Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-03-05
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81
J A Golden Heart.
81
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BERTHA NJ. CLAY.
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Continued.


about which there are many strange
stories. It is called the Black Pool
Would you like to see it?"
Eyes. very much" she replied; and
they went through the woodland I'M
Il. they reached the water.
For years afterward the scene
haunted Dolores-the black, silent
water. shaded by somber-looking trees,
not a sign of life near it, mysterious,
weird.
IF you throw stone into it, said
Sir Karl, suiting the action to the
word, cit seems to make no sound, and
scarcely to cause ripple" He turned
away with shudder. "It is enough to
make one melancholy. Come away
from it, Miss Cliefden."
A curious sensation, for which she
could hardly have accounted, took pos
session of Dolores. 1t seemed to her
as though this Black Pool had sud
denly become part of her life, as
though she had seen it before and
should see it again-a curious feeling
that made her shiver, turn cold, and
feel faint.
do come away, Miss Cliefden," he
implored.
He had walked on a few steps, and
Dolores, still with that strange feel
ing strong upon her, rejoined him. He
spoke without looking at her.
II must have this place altered he
said. 'There is a disused coalmine
near here 1t has long been closed,
and almost all traces of it have been
removed; but once there was ter
rible explosion, and since then the
ground about here has never been
quite safe There are deep, treacher-
Gus holes which, if man fell into, he
must meet the most horrible of deaths
Some of the openings have been filed
up: others are terribly dangerous, as
they are hidden by long grass and can
not be seen. Somewhere about here,
or at the other side of the pool, is the
mouth of what was once the shaft.
have never seen it; but / am told it
is a terrible place. When | have time,
all this shall be attended to. | should
like to change the pool into pleasant
lake, and this place-which is really
beautiful-into a pleasaunce. 1t would
be a great improvement would it not?"
Yes she answered, sit would be
very much better Let us get away
from the pool she added, hastily; "it
makes me melancholy" and in 81
lence they walked on, side by side.
They went then to little wooden
edifice situated on an eminence, from
which they could see one of the pref
test landscapes in England Dolores
uttered a cry of delight Sir Karl
smiled
ST have different spots for different
moods he said when I want to
dream I come to this place. Some of
my pleasantest thoughts have come to
me here" A sudden pause seized him
which he could not control. ''The
dream of my life-the sweetest, the
brightest-is realized when I see you
standing here in my favorite haunt"
She shrunk from him with some
thing of distress in her face. She
must not listen to such words now;
but, if he had said them weeks ago.
how different life would have been!
She looked half-longingly at the path
they had left. He caught the glance
and said quickly:
NAY, do not hurry! I will not say
one word to distress you. We shall
never, in all probability, stand here
together again. Do not take from me
the only CLEAN of happiness that can
ever reach me-"
A great fear came over her as to
what he meant, as to what he was go
ing to do. He had said before that
they would never be there together
again Fear oVercame prudence; she
turned and looked him straight in the
face.
What do you mean, Sir Karl? We
shall be neighbors. Why do you say
that we shall never meet here again?"
Perhaps it will be better for me to
tell you" he replied. ''Will you let me
explain?"
She bowed her head in silent assent.
The reason why I say that we shall
probably not meet again, is that l am
going away from Scarsdale, and the
time of my return is uncertain; it may
be never"
The sweet face of the girl by his side
grew paler, and her lips trembled; but
she spoke no word.
II could not remain here" he went
on, with a tremor in his voice, ''and
hear all that [ should have to hear.
Let me tell you why am going, will
you? [ will not say word to dis
please you; but the confession will
ease my heart await your consent. :"
She gave it in the same fashion as
before, with a bend of her graceful
head.
You will always remember, Dolores
you will let me call you Dolores this
once?-that, in telling you, asked for
no response, for no opinion, that |
sought to win from you not even one
thought that belongs to another. You
will acquit me of any intention OF the
kind, am sure I am going away be-
cause Il find that I love you! | do