Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-06-18
CHAPTER XVII.

new experience for Gertrude. Inc
9a-washed shores, the tall white
liEs. the clover meadows and green
mes, the woods, streams, and valleys
al a nameless charm for her. She
ven went so far as to declare that
he loved the gray mists and fogs, the
Did winds and keen frost. The fair
cenery and coloring of fertile Italy
yere nothing to her beside these
eauties of her own home. Her poti-
al emotional nature was awakened,
nd there were times when Lady
7ielden was afraid that the girls
intense feeling would endanger her
.ealth. But it did not The brave,
roung heart was reused to its work.
Gertrude took one day to rest, and
q the next Lord and Lady Fielden
.ove her to Scarsdale 1t was touch
ng to see the girls face as she roam
I'd over the old house. Now and again
,aint CLEANS of memory came over
Ter, and she would stand quite still,
struggling with her tears. 1t was
hen that Harry had some difficulty
20 restrain himself from taking her in
lis arms and comforting her.
Mrs. Pickering, the old housekeeper
Tept for joy.
'You are welcome, indeed, Miss
Allanmore!" she cried. 81 had never
ven hoped to see any of the family
lere again.
Gertrude's eyes opened widely at
be sound of her name; but Lady
Tielden made a gesture for silence.
Inc or two Of the old servants who
ad been there at the time OF Sir
Iarl's disappearance were equally de-
GIFTED to see their masters daughter.
-ertrude would have taken up her
asidence at Scarsdale, for she longed
be alone; but Lady Fielden would
OF hear of such a thing.
A faint rumor had spread through
he county that Sir Karls daughter,
Dung as she was, had returned to the
Id home, because she was not salts
ed with regard to her fathers fate;
nat she refused to believe that he
ad voluntarily left his home and his
fife. and that she was now staying
nder Lady Fielden's roof for the ex-
ress purpose of making inquiries.
Every one pitied her. People had
ong believed Sir Karl's fate sealed
md settled; he had left the country
With Miss de Ferras sixteen years be-
lore, and his name was almost for
gotten. They had lamented his down
fall, they had sympathized with his
wife, and sorrowed for her children;
then they had consigned the matter to
oblivion.
Gertrude spent day after day in the
old home at Scarsdale, questioning
the housekeeper until she knew every
detail connected with Sir Karls dis
far better even than her
mother; she spent hours in the rooms
that had been her fathers trying to
imagine from his surroundings what
he had been like She made friends
with the old groom James, who never
wearied of repeating all that he knew
of his masters disappearance.
Of Lord Rhysworth, who was still
Gertrude had made a COM
plete conquest. He leased her by call
ing her Donna Quixote;;" but he own
ed to himself that, if it were pos
sible for any one to succeed in throw
ing light on Sir Karl's fate, it would
be his devoted daughter who would
accomplish that end
One day Gertrude sat down with
her three friends to hold their first
Elaboration together She had made
herself mistress of the case; she knew
every detail She had STEPPED her
mind thoughts, and senses, in this
story of the past, in this knOtted mys-
Cery, which she had set herself to I'M
ravel Her face always wore the pre-
occupied expression of one whose
thoughts are seldom with the present.
If she could, she would have given
her life to have proved her fathers
innocence. People spoke of her with
tears in their eyes, and said she had
a golden heart.
The consultation took pace in Lady
Fielden's boudoir.
cit seems a puzzle to me-" said Lord
"To put our task into
plain English, we want to know the
best plan for finding a lost malone
man lost in this great wide world. 1t
seems a difficult mission, but we have
much to encourage us. We can send
to Scotland Yard for one or two of it's
cleverest detectives; we have steam
and electricity; we have, above all
other things, the love of brave and
devoted daughter to help us. Now,
as matter of course, the first ques-
ton is, How shall we proceed?"
Send for one or two detectives to
help us; those men always think of
things that never occur to any one
else" said Lord Fielden.
q agree with you; it would be a
very wise thing to do" said Gertrude.
Then Lady F'ielden objected
"a detective was employed at the
time, but he could make nothing out