Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-31

AAAAA AeON0 AOS a WOIu WdS SpOh0ns Luou
Sir Rupert crossed the room to where
she was sitting.
L am sorry your sister thinks you
not so WELL" he said Have you been
gr1eYlng over anything?"
No" she replied, while a hot flush
covered her face; irene fdgets about
me always, but more especially when
she has nothing else to do
Let me show you these engravings, =
he said, taking chair by her side;
there is magnificent view of Glynn."
He turned over the leaves, pleased at
her evident interest in them. Sudden
ly she pushed the book from her, and
shuddered as she placed her hands be-
fore her with startled cry He
looked, first at her, then at the pict-
ure: it was a view of Birley Woods;
no wonder she had cried out, poor
child, as she saw it.
"Sybil,' he said, gently taking her
hands from her pale face, was it so
very bad, my dear child?"
$50 bad! she cried ooh, Rupert!
it kills me to remember!"
Let me teach you to forget" he
said. ooh, Sybil! If you could know
| if you could understand how I love
you the better for your sorrow, the
better for the cloud that has Swallowed
your youth. The brightest gift I ask
| from heaven is the power to comfort
you, my darling make your life
bright and happy again. Will you give
| it to me?"
| BIT she shrank from him, sobbing
that she was not worthy-she was not
worthy of his love-
LET me judge of that, Sybil," he
said, gently. your true lips have ut
tered no word against him, the poor,
misguided man who has gone to his
judgment; but know what you have
suffered, dear. I know through what
dark scenes you have passed. I know
the people you have lived among, and
| also what you have seen and heard. I
know it all, yet hold you no less
| pure, my darling. Lilies bloom in
noisome places sometimes. You are
no less pure than when, years ago,
your fathers love sheltered you, and
| my love lay at your feet"
She answered him never word, for
passionate tears rained from her eyes.
He placed his arm around her.
blot out that miserable past" he
said; 'let it be dead and buried. You
have suffered sorely for the error.
Look up, my darling, and tell me it
shall be So"
He raised the sweet face to his, and
kissed away the streaming tears.
Il love you SO dearly in your desc
lation," he said; "even your sorrow
charms me more than another WON
ans joy could do. My life is your life.
| Why, Sybil, from the time you were a
little child ordering me as you would,
have / ever cared or thought oftany-
thing but you?"
She knew he had not, and the knowl-
edge brought CLEAN of tenderness
into her eyes.
BE kind to me, Sybil," he contin-
ued; ''it is IN your power to atone to
me for my troubled youth and man
hocd-troubled because could not
win your love-"
II am not fit for you now" she
said, humbly. you should marry
some good young girl who never fell
in love foolishly, or ran away from
home"
L would rather marry you, if you
will let me- he replied, with a grave
smile. Let it be SO, Sybil. Your
home is here, in my heart. claim
you there
She aid not resist when he clasped
her in his arms, kissing her tenderly
/ murmuring loving words over her, as
mothers do over children who have
been lost.
Make me quite happy" he pleaded
SAY you love mel"
II do love you, Rupert" she cried
land if / can make you happy, I am
willing to be your wife,"
"Only willing?" he said, with a
smile.
well, pleased, if you must have it, >
she said, with slight blush. eff sor
row and suffering make women wise
| am a very wise woman now"
Il believe it" he replied, "and shall
do my best to make you unlearn all
such wisdom"
CHAPTER XIV.
Il have not wish left ungratifed,
said the squire that evening, while
t ars of happiness shone brightly in
his eyes. ''The dearest desire of my
heart was to see Sybi1 your wife, Ru
pert; and now, thank God, it will be
gratified."
''The sooner the BETTER" said Sir
Rupert. Mine has been long court
ship, squire. 1t began when l was
nine years al ond will only end when