Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-06-25
Observation-Disclosures 4L@lEIGlz4L4Izzl9ILEEIs1llI
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/ A Golden Heart.
u BERTHA M. CLAY.
Continued
BERTHA M. CLAY.

ly, what has become of my father?'
eve must be patient" said Lord
Fielden.
The next thing was to send eff the
new advertisement In due course
there came many answers; but they
all bore but little upon the matter in
hand.
Lord Fielden's own idea was that
Leila had taken refuge in France; it
was most probable for many reasons.
End he spent some weeks in Paris.
The Paris officials began to grow in
terested in the search; even the Rus
clan detective service had been drawn
into the business; end no news that
the telegraphic wires could have
flashed from one end of the world to
the other would have given greater
satisfaction than the intelligence that,
living or de" l. something was known
of Lola de Ferras.
Then Lord Fielden had onother
idea; he believed that it was very
probable she would be found in some
religious house, in one of thCce insti
tutions where wearied hearts find rest.
So in England and France the strong
arm of the law was brought into force;
brt the search in this direction was
equally futile. The dark, beautiful
face which had brought ruin ard desc
lation to Scarsdale remained undis-
covered.
1t was almost pitiful to see how
Gertrude and Lord Fielden watched
the post-the sickness of hope de-
ferred indeed made the young girls
hca1t sink. One morning a whole
bundle of letters came; none of them
contained any news of particular in
terest, but they occupied considerable
time in the reading ard answering.
ct wonder, Lord Fielden," said
Gertrude, when the last envelope was
directed, If ever t. ere will be an end
to this quest of miner"
"There is an end to everything,
Geltude,' he replied, thinking to him
self that the one exception was his
own great love for her. There could
never be any end to that-it was i'm
possible.
81 wonder" she continued, what I
shall have to fill my life and to inter
est me when this IS over. I shall be
quite lost Now every day brings it's
own work, and that work occupies
my whole tine. I do not think | could
ever live without scm9 real employ
ment again
"You need not do so,'' said Lord
Fielden, with a quick throb at his
heart. II know work that will just
suit YOU"
what is it," she asked, her eyes
fixed on the spreading beeches. "Wo-
mans rights?''
"Women's rights in che sense of the
word, Gertrude" he replied, decidedly
not in the other. You ought to have
husband who loves you, not with a
commonplace affection, but with an
unfathomable love-
'He has to he found" interrupted
Gertrude, with a shy, sweet smile.
mo, indeed, he has not; he is
found"
But Gertrude would not listen.
II can think Of nothing yet but find
ing my father" she said gently.
"Ge1trude,' he cried, suppose that
some man-we will presume that he
would be in every way eligible
should, through his own exertions and
skill, bring to you certain proofs of
your fathers innocence, the sure solv-
ing of the mystery that surrounds his
name and that of Lola de Ferras,
would you, as a reward, marry him?"
His heart beat so violently as he
asked the question that he was afraid
she would hear it.; his suspense was
so great that he could hardly draw his
breath. But she did not look at him.
She seemed to forget all about him in
the thought of answering his ques-
ton.
Yes she replied, st think I
would"
He turned away with a deep sigh,
and without seeing the furtive glance
from Gertrude's blue eyes.
L WOuu0I, Sdlu marry, Will du I'LL
patient stride across the room, 'if it
would have been better for me if l
had never been born?"
II should say that it is many years
too late to answer the question:" OBJ
served Gertrude.
And so their conversation ended, but
he did not forget it. Lord Fielder
felt convinced that the only way to
win the prize of Gertrude's love was
by clearing up the mystery of her
fathers disappearance and that was
the task he set himself to perform.
CHAPTER xxx
Near the pretty town of st. Remy, in
a remote corner of France, stands
chateau, quite shut in from the world
by the forest that surrounds it. 1t is