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

Sir Karl was in Italy when he read
the news of the sudden death of Lord
Rhysworth, and understood that the
woman he loved was free. His hrst
feeling was one of sorrowful regret.
He had always esteemed and liked the
master of Deeping Hurst, and it
seemed sad that he should die so soon
after his marriage with a girl whom
he loved so dearly. His second
thought was that Dolores was free
More than that he could not realize;
he would not pursue the subject. The
woman he loved was mourning the
loss of her husband, and she should
have his respectful sympathy. No
letter of coincidence that Dolores re-
ceived expressed greater kindness
than Sir Karl's. He told her that no
one felt more sincerely sorry than
himself that a good man had been so
suddenly taken away Not word
more did he say. While her head was
bent in bitter sorrow he would not re-
mind her of the past. 1t was to him
as though she were in sanctuary
where no profane thoughts must fol-
low her.
During all these long months he had
heard continually from Lola. He did
not answer each letter; he merely
wrote when politeness required 1T.
He never liked to think about the
little scene that had taken place be-
tween himself and Lola; the glamour
of her rich, dark beauty, the passion
in her face and voice, the intense
love for him expressed in her whole
demeanor had impressed him as was
only natural, and he had in some
measure been thrown off his guard.
Recalling the scene now, her con-
duct appeared to him bold and UNI
maidenly. He could not but regret
also the solemn pledge of friendship
that had been almost wrung from
him. 1t had been given originally
against his better judgment, and 1t
was against his better Judgment now
that the friendship continued
Sir Karl had decided what his plans
should be. He would finish his Con-
tinental tour; he would not return to
England until Lord Rhysworth had
been dead at least fifteen months;
but, when he did go, he would do his
best to win the only woman he loved
on earth.
It was the fact OF Sir KarIs con-
tinued absence, almost more than any
other. which gave Lola such hope.
She knew so little of his character
that she said TO herself il he had real
w loved Dolores, he would have re-
turned pOst-haste when he knew that
she was free, he would not have al
lowed a whole year to elapse before
he came home Surely it was sign
that he was not in love with Lady
Rhvsworth She determined TO make
matters clear TO Dolores by dropping
hints to her that she considered Slf
Karl belonged to herself. This she
had done frequently, though they were
all vague. mysterious hints, unsup-
srantial as the hopes they rested on.
She had gone over to Deeping Hurst
on that bright morning because she
had received note from Sir Kari
She had written, asking him, if he re-
turned by way of Genoa, to execute
some trifiing commission for her; and
he had replied, saying that he should
take quite another route, but hoped tc
be back to England in few weeks
By return of post she wrote to REMIND
him of his promise that he would SEE
her before any one else on his arrival
Sir Karl tore that letter into shreds;
# he kept his promise, Lola would no
gain any advantage by it.
Sir Karl had not given the date O.
his return, nor could Lola guess ex-
act1y when it would be. She was