Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-11-26

asked the squire, hoarsely. WAS
she the lady Charley Neville saw with
that cursed villain?"
She tried to soothe him, to stop the
burning torrent of rage that seemed
driving him to frenzy She had better
have tried to stop the flowing OF the
tide. He was mad with wounded love
with outraged honor-with sorrow
and despair. The first foul blot OF
shame had fallen on his house. and ii
was his bestowed child brought it
there.
He did not speak again to the pale,
weeping woman who followed him.
In less than ten minutes the groom
was reused, and the squire was riding
for dear life on the road to Moles-
worth.
There he learned the truth. One of
the porters knew Captain Ayrton, and
described accurately the lady with
him, who wore purple cloak. They
had gone by the mail train to London,
and no other train left the junction I'M
til morning. 1t was too late for pur-
suit-for anything but despair.
Hours afterward the squire opened
his eyes, and found himself lying in
bed, his right arm bandaged, his head
aching, and stiff with a severe wound.
Sir Rupert stood by him, and Irene
knelt by his side.
''You FELL" said Sir Rupert, in ans
wer to his look Of surprise and inter-
rogation. "You fell on the ploaform,
and they fetched me-"
The whole sense of his calamity
rushed over him.
'Is it true?" he cried. "Tell me
is it true?"
''You have daughter left" SAID
Sir Rupert; but the squire turned his
face away, weeping, as one who had
no hope, for the bestowed darling he
had lost.
He recovered slowly, but Squire
Jocelyn was never himself again after
that fatal night Time neither healed
nor softened his wound. There, where
he had garnered all his love he was
stricken and betrayed.
Gloom that never lessened, settled
over Glynn. 1t was as hours the sun
had ceased to shine. Servants went
about with noiseless steps, and spoke
in whispers. Friends and neighbors
rarely intruded on grief each one held
sacred.
They had not been long in suspense.
Two mornings after, a long letter
came from Sybil-a long, loving let
ter, all blotted with tears.
She was married; they had been
married at ST. Pancras's Church. and
all she wanted to make her the hap
piest of all human beings was her
darling fathers love, blessing,
and pardon. and Irene's forgivness.
She pleaded for it with sweet. earnest
words, but the squire's face never
softened as he read.
''She chose between u.s. he said,
and she preferred him. She must keep
her bargain; write and aell her so,
Irene"
No kindly words Of pardon went
from Glynn to the girl who longed for
them. The squire babe his daughter
repeat his vow-that no money, no
help, no aid should go from him to
the wife of Lyster Ayrton.
At intervals long letters came from
her, but the squire never read or ans
wered them. He sat much alone, dis
liking all conversation, brooding over
the wrong done him by the man who
had stolen from him his darling child.
What he suffered in those lonely hours
none will ever know. He grew more
feeble-deeper lines came on his kind
ly face Once or twice Irene, bending
over him. heard a muttered curse an
he slept.
So weeks, months, and years passed,
bringing no change or gladness to
Glynn.
y
In a pretty little villa on the High
gate hills Lyster Ayrton had taken
apartments for his wife. She wanted
to be in the city, nearer to his club
and the barracks-thinking, poor
child, she would see him oftener; but
he persuaded her that he liked High
gate best. and she consented.
They had been married now a week
and Lyster Ayrton began to weary Of
domestic bliss. He had been very at
tentives during that week, never leav-
ing Sybil. lavishing love and kisses
upon her, keeping ever by her side,
reading to her during the long even
ings-taking her once to the theater,
a new world for Sybil. He was so
handsome. SO gay, with such devotion
in every look and word, that the poor
child thought herself in Paradise
The little drawing-room was a
bright cheerful apartment, very diff
ferent from the magnificent rooms at
Glynn, but it was light and sunny,
with white lace curtains. and stands
filled with blooming flowers. It con-
tanned, besides. a good piano, some
pretty lounging-chairs, a little couch
placed between the windows. and on
the outside was pretty flower
wreathed balcony, commanding mag