Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-04-24
= BY
Continued.

my darling, there is only one thing
that can bring trouble on me, and that
woss1,l be to lose you; that would kill
.aSN You hear me, Leone, it would
not make me grow thin and pale, after
the fashion of rejected lovers, but it
would kill me. Do not ask me to
leave you an hour longer than I need.
All. my love, yield; do not grieve me
with a hundred obstacles-not even
with one. Yield, and say you will
agree to my plan"
There was no resisting the pleading
of the handsome young face, the low
ing eyes, the tender words, the pas
sionate kisses; she could not resist
them; it was SO sweet to be loved so
we'll.
You must keep our secret from that
honest, stolid, good uncle of yours,
said Lord Chandos, cor he will think
himself bound to call and tell DR.. Her
vey. You promise me, then, Leone,
my love, to do what I ask, and to be
my own beloved wife, when the three
weeks are over?"
eyes, [ promise, Lance" she replied.
Her voice was grave and sweet, her
beautiful face had on it the light of a
beautiful and noble love.
''Then kiss me, as the children say.
of your own accord, and let that kiss
be our betrothal"
She raised her lips to his for the
frn+ ti,,oo ond Iyiccnd him
'That is our betrothal," he said:
now nothing can part us. Leone, ]
waited for your promise to give you
this
He opened a small jewel-case, and
took from it a diamond ring.
''This is what ladies call an engage
ment ring" he said; g let me put it
on your finger.
She shrank back.
Lance" she said, Edo you remember
the words of the song,
"A ring in pledge he gave her,
And vows of love he spoke
How strange that by this stream you
should offer me a ring!"
"You seem to think there is fatal
ity in the water, Leone, he said
quietly.
81 have an idea that I cannot eX-
press, but it seems to me that story is
told in the falling water"
eff the water tells of a golden bright
life, all happiness, with the most de-
voted and loving of husbands, then il
may tell you as much as it likes. Let
me put the ring on your finger, Leone
She held out her hand-such beau
tiful hand, with a soft, pink palm and
tapering fingers. AS he went to place
the ring on her finger, it fell from his
hand into the water below, and Leone
uttered a low cry.
ct is not lost he said; sit has moi
fallen into the stream; it is here"
Looking down, she saw the flash Of
the diamonds in the little pool that lay
between two stones. Lord Chandos
wiped it and dried it.
"You will prize it all the more be-
cause it has been dipped in your ia
vorite stream" he said. "Give me
your hand again, Leone; we shall have
better fortune this time"
He placed the ring securely on her
finger, then kissed the white hand.
GLOW angry you were with me the
first time I kissed your hand,' he said;
'and now I have all your heart.
There will be neither broken VOWS nor
a broken ring for us, Leone, no mat
ter what the water sings or says"
II hope not" says the girl, brightly.
II shall take possession of my lodg-
ings at \Oheton tomorrow" he said. Il
shall have to spend some little time
there; but you must promise that I
shall see you every evening, Leone.
Will you find your way to the mill
wheel? When we are married, shall
try to buy the mill, the srream, and
the land all round it; it will be a sa-
cred spot to me- In three weeks, Le-
one, you will be my wife"
EYES," she replied, Gin three weeks. -
The wind fell, the ripple of the green
leaves ceased, the birds had sung
themselves to sleep, only the water ran
laughingly on.
Lance" cried the girl, suddenly
"do you know what the water says
can you hear it?"
NO. he replied, with laugh, 81
have not such vivid fancy as you.
What does it say?"
Nothing but sorrow, nothing but
sorrow" she chanted.
II cannot hear that; if it says any
thing at all, it is nothing but love,
nothing but love-"
And then, as the shades of night
were coming on he saw her safely
home.
That same evening Lord Chandos
and Sir Frank Euston talked long to-
gether.
s''Of course" said Sir Frank, ''if you
put me on my honor, cannot speak,
but beg of you to stop and think"
Lord Chandos laughed; his hand
some face was flushed and eager.
''The man who hesitates is lost" he