Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-09-19

and trod softly after him.
"R-y," she said as he was about
TO enter the library.
He turned.
"Valerie," he said quietly, forgive
me. / did not hear you coming
She gazed at his haggard face with
heart that burned from it's
jealousy.
She had not thought Alice's flight
would have tried him so terribly.
"How ill you look!" she exclaimed.
II feel tired-s!ck to DEATH" the
earl answered, passing his hand over
his eyes.
'What are you going to do?" she
asked hurriedly.
II am making arrangements to
leave her and go away"
"Do you intend to follow them?"
The question was asked lnvofun-
tarily.
Roy's face darkened.
ct shall seek him, if I go to the
end of the world" he said quietly.
Where shall you go first?" Valerie
questioned him hurriedly.
Roy shook his head.
81 don't know-tO Italy, perhaps,
where I met him. / bel eve he has
a castle or an estate there. He may
have-they may have gone to it,
Roy, you will do nothing rash ?
Premise me, for your mothers sake.
Remember, she has only you"
ST shall avenge my honor" the
earl answered quietly. But you,
Valerie" he went on gently, "you
will not leave my mother. She
loves you. It is much to ask of you
to give up your life, your pleasures
to be with her-but beg it as a
favor"
Valerie felt her throat choke.
''There is no hardship I would net
submit to for your mothers sake, .
she replied.
The earl raised her hand to his
lips.
THANK you, Valerie he said
simply "Tell my mother I am COM
ing to speak to her soon. I want her
to go to her favorite house in Scot
land for a little time, or anywhere.
She must leave here"
Valerie smiled family, and turned
away as he entered the library.
''All goes WELL" she murmured to
herself. ''He prays me to remain-he
will find soon he cannot do without
M, and Lady Alice will BE- f~rgot-
ten. Does he love hers he suf-
fering from his heart or his pr de at
her flight? Pride, I am certain. He
is a Darrell, and therefore dishonor
is to him the greatest of all evils.
Now, it only needs Jura to send the
report of her death, and the game is.
mine I feel free, light as air, after
a ng, wrttched, dark imprison-
ment. Paul gone from my path-hap-
piness before mel"
The earl shut the door of the
library, and, drawing a chair to the
table, buried his face in his folded
arms.
He was simply stunned by the news
of Alice's faithlessness and SIN. The
vision Of her sweet beauty haunted
him, and even when proofs were
strongest against her the thought
of her innate purity and goodness
would come like flash Of light.
He remembered her as he held her
for that brief, few seconds in his
arms that night in the conservatory
it was the face of an angel In its
fair loneliness.
Such a woman could not sin!
Yet how could he explain the cir
cumstances? Look which way he
might he saw nothing but the most
damning and conclusive evidence of
her guilt.
A KIN ok at the door reused him,
and Mason entered.
There's a gentleman wants to
see you, my lord
81 can see no one" the earl re-
piled hastily.
"He told me to give you this card,
and beg you to see him for few
minutes, my lord"
The earl took the card.
Frank Notwithstanding with
Armistead at the Grange. Well, let
him come in, Mason"
Mason bowed, and in few seconds
returned, ushering in Meredith.
81 must apologize for intruding,
Lord Darrell" Frank began courte-
ously; ''but l wish to speak with you
most particularly.
The earl bowed; he seemed to
know his guests face.
'tYCu are looking at me. I see, -
Frank went on 1--WE have met be-
tore. Do you remember, few days
ago, you had a riding-party to the
old abbey ruins?"
The earl ruminated.
Eyes, I remember now. You are
the gentleman who very kindly as
sisted my-the-the Coutness of Oar
rell. I thank you sir for"
Roy's vo}ce failed.
! Frank went on quickly:
Chord Darrell it is not a moment