Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-03-26


yielded. 1T was pleasant to be well
coined so warmly by those two grace
full women, to be made to feel that he
had brought brightness and happi
ness with him, to know that their de-
lig.t at seeing him was perfectly
genuine. It was more like coming
home than going to Scarsdale would
be; so he yielded to the temptation
or the impulse, and remained
Madame, noting her daughters de-
light, felt her heart sink. She could
see that Sir Karl did not care for her
except as friend; and it dawned up
On her that an unfortunate love af-
fair would be the one thing in this
world which would be most baneful to
Lola.
They had pleasant dinner.
Madame ordered some of her choicest
wines to be brought; the viands were
recherche, the fruit was delicious.
Afterward all three repaired to the
drawing-room. The long windows
opened on to the lawn, the turf OF
which was smooth as velvet. The
room itself was filled with the per-
fume of odorous flowers and sweet
with the breath of the summer wind.
Madame went to her couch She
was sure Sir Karl would excuse her;
but the day had been warm and she
was tired The fact was her heart
ached for her daughter; and if a
tete-a-tete after a long absence could
be useful to Lola, she should have it.
IF I should forget myself, Sir Karl
and fall asleep she said, you Will
forgive me- Assure me beforehand Of
your pardon, and / shall be satisfied
II can have no greater pleasure
than to see madame comfortable re-
turned Sir Karl; and in few min
utes he saw by the closed eyelids that
virtually he was alone with Lola.
She made some half-laughing
apology for her mother; but Sir Karl
would not allow that one was needed.
.'It is warm here" she said. LET
us go on to the lawn. | should like
to talk to you after your long alb
That was just what he did not
want her to do, but he did not like to
tell her so. There was nothing for
it but for him to follow her on. to the
lawn. Then he wished he had taken
a cigar; for, as though the action was
quite natural to her, she held out her
hand for his arm. He gave it to her
with a low bow, and they went off
together toward the limet trees. All
around was still; there was no sound
save the sweet one of falling water.
1t was the very night for poetry and
love-
'fSir Karl" said Lola, "tell me
whether you think our friendship has
prospered. Are you pleased with the
results of it?'
'I cannot but be well pleased and
grateful too" he replied. Your let
ters have been great source OF pleas
ure to me. | must thank you for
them. Owing to them, | feel as though
| had not been far away from home
you have kept me so constantly au
courant with all that has happened.
Il am very glad that you are pleased
with them Tell me one thing more.
Do you care more for my friendship
than you did? Would you feel reluct-
ant to lose it now"
'FMost certainly | should he an
swered. 81 should be more than re-
luctant-I should be grieved. But
why should there be any fear of such
a thing?"
Il hope there is not" she said. II
was merely wondering, if you were to
lose my friendship, whether you
would feel it acutely.'
1--WE may be friends always" he
/ do not see anything TO
prevent il"
You were wrong in one respect,
full face You anticipated finding
me married on your return. See
how true I have been TO our friend
ship.
HYour marriage need not have i'm
paired it," he replied IF, however,
you had married some one who OBJ
Jected to it, your clear duty would
have been to put an end to it,
His thoughts hardly went with his
words. He was wondering how Dol
ores looked in a widows cap on her
fair hair, whether she would be
pleased to see him, how she would
greet him, what her first words would
be; and the emotion of the girl by his
side escaped him.
She walked on in silence. AT length
she spoke This was to have been a
day of supreme happiness to her, and
it did not seem to her as though it
mad fulfilled it's promise.
Is that all you have to say to me?"
she asked slowly.
He looked down at her with a smile.
Have I left anything unsaid which
ought to have said?"
You must be the best judge of that
Sir Karl she replied. II am pleased
indeed to see you, and hope you are
equally delighted to see me-
Il have assured you of that" he
said grayely.