Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-07-09
ElELIlLEllEIIEIELSIlIIElII
A Golden Heart.
BERTHA NJ. CLAY.
I'LL iElTzIIzIsII5IZIzIEE
BERTHA M. CLAY.

her. he thought that the best thing
to do first was to go down to the
K dge and see if any person had been
noticed there.
TIE people at the lodge had seen no
orc; they were quite certain that no
strange woman had passed through
the gates-in fact, no person could
pass through them without their
krl Wedge; nor did they believe that
it was likely any person could get into
/ the park by the other entrances.
Lord Fielden's suspicious increased.
/ TIE woman had evidently gained ac-
cess to the park in some secret man
ser; therefore her purpose could not
have been legitimate or honest. It
WAS idle to suppose that robbery had
| been the motive; consequently Harry
was more convinced than ever that the
/ stranger was some person who had
read the advertisement about Lola de
Feras, and wanted to discover the rea-
son for it, AS the woman had not
passed through the gates, it seemed
probable that she might still be in the
park. If he could but find her! He
knew the grounds well himself, but
he could not decide at what point to
begin a search. He vowed to himself
that he would linger all night in the
park rather than she should escape
him.
More than an hour passed, and he
was no nearer the object of his search.
Oh! surely there was a sound at last
| that Of slow, creeping, stealthy foot
steps on the other side of the beeches.
The footsteps came nearer He must
see who it was without alarming her,
and so he began to noiselessly rctrace
his footsteps, only pausipg now and
then to see if the other stealthy
footsteps faltered.
He reached the end of the grove and
stood waiting. He was brave and
fearless as lion, but there was a
queer sensation at his heart as the
stranger drew nearer and nearer.
The footsteps grew more distinct
now that the grove was past, and
presently they sounded quite close to
MIN. He put out his hands, and they
j grasped woman's garments. The
woman stopped with a faint low cry.
| "Who are your" he exclaimed; but
! there was no answer. It was too dark
+! to see. He only knew that he clutched
! tall figure that seemed frozen with
fear. There was silence for a minute,
and then the woman struggled violent
ly to free herself, all without a word.
"You shall not co. cried Lord
Fielden, until you have told me who
you are! You need not struggle; you
are strong woman, but I am a strong
man. Such efforts to escape are use
less. Tell me who you are and what
is your business here, and then I will
let you CO."
! She struggled with such violence to
free herself from his grasp that the
black cloak she wore was torn, her
| bonnet fell off, and with it something
white and soft. She knew it was the
wig which had so effectually disguised
her, and with the knowledge came an
access of despair; it made her so
strong that this time she almost tore
| herself from her captor's grasp.
| NO." he said, Il will not hurt you.
| could bind you fast this moment if I
liked; but will not If it pleases
you, though, we will stand here until
morning until daylight dawns- so
that I may see, if you will not tell me,
who you are"
! 1t was as much as he could do to hold
the strange woman, but he kept her
hands tightly grasped in his. How
long a time passed in the terrible
struggle he could not tell. He found
presently that she was painting for
| breath, and that her strength was fail
ing her, and that in short time she
must be still from sheer exhaustion.
So it happened After a few more
efforts to free herself, she gave up
struggling, and stood painting and
trembling. Then came a long drawn
sigh, low. piteous cry
For Heavens sake. let me go-let
me go" she murmured
Tell me who you are and what you
want" he said, "and you shall go the
next moment"
I am no one whom you know. I
have been looking for work. I am a
| poor woman, and l have been to all
the big houses to try to get some sew
ing. came here today; but there was
nothing for me to do. was tired and
hungry, and fell asleep among the
| ferns in the park. I am only trying
| to find my way out of the park. I
have done no harm. Let me go, for
Heavens sakei"
The woman's story might be true
He relaxed his hold.
'Tell me-" he said twas it you who
looked in at the dining-room window
at the Manor and terrified a young
lady?"
She was silent, He repeated the
question.
Yes she said, sit was. did not
mean to brighten any one. I was cold
MI.