Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-05-21
A[@lElIAlI 81 IEIHT1IEMGa
| A Golden Heart.
BERTHA Nj. CLAY.
HF.lE FREIHIEAEIIzIEE! E1lEIlzlEEIIENIIT
BERTHA M. CLAY.


new friends. some to console, some to
crafty their curiosity. The Squire
received them with great dignity; he
would spare Dolores in every way
that lay in his power.
In spite CT the details she had heard
of the gossip to which she had been an
unwilling listener. of the cruel news
paper reports, Dolores still entertained
a glimmering hope that there might
! be some mistake. But, as day after
day passed and no news came Of Sir
Karl, that hope grew less, and event
ually died out.
One morning, when the Squire open
ed the letter-uag, he found it contained
| just such another thin, square en-
velope as the one which Sir Karl had
received ON the fatal day when he had
| disappeared. On this occasion the
letter was addressed to Lady Allan
more. If he had followed his first
| impulse, he would have burned it on
the spot, but he reflected that it might
have some referenc to the matter
which was engrossing all their
thoughts; SO he took it up to Dolores,
whose pale face grew paler as she rec
ogilized the handwriting.
s'This is from Lola!' she cried. On
papa, come to me while | read it,"
He sat by her side while she opened
it, and all the light faded from her
eyes as she traced the cruel words.
Il told you," the letter began, that
should have my revenge I have
had it. You won my lover from me.
and | swore to you the time would
come when you should suffer as you
had made me suffer. | have kept my
VOW; my revenge is complete, great as
was the injury | received. l knew the
time would come when Sir Karl would
tire of you. Women of your type, Do
lores, but seldom retain love- The
time for which I waited has arrived.
You have looked your last on the man
you stole from me. 1t is my. revenge,
Dolores What do you think of it?''
Lady Allanmore's face grew deathly
pale, and her lips trembled as she gave
the letter back to the Squire.
LET US keep that, papa she said.
slowly, with the other. They may be
useful some day.
''He is with her then; there is nc
mistake
There can be no mistake; this is
proof conclusive she replied. 81
wish, she continued, sadly, that he
had written to me, even had it been
only to say bood-by.''
1T appears to me-" said the Squire,
gravely, that you are entitled to di-
vorce.''
NO." she replied, with a shudder.
there is no need of divorce. He is
dead to me, he whom | loved so well;
but / shall be true to him. My last
faint hope is dead, papa, quite dead /"
She lay back on the pillow, and a
deathly pallor stole over her face.
Dolores" cried the Squire, my
darling, you have the children, you
have mel"
But she cClly walled
"Oh, papa, if | might but die! Do
you think that l can ever face life or
the world again? Oh, dearest and best,
let me die! Papa" she whispered.
when she had grown calmer, you may
show Lord Rhysworth the letter. but
no one else. He ought to know the
truth
Il wish | were younger; Lola's ven
geance should be short lived, said the
Squire. 81 wonder if it be retributiono
Is this the penalty? wonder-Oh, Hea-
ven! Oh, Dolores, Dolores!"
The name came from his lips with
long-draWn sigh as his head fell upon
his breast-zthe bitter sigh with which
he had, during the long illness of many
years before, constantly reiterated the
name while his unsuspecting wife knelt
by his side and wondered who Do
lores was Whether he now referred
to his daughter or not, who could say?
When they went to his assistance
they found that the Squire was dead
dead, with the letter opea in his hands.
Was it retribution? Had it brought
back to his memory some long-past
sorrow of his own? Who should tell?
Would time ever unfold the mystery?
CHAPTER XXI.
The city of Florence lay smiling in
the golden light of the setting sun.
Never perhaps had the home of the
poets looked more lovely. The sun
beams fell upon it's domes and palaces,
upon its magnificent churches aGG
bridges, upon it countless works of art.
On the banks Of the Arno, not far from
the city. stood house known as the
Villa Baira, surrounded by tall trees,
and brilliant flowers No spot could be
more favored. On one side of the villa
rose purple hills-hills that were COW
cred with vines and olives, and groves
of orange and lemon trees, round the
stems of which scarlet creepers clung
in rich abundance, and masses of pas
sion flowers of every hue, from the
deepest crimson to the creamieSt white