Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-10-01
BY BERTHA NJ. CLAY.

lakeside, looking with dreamy, wear
led eyes upon the bright, clear water.
He went up to her and asked her
what she was thinking of. Her face
did not brighten when he spoke.
81 cannot quite tell you,' she said.
ct am longing for a change. | think l
have grown tired of always being III
the same place, and seeing the same
people. I want fresh faces, and fresh
voices"
She did not see how keen was the
pain she had inflicted upon him.
''I want to do as other girls OF my
age do she continued "Ah! Rupert,
that bright world-that world full of
beautiful ladies and lover knights!
Where is it? When shall I go out
into it?''
'Be my wife Sybil," he said eagerly,
"and you shall have every wish OF your
heart
But she shrunk back from him, and
he said to himself it is not yet time.
So passed the bleak winter; the
spring came; there was promise OF an
other summer; and, as yet, Rupert
Dacre had read nothing in the face he
loved so we'll to justify him in speak
ing again.
The three who loved Sybil Jocelyn
watched her keenly, hoping every day
for some sign that she was learning to
appreciate the devoted love lavished
upon her. Some one else watched her,
too, with jealousy, and not for love-
Violet Ruthers had been left an or
phan while she was still a child-an
orphan and an heiress. She was under
the charge of an aunt Mrs. Travers,
and of Squire Jocelyn, her mothers
brother.
Part of her time was spent IN London
and part at Glynn She was Of age at
the time our story opens, and spent
her time where she liked.
Violet Ruthers was magnificent
woman brunette, whose dark, glow
| ing, southern beauty is rare among the
fair-haired daughters of England. She
was proud and passionate; a woman
of great firmness and determination,
never to be deferred from anything
upon which she had set her mind.
She was a thorough woman Of the
world-bland, suave, gracious, and
dignifed; as different to sweet. impul-
sive, willful Sybil as is the sun to the
moon.
/ For some time her whole heart had
been fixed upon one idea. She loved
| Sir Rupert Dacre and intended to be
his wife.
He was chivalrous and courteous
to all women Miss Ruthers had mis-
taken his kind and considerate manner
for something else.
AS beauty and an heiress, she
might, in worldly point of view, have
done even better than marrying Sir
Rupert; but her whole heart was fixed
upon becoming Lady Dacre of The
Hide.
She had seen no man who could be
compared to Sir Rupert; his dark
handsome face haunted her, and she
determined to win his love-
She could not help seeing his devO-
ton to Sybil, but she confronted her
self, believing the girls Indifference
would tire him in time, and she would
catch his heart in the rebound.
! Sir Rupert liked her simply because
she was SYPHILIS cousin. When Sybil
had panied him by some willful indif-
ference, by some GOODNESS or caprice,
it was pleasant to talk to her. She
seemed to understand so quickly and
sympathize so warmly. Not that Sy-
bil's name was ever mentioned be-
tween them. No one had told Miss
Ruthers what had passed, but she had
wounds that Sir Rupert never tried to
resist
She suffered much in those days
Here was she, one of the most beau
tiful and popular women in England,
positively overlooked, set aside, for the
sake of a simple country girl, who had
never entered the charmed circle of
fashion. She had laid herself out to
captivate Sir Rupert. She had used
all the dangerous weapons of beauty
and fascination, and all in vain. One
look, one half word from Sybil, and
Sir Rupert forgot her existence In
vain she sung for him with the sweet
est of voices vain she played, and
glanced, and sighed. Sir Rupert was
blind to it ALL
Violet Ruthers waited patiently
She had great faith in time An unex-
pected ally came to her aid
One June morning, as Sybil had wan
dered into the garden, longing for SYM
pathy that would relieve the monot-
ony of life, Lady Marche was an
nounced.
Irene, as lady of the house, fastened
to receive the visitor. Sybil, on join
ing them, was warmly welcomed by
Lady Marche.
'FWhere is Miss Ruthers?" she asked.
EI have something to say to you all
favor to ashland I can take no
denial"
Violet was soon found, and the three
waited in longing suspense to hear