Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-03-12
Observation-Disclosures
A Golden Heart.
- BERTHA NJ. CLAY.
BERTHA NJ. CLAY.
IE ETIEINT@IIlIDIIlIE EE!IEIllaIIlEIEIEE

me-"
81 PROMISE" he said, carried away by
her beauty and her enthusiasm.
"You will not think of me any more
as Miss de Ferras, but as your true
friend Lola? VIII you say those words
for me?"
my true friend Lola" he said,
smiling; and the lovely face was al
most transfgured with happiness.
"You must promise me that from
this very hour I shall take part in
your life; that you will think of me
often; that you will tell me your
tastes, your likes and dlslikes; that,
when you are absent, you will write
to me frequently, and that you will
provide me regularly with your ad-
dress, so that / may write to you.
Promise to do this, holding my hands
in yours"
81 promise he replied, thinking
that her ideas of friendship were very
elastic, and then reproaching himself
for the thought.
"Now I am HAPPY" murmured Lola.
| ''Let me tell you-and do not be
shocked at my saying it-that would
far rather have your friendship all my
life than the love of any other man."
"But," he said quickly, perceiving
the danger at once, my friendship
will not supply the place of love-
''You do not know" she rejoined;
your friendship is worth more to me
than the love of any other man can
ever be. 1t makes me the happiest
woman on earth, and it makes earth
heaven to me-
'But, Lola, how am ever to repay
you or thank you? What ann I to do
in return for this wealth Of affection
that you lavish upon me?'
''You must repay me in kind You
have trusted me; I will trust you. I.
like yourself, have loved some one SO
well that, if that some one never
loves me, I shall go unmarried to my
grave. See what comfort we can give
each other! This is the happiest day
of my life Sir Karl
"You are very good, Lola, to say So
If L have added to your happiness, I
am we'll pleased.
''You have not added to it; you have
made it," she declared. "And now, Sir
Karl, with the fear of all the offended
proprieties, must 60" Still she held
his hand fondly c1asped in her own.
Il am so glad / came" she added Il
hesitated long about it. Tt was I who
| persuaded mamma that those books
must be of Importance to you. She
said the servants could take them; but
I told her that as I was passing the
lodge I might leave them; and then I
did not think that there would be
any harm seeing you for few minutes
to say farewell l shall always be glad
that I came
She looked so happy that he could
not find it in his heart to reproach
her.
''How long will you be away from
England?" she asked.
His heart turned with loyal
allegiance to Dolores, for whose sweet
sake and for love of whom he was go
ing into exile. He would come back
when he had ceased to love her, but
not until then.
| 'I cannot tell exactly" he replied.
| With undisturbed good humor she
asked:
| "You will think Of me very often
when you are away? wonder
whether it will make you any happier
to know that one faithful heart will
go with you everywhere. WIFI it COM
| fort you to know that?"
YES he replied, almost hating
himself because he could not feel
more grateful for all this kindness.
81 must say good4by," she said, with
lingering regret. "lt is hard as death
I have found you only to lose you.
Good4by, Sir Karl. Say to me some
kind word which will keep my heart
warm while you are away"
''The kindest words I have for you,"
he answered. care the title you have
given yourself-my true friend Lola"
when you return will you promise
to come and see me before you see
any one else, Sir Karl?'
eyes, will, Lola; can easily prom
Use that
"And now it must indeed be good
BY" she said. "Good-by!"
Her hand fingered in his; the beauti
full face was appraised to his; the dark
eyes and fresh, sweet lips invited
caress; but he was resolved that there
should never he anything more than
friendship between them. He did not
touch with his lips either the white
brow or the white hand.
"Good-by, Lola" he said. II will
see you safely into your carriage"
But as the girl still held his hands
tightly clasped in her own, he saw
that tears were falling down her face.
cit is no pain for you to part with
me- she said. "To me it is more bit
ter than DEATH"
NAY, not that, Lola
Eyes, and more than that. You do
not know, you do not understand! Do
you think if the pain had not been
more than I could bear, that should
have come here to see you, have risked
SO much and dared SO nIToh tO SDand