Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-03-19
CHAPTER XI.

Two years had passed, and few
changes had come with them. The old
Squire, rich man now through the
generosity of Lord Rhysworth, de-
cfared that ne was growing younger;
he was so thoroughly happy that
Dolores felt every time she saw him.
she could have made a sacrifice twice
as great for him. He thoroughly en-
ioyed his life, and began to take his
favorite rides and walks. His was in
deed new existence.
Sir Karl had not returned to Eng
land Scarsdale was still in the hands
of the servants. Lola, whose letters
interested him because they were al
ways full of news about Deeping
Hurst, heard from him often; but in
none of his letters was there even the
faintest aIlusion to his coming home.
At Deeping Hurst itself there had been
one event. Dolores had presented her
husband with little daughter, tiny
beautiful child whom she idolized;
and Lord Rhysworth had been nearly
beside himself with joy. After his
long, loveless life to have a sweet wife
and infant daughter-it seemed a
marvel to him that Heaven had
blessed him So His loving fondness
for his daughter was beyond concep-
ton; that there had been, was, or
could be such baby he refused to
believe. Little Kathleen was not like
Dolores; she had the Rhysworth face,
dark eyes and hair and mouth like
a rosebud. 1t was touching to see
the old Squire with his little grand
daughter-to him she was Dolores in
her sweet, helpless infancy over again.
The child thrived, and everything at
Deeping Hurst seemed to promise UNI
interrupted prosperity and happiness.
Lord Rhysworth, in his devoted love
and affection for his little daughter,
settled Deerhurst Manor, with hand
some yearly income, upon her. Deep
ing Hurst was entailed, and would
go to his son; or, if he had no son, to
the next kin; but Deerhurst Manor
and Burbage Grange were his own,
and he could leave them to whom he
pleased. Many a description of this
wonderful baby had Lola sent over the
one was just year old, able to call
Lord Rhysworth by name, and to glad
den the heart of Dolores by saying
Mamma" a terrible and unforeseen
event occurred. One November even
ing Lord Rhysworth was caught in
thick mist, and, being at some distance
from home, he was compelled to re-
main in his wet clothes; the conse-
quence was, he caught a bad, feverish
cold. Like most healthy men, he
laughed when Dolores begged him to
give UP outdoor sports for a time and
take care of himself. 1t was all right,
he affirmed; cold was nothing. 1t
would not hurt him.
The result was that one day he was
unable to rise from his bed; infam
nation of the lungs set in, and he
was soon brought to the verge of
death. Then the noble character of
Dolores shone forth. From the first
hour of her husbands illness until the
last she never left him. What rest
she was compelled to take she took in
his room She was the most assidu-
Gus and careful, the most gentle and
loving of nurses.
You make even death seem sweet,
Dolores" he whispered to her while
the death-damp gathered on his brow.
eve have not been long together, but
you have made me very happy"
His little daughter was brought to
him, and he passed away with his head
on the breast of the wife whom he had
loved so dearly and so we'll.
His death, so sudden and unexpected,
coming in the midst of his great hap
piness, and so soon after his marriage,
created a profound sensation in the
county. People could hardly believe
it at first It's effect on Dolores was
terrible. 1t seemed to her that she
could never bear the common routine