Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-07-02
CHAPTER XXI.


The morning air was blowing fresh
ly, the rocks were cawing in the great
oaks, the blackbirds were singing in
the hedgerows, the whole earth lay
smiling and glad, when Nine. St.
Ange, left the hotel to revisit the
places she had once loved so dearly.
They were all in the vicinity OF Deep
ing Hurst. The old horne of her rival
was nearest; then came Scarsdale;
Beaulieu lay at some little distance to
the west, and Fielden Manor toward
singularly rich in grand, old historic
houses. Nine. st. Ange decided to
look first of all on the home of her
! youth-Beaulieu- again; she attracted
no attention as she went through the
streets.
Once more she trod the old familiar
paths winding through the grounds
round to the side-door. In her minds
fancy she could see her mothers face,
1 as she had seen it hundreds of times,
looking out of the great bay-Window,
with it's wreath Of passiOn-fowers
around it, waiting with loving words
| to welcome her. There is no love
like mothers,' Lola thought; and a
great fearless sob rose from her heart
to her lips.
Gould it be that but few years
ago she had been a beautiful, happy,
innocent child? She could remember
so wildly the day when Mrs. Cliefden
came from White Cliffe, bringing with
her Dolores, and how madame had
said they were to be friends and to
love each other always.
cruel bitter smile curled her lip.
WELL" she said, IF I have suf-
fered, she has suffered more; and that
was, all I asked
Her heart grew hard and cold again.
she looked into the old hall; nothing
was changed. It might have been
only yesterday that she placed the
flowers she had gathered on the hall
table, and laughed at her own fancy
for calling herself a red rose.
She walked back to Deeping. In
the High Street she saw a fruit-shoI
where some fine grapes and peaches
we're for sale. She was thirsty and
! faint from fatigue, and she thought
: that nothing would be more delicious
and refreshing than a bunch of pur-
pie grapes. She went in to purchase
them, and sat down. There was some
little delay in serving her, and, while
: she was thinking that this would be
good opportunity to ask few ques-
tons without attracting attention, g
smart, little pony carriage stopped al
the door, and a beautiful girl in 9
blue dress descended from It.
Nine. st. Ange, watching eagerly
with eyes full of pain, fell back with 9
low, startled cry when she saw the
girls face; and chung to the chair, as
!, though to prevent herself from falling
! 1t was Sir Karl's face under another
guise; there were Sir Karl's clear
blue eyes, with no shadow of guilt OF
! guile in their depths. There were his
clustering waves of hair, there was
his mouth, at once so gracious and sc
proud. For few moments it was as
though the sight had stricken hel
dumb. Then the girl was by her side
and sweet, silvery voice was saying
: Il should like some of those nice
grapes, Mrs. Grey, for sick woman
whom I am going to see.'
) The low voice was like Sir Karl's
The soft, blue eyes glanced carelessly
; cut kindly at the bent figure in the
black dress. If each could have but
known. If some good spirit could
, have told Gertrude that this was the
woman for whom she had sought, the
; woman with whom rested the
, knowledge Of her fathers fate, what
grief and trouble might have beer
spared her.
f Nine. St. Ange watched each move
l1ent Of the graceful girl She listened
: to each word she spoke; she could
/ have cried out, Karl, Karl!' She was
: l4earer losing her senses and reason
/ just then than she had ever been
Karls eyes, KarI's voice! Her head
D dropped on her breast; she could no
: hold It up.
Il am afraid you are ILL.," said {
a sweet kindly voice; and the eyes like
karl's were bent upon her compass
Y sionately.
Thank you, I am quite well,
, | madame answered cO1d1y. and the