Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-03-05
CHAPTER TX.

1t was evening before his Journey,
and Sir Karl sat alone in his library.
He would not go to Beaulieu. He could
not forget his irritation and annoy
ance at what Dolores had told him of
the manner in which his choice of the
red rose had been taken; it was an in
cident so trivial that he had not
thought it worth remembering. That
the happiness or misery of two lives,
his own and Dolores, should have de-
pended upon such trife> was almost
incredible to him. While occupied
with his sad thoughts he heard the
sound of wheels. It was quite late in
the afternoon, and he marveled much
who could be calling at that hour. He
was still more surprised when the
servant came to say that Miss de Fer
ras would he glad to see him for a
few minutes; she had been shown into
the morning-room.
'You have forgotten these books,
Sir Karl" said Lola, as the baronet
entered the room. Mamma thought,
as I was driving past, that I might
leave them here-she meant at the
lodge; but thought that might take
the opportunity of saying goodbye
She spoke in a careless tone; but
as he took the books from her hand,
he saw that the usual brilliant bloom
had left her face and that it was
very pale; there was even a culver
of pain on it.
Il have something to say to you, /"
she went on presently, then paused,
and added impetuously, sYou are not
angry? If / had thought you would
be angry, would not have come
why should fbe?" He was touched
by her emotion. "You would not seek
me, am sure, unless you have some
thing very particular to say"
But she seemed to be in no hurry to
speak. Her lips parted once or twice,
but the words died on them. He
looked at her in wonder. Why should
she ask to speak to him, and then
stand silent, as though she had moth
ing to say? At last, in low voice,
she resumed
'SYou said, when you were at
Beaulieu, that you would come over
to say goodbye to us, that you would
see me again before you started on
your journey. Yesterday you wrote
to mamma, saying that you would not
have time to call Why did you
change your mind? What was the
reason? Why are you leaving without
coming near us?''
II had a reason he answered, his
face flushing; 'fbesides which, I wrote
the simple truth. I had no time l
am leaving England sooner than I
intended"
What was the reason?" she asked.
II cannot explain he said, proudly.
"Do you think any reason would
justify your going away without say
ing farewell to old and true friends
like mamma and MYSELF"
my farewell was none the less genu-
inc for being written instead Of
spoken, Miss de Ferras''
She came nearer to him, and with a
passionate cry of pain held out her
hands.
do you judge me by yourself?" she
exclaimed. "Do you think that a few
coldly written words of farewell
would suffice for me, even if they did
for you? They did not; therefore I
am here
He had not one word to say. The
beautiful, passionate face and ringing
voice bewildered him He was not
prepared for scene Of this kind.
She laid her hand upon his arm, as
though she would compel his atten-
ton.
do you think SO little and so light
ly Of our friendship that you could
go without having seen me again?
could not let you go SO; I could not
even bear the thought that you should
leave England without. my having seen
yo's again. How could you do it? Oh,
Sir Karl, how could you do it?''
The lark eyes were drowned with
tears. Although he did not love her,
and never would, he could not help
being touched by her sorrow. What
man could resist a beautiful face
shadowed with grief, and lovely eyes
dimmed with tears for his sake? Sir
Karl was but human; he took the
white hand from his arm and held it
in his.
Il am afraid" she said, smiling
through her tears, chat, even if I had
not had the books for a pretext,
should have come just the same Do
you think it is very wrong of me to
have Gomez"
Sir Karl looked uncomfortable.
What am | to answer?" he said,
With forced smile. .'I cannot say
that it is right, and it seems unkind
to say that it is wrong"
To Be Continued.