Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-02-19
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII
The days passed on; the old Squire
was happy and content. He was now
to all intents and purposes a rich man.
Lord Rhysworth had settled on him
such a sum of money as would enable
him to live in luxury and comfort at
White Cliffe; and, when the old man
died, it was all to revert ito his daugh-
| ter Dolores had forgotten the day when
her lover came, with all the papers and
deeds needful to this end in his hand,
and asked to see her She always
obeyed even his least wish; so she
went at once to him. There were no
excuses, no coquettish delays to en-
nance the value Of her presence.
The next morning she thought he
asked if he was troubled; and he said
No" but that he had something very
serious to say to her. She sat down to
| listen
''You must know, Dolores" he said,
that, whenever the heads of our
house have married, it has been their
custom to bring presents of costly
jewels to the bride Darling, I would
give you jewels worthy of a queens &C
ceptance-even then they would not be
good enough for you-but in their
place I bring you these papers, and my
Wedding-prese to you is this sum of
money that I have settled on your
father. 1t will make him rich for life,
and at his death it will come all to you.
Take them in your hands, Dolores, and
you yourself shall give them to him.
She thanked him in simple, kindly
words; but he was not content
Il want something in return, Dc
lOres. Do you know what it is
mo" she replied. She smiled to
think how little she could give him.
Il want something you have never
given before; and to make it of any
value you must give it to me Of your
own free will. I want kiss, Dolores =
only one. Will you give it to me?"
She was silent for awhile, and the
fair, young face grew very pale. Then
she slowly took the papers in her
| hand and held up her face to kiss him.
1t was done so innocently, so solemnly.
that he was somewhat awed.
Nov" she said, Il will never give
even one thought to any other man"
IT am sure you will not, my darling
! cried the delighted sutton ''I do not
~I>0 !. IT,
love of such a pure and faithful heart.
! [ have more to say, Dolores. Though
buy you with no jewels, still you will
| have finer diamonds and rubies than
almost any other lady in the land. The
Rhysworth diamonds are considered as
fine as any in Europe You will look
like queen in them"
The girl clasped the papers in her
hands more tightly
Il would sooner have these she
said, 'Fbetter than all the jewels in the
world
She went to the Squire with the pa
pers. Lord Rhysworth would not &C.
company her, though she asked him to
do so.
NO" he said. "It is your present
to your father, and you shall give it
to him alone"
To the end Of her life she remem-
bered that scene. It was late in the
afternoon when she sought the Squire
in his study and the sunlight from the
western sky fell full upon his white
hair as he lay asleep. Her entrance
aroused him. He uttered her name,
but in a tone so peculiar that she could
not tell whether he had murmured it
in his dream to some dead Dolores
who lived perhaps only in his memory
Or to herself.
The girl went up to him with the pa
pers in her hands. How was it that
such strange thoughts and fancieS
haunted her? She could almost have
believed that, in letters of blood on the
papers, she traced the words, "Tht
price Of my life She kneeled doWr
by the Squire's side.
II have brought you riches, papa
freedom from care, happiness, and
hope length Of days to enjoy it all"
She never forgot his emotion whe1
he held the papers in his hands, while
he blessed her and thanked her ant
praised her as few fathers have eve
, praised a child She thought that af
! ter all she had done we'll