Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-09-05

a gold plate"
cit is like lions den. my good
Paul, so closely guarded. have
done my best. Now lead the way
to the cart, my arms are full"
What have you got there?" asked
Paul suspiciously, dimly seeing the
burden in the darkness.
GA woman!"
George, are you mad?"
mo; perfectly sane. Lead on"
"A woman! What are you going to
do with such a burden on your
hands! "A woman! What a fool"
"Hold your tongue!" Kissed the
count, suddenly charging bis tone;
beware how you talk to me. You
are forgetting yourself, Paul Ross"
There was change at once in
Faults manner.
'You surprised me-" he said hur-
riedly, cit is not like you. But let's
hurry; here is the CART
The count wrapped the cloak round
the girl, and together they placed
her in the bottom of the cart
"Put this over your fine clothes,
! George" said Paul, f1inging his
companion a smockfrock, "and draw
this over your eyes, in case we meet
anyone on the road. We must say
we've just come back from Nestley
town: we've been to sell a cow. It's
rnarket-day today, so that will an
swer we'll. But I don't expect we
shall be questioned"
| oil 10 h1OnSn
over his evening dress and donned
the slouched hat. Then both men
mounted the cart and drove slowly
out of their hiding-place to the
lonely country road that led through
a deserted part to the abbey ruins,
while on the rough planks lay the
still form of Roy Darrell's young
wife, ignorant of the misery in store
for her, wrapped in deep and dark
oblivion.
Roy, Earl of Darrell, woke early
next morning. A strange, delight
full feeling filled his heart directly
his eyes opened. What was it?
Never in all his life had he expert
enced so great happiness as seemed
to live within him now.
A vision of fair, pure, lovely face
rose to his mind and solved the
mystery. It was love. Yes, love
had come to him-love for another,
and that other not the stately hand
some Valerie Ross, but this simple,
low-born wife, Lady Alice.
The memory of her girlisE sweet
ness and manner of the night before,
her faltering lips and great, wonder
Gus, star-like eyes, made his heart
thrill with a tenderness that amazed
him.
Now he knew that he had never
loved Valerie. He had admired and
liked ner-he had treasured her as
a friend, but he had never loved till
now.
True. he had thought of making
her his wife, but his feelings had
been born rather Of admiration OF
her beauty and the knowledge that
She would prove acceptable to his
mother.
For a brief moment a vague pas
sion filled his heart for her, but it
had come from piqued pride and
Justice, when his dead friend Eustace
Rivers, maligned Valerie to him and
lissuaded him from marrying her.
But all these feelings died down
now as he contrasted the two women.
Everywhere he looked he seemed to
see the sweet, fair face OF his wife
heart swelled.
"How beautiful she was last
night" was his thought as he hur-
riedly performed his toilet. mo
lady of the land could have been
more superb. There is blood in her
veins as blue as flows IL any OAR
rell's-I know it; I am sure OF 1t.
Oh, how cruel we have been! How l
have misjudged her! I have left her
all these months-neglected, unhappy
anu despised; but -now-all
shall be changed. feel as if a heavy
cloud were rolled away from my
life. Sunshine is everywhere, and
blue sky-D4ue as the glorious ra-
dance of her wonderful eyes
around me; but I must not startle
! her. How do I know she will for
give me-my poor sweet darling? |
will plead to her today. This very
morning shall see me at her feet;
then, if she will forgive, we will go
away-away to Italy Or some sunny
place-together, alone with our
love-"
His valet scarcely knew his master,
he seemed so happy and changed,
He smiled and spoke cheerfully, and
looked like a man who tasted JOY
after long sorrow.
''It is a dark day, Mason" the earl
said, as he opened his letters.
Eyes, my lord; looks like storm.
l beg pardon, but I forgot. Here is
a note from my lady, your mother"
Roy read it rapidly.
"I will go and see how she is.
Send my letters and newspapers down
to the breakfast-table, Mason"