Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-04-02

She stood for a few seconds IN 1rreSO-
lutte silence, not recognizing in the
bronzed, bearded man before her hand
some Sir Karl Then into her eyes
came a sudden soft light, as of recog-
milton, over the face spread a faint,
beautiful flush, and the next moment
the two little white hands were hastily
extended in earnest greeting.
'FSir Karl" she cried-and the
sound of her voice was as sweetest
music to him-"and I am pleased 20
see you Welcome home!"
To him, who had thirsted and hun
gered for a sight of her face, it was
like reaching the gates of Paradise. He
could not speak; his face, bronzed as
it was, grew colorless; his heart beat
so fast and loud that he was afraid she
must hear it; his breath came in quick
gasps, and he held the white hands as
though he would never let them go.
do you know what shipwrecked
mariner feels when he safely reaches
land he said at last in low, hoarse
voice
81 can imagine" she replied; but
/ have never been shipwrecked.
II have BEEN" he cried; II and my
whole life were wrecked when | left
you. Now I touch land once more!
How we'll you are docking, Lady Rhys-
WORTH" The name seemed to pass his
lips with difficulty. II believe you
have grown-you seem to be taller
than you were, and are more beautiful
than ever"
She drew one hand from his clasp,
and held up a pretty white finger in
warming.
"You must not fiatter me, Sir Karl, y
she said, smiling.
1T is not fattery, it is truth" he
answered, looking at her tenderly.
"Since left you, I have seen no one
half so fair. In my dreams, I have
gone over this meeting hundred
times / have dreamed that I should
meet you out of doors, by the river, in
the old church, everywhere and any
where; but one thing is quite certain
since the moment I parted from you in
madness and despair, have thought
of nothing but the hour of my return. "
eff you have called to pay me SEN
sible visit, Sir Karl" she said, laugh
ingly, "you must talk to me in a SEN
sible manner l am afraid neither
France nor Italy has improved you.
You never talked such nonsense as
this to me before!"
My dearest Lady Rhysworth, ]
never had the chance. If ever man
wished to talk what you kindly call
nonsense but did not care to do So
was that man. have suffered more
than any one can tell from constant,
cruel repression"
'You must admit that you are naak-
| ing up for it now" she said, with a
smile; "and you have not lost much
time in beginning. Did you return
last EVENING""
eyes; it was late in the afternoon. .
"And i am the first old friend whom
you have SEEM" she inquired.
The question was asked without any
special reason; but she saw a dark
flush pass quickly over his face, and a
CLEAN almost of anger darkened his
eyes.
mo-" he answered frankly 81
called at Beaulieu. 1t was an old
promise made but, I am sorry to say,
almost forgotten by me, that would
to England; and having been re-
minded of my promise; was compel
led to keep it.
There was an almost imperceptible
change in Lady Rhysworth's man
ner. At the mention of Beaulieu all
| that Lola had said of Sir Karl returned
to her mind She had called him
mime" and the fact that he had gone
! first to Beaulieu seemed to give her the
right.
He felt rather than saw the change
Her sweet face grew paler, and she
quietly withdrew her other hand from
his clasp.
'You did well to keep your promise,
she said calmly. 81 have the greatest
horror of broken promise"
He took one of the white hands
back into his own.
Dolores" he said-'I may call yoU
so?-you gave me permission when
was leaving you, and you must award
me the same privilege in the first hap
piness Of my return-there have beer
misunderstanding enough between US;
there shall be no more. I did not in
tend, when first saw you, to speak Of
myself, but it must be so. Do you re-
member what took place between us
when I went away"
YES" she replied.
IT have not changed" he said
Since l left you, I have never given 9
thought to any other woman; and i
you had never been free, i should, fol-