Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-07-16
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A Golden Heart. :
BERTHA M. CLAY. @ss {
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BERTHA M. CLAY.
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Continued.

Mrs. TurnbuH; the lady will prefer it
TO this, and you can take her some tea
there. I shall sit up here. Madam,
he continued, turning to where Lola
stood with a white, defiant look on
her face. 81 shall be on the alert. l.
can hear the stealthiest of footsteps,
the slightest creak of a board or up
raising Of a window. Remember, II
YOU make any desperate attempt to
escape, 1 will give you in custody for a
crime you would not like to hear me
name"
"Merci, monsieur" she said, with a
knocking smile-"merci, you will have
to prove every charge you bring
against me-"
She went UP the narrow staircase
more with the air of an injured queen
than of a prisoner. 1t was plain.
pretty room into which she was
shown. For few moments she stood
like some Gagged tigress in the middle
of it, and then hastily closed the door.
care you open to a bribe?" she
asked, turning to the keepers wife.
L
life if you will do one of two things.
Either bring to me poison that I may
destroy myself, or give me the chance
of escape through the window here. |
swear to you that I will make you
rich for life"
Il cannot" said the woman II dare
not; we have always served my lord
faithfully"
''If he and you but knew what was
best for the whole family, you would
beg of me on your knees to co. she
said.
But the woman shook her head, she
could never, come what may, betray
her trust.
The night passed in pleading and
useless prayers. Once or twice the
keepers wife nodded, and awoke sud-
denly to find the dark, beautiful face
bent over her with murderous gaze.
q warn you," said Lola; II am a
desperate woman. I should set little
value upon your life. If you wish well
to yourself, do not expose me to temp
tation"
This so effectually scared the
keepers wife that she checked all
further inclination to slumber, and
watched every movement of her COM
panion.
It was pitiful to see the way in
which Lola de Ferras paced up and
down the room, at times wringing
her hands and crying out that she was
trapped and lost, at others that they
should never make her speak-never;
no one could do that.
When morning came and the watch
was ended, when the dark head, tired
and wearied, was laid to rest, Lord
Fielden wrote a little note to his
mother to say that she was to come
to the cottage at once, and bring Cert
rude with her-that there was i'm
mediate need for their presence. He
cautioned the keeper to keep silent as
to what had happened-indeed, he had
little to reveal-Lord Fielden had told
him nothing.
In less than an hour the two ladies
were on their way, Lady Fielden deep
ly anxious and agitated, Gertrude full
Of wonder.
81 am sure" said she, as they drove
along, that it is something about the
advertisements; Lady Fielder, I feel
quite certain of it."
Lady Fielden's first words to her
son were Of reproach that he had been
out all night, and that she had been
greatly alarmed about him.
He went up to the side of the low
pony carriage, and in a few words
told them what had happened. Cert
rude's face flushed and her eyes
flashed.
lola de Ferras!" she cried, us it
possible? Has Heaven granted our
prayer at last?"
But Lady Fielden grew deadly pale.
Lola de Ferras! Oh, Harry, l can
not see that w0man-that wicked wo-
mani"
you must see her for my sake! .
cried Gertrude. ooh, Lady Fielden
my dearest and truest friend, you
must forget everything else except
that you have to help me, and that
my fathers name must be cleared"
They spent some few minutes dis
cussing what had happened.
"She will never speak" said Lady
Fielden; 'she is still, as she says,
queen of the position.
"She will speak, declared Gertrude,
''for I shall implore her to do SO in my
fathers name"
Then Lord Fielden asked if they
could go upstairs, and Mrs. Turnbull
answered, yes"
They found Lola sitting in a chair
by the window, and in her eye was the
look of hunted animal driven to bay.
She never glanced at the ladies, but
spoke to Lord Fielden at once.
'Have you any further indignities
to offer me?' she demanded. Gam |
to be kept here in prison, show for
you and your friends?"
Lola de Ferras," said Lady F'ieIden,