Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-10

Continued.
BY BERTHA Nj. CLAY.

Continued.
He was lying on the little couch, and
she went gently up to him. She knelt
by his side, and flung her arms round
his neck.
'You do not mean it, Lyster!" she
cried. II know you do not mean it!
Say you are trying me-jesting teas
ing-anything! You cannot wish me
to borrow money from him!"
For one half moment shame master
ed him, and he turned from her; then
necessity spurred him on.
81 mean it really, Sybil," he said.
what fuss you make over trife.
Gentlemen often borrow from each
other"
Her arms loosened their hold, never
more to be clasped in loving trust.
Consider the circumstances" she
said, family. "He loved me, and
was to have been his wife!"
Cali the more reason why you
should do it," replied Lyster Ayrton.
Depend upon it, Sybil, he will always
be fond of you"
She knew it. and the knowledge was
all pain.
write tomorrow" he continued.
81 am quite sure he will not refuse"
Her eyes were riveted on his with an
intensity of sorrowful yearning pitiful
to see. She would have laid down her
life to have heard him say it was but
jest. Her noble, brave Lyster-her
hero-could never want her to do this!
Don't look at me in that way!" he
cried, impatiently. Women are all
alike, fond of talking about sacrifices,
but not making them"
"Lyster," she said, earnestly, hold
ing her hands, before him as though
she were praying, edo not ask me to do
this thing! I pray you, for my loves
sake, do not ask mel"
"You shall do it," he cried, pas
sionately. II won't be ruined for any
cursed sentiment"
She rose from her kness, and went
away from him. She turned round,
and stood quite still, looking down
upon him.
How long have you owned this
money!" she asked coldly.
more than two years." he said, i'm
patiently. What has that to do with
it?"
"How should you have paid it if you
had not married me?" she asked again.
Married some one with a little
more money ready to hand" he said,
brutality.
Her sad eyes never left his face.
She beat back the agony that over
mastered her with strong hand.
what did you marry me for,
Lyster?" she said. Tell me the
truth
For your money" he replied ''and
a precious mess I have made of it,
did you never love me?" she asked.
"Men trouble themselves little
enough about sentiment" he said.
GAS you ask me plain question,
give you a plain answer married
you for your money"
He saw strong shudder ruin
through the girlish figure; he saw her
raise her white arms, as though in
supplication; then they dropped help
lessly by her side, and she fell, with
her face downward, upon the floor.
She uttered no cry, spoke no word;
her heart was broken. She fell in
the silence and stiffness of death.
He had not meant to go quite so far,
but she had angered him; besides, as
ne said to himself, she might just as
well know the truth now as at any
other time.
He rose from the sofa, and stood
over her for a minute; the golden hair,
the white, still face, the blue velvet,
all seemed one confused mass. He
raised her in his arms and laid her
dOwn-poor, crushed, bruised flower
laid her down, with a muttered curse
at the folly of women.
He never kissed her, or took, with
gentle hands, the tangled golden hair
from her face. He laid her down, and
stood by her impatiently enough, until
the closed eyelids quivered, and low
moan told him she was herself again.