Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-17


Trayers. She was most sincerely
grieved for them all, but she could not
help hoping that now, perhaps, Sir Ru-
pert might seek the solace OF her love.
They never forgot the morning poor
SYPHILIS letter came to Glynn. She had
not meant to complain; she was TOO
brave, to true to utter word against
her husband, let him do what he
would; but, unconsciously, her sorrow
was told in every line-in the passion
ate pleading for pardon-in the de-
spairing cry for home and love-1n the
bitter, Misunderstanding words OF fare
we'll. 1t was a letter that would have
brought tears into the eyes OF the
strongest man who read it, for she who
had written it was young and help
less.
Sir Rupert was at Glynn when the
letter came The squire opened 1T
with trembling hands, and then gave it
him to read.
"The cursed villain!" said the old
man. CAS- sure as | live, Rupert, he
ill-uses her. No happy wife-no hap
py woman-ever wrote so! /"
eff I thought he did," cried Rupert,
''I would follow him to the worlds end
and lash him like a hound! II he
loves her, and makes her happy, God
bless her in her choice; if he does not,
l will revenge her."
eve shall never know" said the
squire, sadly; "she is gone so far
away; she is so young and so fragile.
I shall never see her face again, Ru-
pert, never, never more!"
They cheered him and soothed him;
but that letter tortured Sir Rupert-it
was the cry of wounded bird long
ing for him. The torture was so
strong upon him that, unknown to the
squire, Sir Rupert went to Liverpool,
hoping to see Lyster Ayrton and his
wife, but the vessel had sailed before
he reached the city, and he never
spoke of his journey.
Four years passed, and they heard
often from her. She was living quite
alone, she told them, in the little town
of Witana near the gold diggings,
where her husband had gone to work.
Quite alone, save that at odd times he
went to see her, and 'took good care
of her. Those words she prayed
Heaven to pardon as she wrote-they
were to comfort her father, and she
thought them, though false as sin.
They answered all her letters, send
ing her sweet and loving messages
over the sea-sending her love and
blessings, kind, cheering words, bright
pictures of the house where she was
so surely missed-but they never
named him.
Irene did more; she sent a substan-
tial chest, and Sir Rupert aided her.
They sent dresses, tea, shoes, pre-
served meats, books-the most curious
assortment OF things ever packed
and it was we'll they did SO; but for
them Sybil Ayrton would have been
half starved and poorly Clad
Four years, and Violet Ruthers,
looking on the face she loved so dear
ly, wondered if her hour had come.
She was in the prime Of her magnifi-
cent beauty; she was rich, clever
Why could he not care for her? Surely
he never dreamed of wasting all his
life in mourning for the fair, foolish
girl who had preferred such a man as
Lyster Ayrton to him?
Shn woo crOod vo71ooyo 1oOdoct tp11o
and sensible; yet there was no art,
no subtle charm she did not try in or
der to win him. She met him at all
times and in all places If he went
to the library to read or write, there
sat Violet; if he strolled in the
grounds, thinking only of his lost
Sybil, by some strange chance he was
sure to meet Violet. She had always
something interesting, either charm
ing, piquant, or pleasant, to say. 1t
he showed any signs of WEAKNESS, she
would begin speaking of Sybil, know
ing he would never tire
She loved him very deeply and dear
ly. She wondered how a man like him
Sybil,-a girl capable of giving him up
for the fair-haired soldier, whose only
recommendation was a handsome face
Would he never learn to appreciate
her, so, ready to give him true and
Womanly love?
1t seemed not Four years had
passed since Sybil went away, yet he
was no nearer coming for her than he
had been then; his face was just as
grave, the shadows lay as deep in his
eyes.
One evening,-it was at the end of
June, and all nature wore her most
luxuriant dress,-Sir Rupert Dacre,
leaving the squire to take his usual
after-dinner siesta, went out into the
garden alone.
He went to his favorite seat low
garden chair, placed under the boughs
of a large laburnum tree,-and, of
course, found Violet there She rose