Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-04-23


part. You must remember that I
told you when you spoke of it, that
your friendship with me should never
interfere with your marriage"
Eyes, l remember it. It must have
been my fancy, then; but | did believe
you were beginning to care for me
and you would have cared for me but
for Lady Rhysworth's cruel treach-
ery!"
"You must not speak in that way,
Lola. There is no woman on earth so
good, so pure, so worthy of all
honor and reverence as Lady Rhys-
worth. Whatever you have to say to
me, say; but leave her name out of the
question:
"You love her SOL" she cried, in
tones of utter despair.
Eyes; and why not? I have never
loved any one else. We all love whom
we please
She came little nearer to him, and
laid her hand upon his arm.
Look at me-" she said, with piteous
eyes; /" am I not fair to see?'
"You are one Of the most beautiful
of women" he answered.
cam I not as fair as Dolores?" che
asked, the old, bitter jealousy rising
in her heart.
Perhaps fairer in the eyes of
others, but not so fair in mine"
81 have not found favor in your
eyes," she said; but Sir Karl inter-
rupted her.
why say more, Lola? What is
done can never be undone. | have al
ways admired you, and been your
friend; more than that I cannot say
more would not De true"
81 understand she answered,
mournfully. 'I am glad came. |
should not have believed it from any
other lips than yours do not blame
you. Remember that, if she had not
come between us, you would have
cared for me in time-you could not
have helped it. My great love must
have Influenced you in the end; you
are not hard-hearted.
mo, [ am not. | am more grleVed
than can tell you Lola; but, my dear
girl, I have never misled you; it is
but a fancy of yours which you will
forget in a few days"
81 shall take it with me to my grave, .
she replied. "You call such love as
mine a fancy. Oh, how blind you
must be! There has never been a
greater-it is a love deep enough to
have shielded you from every sor-
row that falls to the lot of man. Nc
other woman will ever love you SO
dearly, so truly. Dolores will net. You
will worship her and lavish a whole
world of affection and love on her;
she will accept it with smiles, believe
it to be her due, take it as homage
you ought to pay her; but, as for re
turning it, women of her stamp take.
but never give. My love would be as
the breath of the whirlwind, hers as
the faintest sigl, All, KARL" che
cried in a pathetic voice, pause and
think before you give up such love
forever"
He could not help feeling touched
So much love lavished, and in vain!
He felt for the girl herself, for what
must be her humiliation, her distress,
her anguish!
''The time may come" she resumed,
when feeble love will fail you, when
you will want a nature as strong as
your own to help you. All, then you
will miss mel who love you SOL"
''My dear Lola he said huskily, eff
l could but persuade you that it is all
too late! l am SO grieved that I can
not find words to express my sorrow.
Be reasonable
Love like mine knows no reason"
she answered. II must hear the whole
truth while am here" she added.
s.You say it is too late Perhaps it is
not. You do not know the love I have
for you. Lob that I should have
to say the words! But I must speak
or I shall die-I would make you hap
pier than any one else can, because
love you so dearly. If you do not mar
ry Dolores, she will cry for a few
days, and then calmly look out for a
better match; while when you are
gone from mel shall die!"
He took the burning hands in his.
"You are not yourself, Lola," he
said. II will not listen to another
word. Let me tell you this-it is bet
ter to be frank with you. If Dolores
dies tomorrow, chould go unmarried
to my grave. She is the only woman I
ever could love; my fate-and to me
it is very happy one-is fixed beyovd
recall. could not love you, even II
I could prove false to Dolores. Now
be your better, brighter SELF, and for
get all this"
NAY" she said bitterly, my bet
ter, brighter self is dead. But I do
not blame you; you would have loved
me if she had net come between us
and she ghall suffer for it! My ven
geance shall fall upon her, not upon
yyO,,H,