Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-10-08

This was something like romance,
sitting under the spreading shade of
green trees. listening to the singing of
the little brook. with this handsome,
fair-haired soldier by her side. His
plumed cap lay upon the grass at her
feet, and his dreamy eyes, SO full of I'M
spoken love, riveted upon her features.
She was but a child, or the beauty OF
a mans face, the gold lace upon his
jacket, and the plume in his cap, would
ot~haye pleased her. She was no
longer a child when she rose from the
brook-side; Woman's heritage of love
and sorrow was falling upon her.
She would fain have fingered longer,
but she remembered Sir Rupert, and
rose in hasty, sweet confusion.
.How I love this little brooke cried
Captain Ayrton.
IF were to go to battle, and fell
upon the field, should hear its ripple
longer than any other earthly sound
''To battle!" she cried, sudden alarm
driving the bright color from her
cheeks "There is no danger of that, I
hope, Captain Ayrton?"
"A soldier must always be ready"
he said, lightly; and in her heart she
thought him the bravest of heroes.
The gallant captain had used his little
weapon before. and knew it's efficacy
Then her foot stumbled over the hid
den root of an old tree, and she would
have fallen had he not caught her in
his arms. That emboldened him to
draw her nearer and hold her arm
tightly to him.
They saw Lady Marche in the dis
lance, and went to her. There was a
crimson flush on Sybil's face, as her
ladyship went to meet them with a.
peculiar smile
'sYou have been showing Captain
Ayrton the brook" she said; S'and I am
quite sure he has been enchanted with
the prospect.
Sybil did not answer according to
her usual custom, with bright, gay
words. There was now a gentle, ten
der beauty coming over her. All!
never more would the squire's best-lov-
ed daughter look and speak as a child.
She was very quiet when Sir Rupert
came up and claimed her, and Captain
Ayrton left her side with a grace
full bow; kind and gentle-unlike the
Sybil he had let an hour ago. He did
not know why, nor did she understand
the glamour that was falling. over. her.
''He has done no HARM" thought Sir
Rupert, as she walked by him, wrapped
in silent thought. He shall not have
such a long tete-a-tete with her again.
And at dinner Sir Rupert kept his
station by her Captain Ayrton
just opposite to her; and to one who
understood such things, it was wonder.
full to see how he managed to make
both ladies believe i'm him. He spoke
to Lucy, and looked at. sybil-both
seemed satisfied.
After dinner, they sat round in a
happy circle, talking, laughing, listen
ing to the glorious music of the band:
and during that time, had not Sir Ru-
pert been blinded by the strength and
force of his own love, he would have
seen that for him all hope of winning
Sybil was over.
In the sweet, calm evening cleaning
they rode back to Ling, and again
Sybil leaned forward to listen, while
Captain Ayrton's plumed cap dropped
near her. It was more like fairy
dream than reality. The solemn stars
were beginning to shine in the dark
ening sky; the soft evening air was full
of rich fragrance, that came from
sleeping flowers and restless trees; ma
ture was hushed and fair, and the
young heart. learning all too soon it's
fiery lesson, was full of rapture.
Was it dream or delicious real
ity? Would she wake up presently,
and find herself at Glynn, or would
they ride on under the stars?
They reached Ling at last, and long
before Sir Rupert could approach her,
Captain Ayrton had helped Sybil to
alight, and led her into the brilliantly
lighted hall. M H ~
How beautiful and bewitching she
looked! The night air seemed all
fresh and fragrant about her. The
the stars seemed to cling to her. And
Captain Ayrton, as he looked at the
sweet, proud face, the tender violet
eyes and beautiful lips, swore to him
self that he would win her. or no other
man should.
There was short interval for the
ladies to make their toilets, and then
dancing began in the great hall at
Ling.
Sybil looked like some superb young
queen in her sweeping dress of white
silk and pearls. Graceful, proud, yet
loving, arch, bright, and sweet-as
different to ordinary girls as could be
imagined. And Captain Ayrton, look
ing on her in charmed wonder. resol-
we'd to keep his VOW. He took courage
from overhearing this little converse
ton. E l@ I1
Sir Rupert came to Sybil and asked
her to dance with him. She consented.
and her lovers admiring eyes, taking