Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-01-29
CHAPTER III.

SIM a sweet. odOrous wind, a deep-blue
skv and the atmosphere so clear that
the view all round the country was
magnificent. Every detail of that day
came back to Dolores Her father was
tired and not very well, and Madame
de Ferras offered to take her with
Lola. The carriage called at White
Cliffe, Madame de Ferras looking very
distingue and aristOcratic in her velvet
costume, and Lola very lovely IN a
dress of some rich silk material
with lace. Her first, eager, breathless
question was
do you like my dress? Now, Do
Iores, do not speak hastily, but look at
it. and tell me candidly if you like it. .
It was impossible not to like it, the
costume with it's rich hues was so ad-
mirably suited to the dark, glowing
beauty of the wearer; and Dolores
praised it highly With an air of in
tense relief Lola sunk back in the car
riage.
81 am glad. I must own that |
looked forward with some little
anxiety to what you would say"
Her critical eyes noted every de-
tail of Dolores dress, which was white,
with picturesque dashes of blue-quite
different from her own splendid attire,
but far more elegant and becoming.
She evidently goes in for simplic-
ity," said Lola to herself |'the very
opposite of myself So much the bet
ter"
Dolores remembered how anxiously
Madame de Ferras had looked at her
daughter as she said to her
"Ah, Lola, if you would but think a
little more of serious things and less of
vain nonsense!"
To which Lola retorted with a
charming smile that a lecture was
hardly appropriate on that day. Do
lOres recalled the panied expression on
madames face.
II would not have spoken to my
mother in that fashion" she said to
herself.
Of all pretty scenes, a schOOl-treat on
a bright summer day is perhaps one
of the most charming; and Lady Field
en- had spared neither expense nor
trouble to make hers as pleasant as
possible.
The two beauties attracted no small
amount of attention. They were in
deed the queens of the fete; and opin-
ions were divided about them. Some
of the men admired the fair Dolores,
others the dark, glowing beauty of
Lola de Ferras All kinds of fancied
names were given them. "The Rose
and the Lily" 'The York and the
Lancaster Roses" were among the
number 1t was unanimously declared,
however, that two more beautiful girls
could not be seen.
They had been there more than an
hour before Sir Karl Allanmore ap-
peared; and that hour had not been
entirely satisfactory to Lola. It was
true that she had been surrounded by
admirers, but she was eminently prac-
tical-none of these were eligible men.
She had been longing in her heart to
see Lord Rhysworth or Sir Karl
She was looAing her handsomest and
best when at length the baronet ar
rived She was standing before a
group Of tall fuchsias, which with their
crimson and purple bells formed a
pleasing background for her. The rich
dress of silk swept the ground, and
every line Of her graceful figure was
shown to advantage by her well-fitting
costume. On her dark, beautiful face
there was the faintest shadow of ia
tigue, which softened it wonderfully.
The weary look passed from it, and a
light that made it dazzlingly lovely
came into it when Lady Fielden ad-
vanced to her, walking by the side of
the handsOmest man she had ever re-
membered to have seen.
Miss de Ferras," she said, Sir
Karl AllanmCre wishes for the pleas
ure Of an introduction to you
Leila looked up and saw laughing
debonair face, bright as the May morn
ing, with keen blue eyes and a perfect
mouth. The young baronet was tall
and well made, with head proudly
carried. and something Of a soldierly
bearing, his whole appearance giving
che the impression that he enjoyed
life amazingly.
Would you like to walk as far as
the river?" he asked; and she an
swered that it would give her great
pleasure to do SO.
They went away together; and the
world looked different to Lola de Fer
ras. 1t seemed brighter and better
Everything appeared couIeur de rose
while he was talking to her. She was
saying to herself that she would not
now take any trouble to cultivate Lord
Rhysw0rth's acquaintance, that she
was quite content with the affections
of one whom she had hitherto consid-
cred as second on the list
They walked down to the bank of
the river
II am quite stranger in this neigh
bOrhOOd,' said Sir Karl; "but I must
r 81 "a 49,