheeks were still flushed
from modesty at Lord Radine's out
spoken admiration, refined in her
horse few PAGES away.