Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-11-05
CHAPTER xI.


"A Bad Mar A Gambler, A Liar!"
1t was late when Sybil reached
home. Fortunately the squire had
been away, so that her absence during
luncheon had been unknown to him.
Irene was easily satisfied, merely say
ing Sir Rupert was coming to dinner
and she must not be late.
1t was not until then-not until she
stood alone in her own room, face to
face with the happiness that blinded
her-that Sybil remembered Sir
Rupert's sorrow when he should know
what she had done. She was not sell
fish or ordinarily neglectful of other
peoples feelings, but she had been
completely carried away. The gla-
mour of love was so strong upon her,
no other thought entered her mind.
How should she tell him? She re-
membered so well what he had said.
He would wait until of her own free
will she placed her dear hands in his
and said she loved him. He would
wait twenty years for the hope, and
then not complain if she sent him
away. She remembered a thousand
proofs of his most delicate and tender
love; how generous, how unselfish,
how devoted he was, and now she
must go to him and tell him that she
could never care for him. and had
learned to love another!
She did not fear him. She knew
Just how the grave, kindly face would
look down upon her, unutterable pain
in the true eyes, with wistful tremb-
ling of the lids that she had often seen
in them before.
How Sybil trusted him, yet did not
appreciate the trust. for she knew that
even should her father oppose her,
Rupert would take her part; she knew
instinctively that if all the world were
against her. he would be for her. Her
faith in him never wavered-yet she
flung his love far from her, and mis-
took-ah! too fatally!-tinsel for gold.
True, she was doing him no wrong.
She promised to try-she had tried
and failed. She had done her best.
Was it her fault, she asked herself,
that the fair-haired young soldier had
come to Ling? Being there, and
knowing him, could she help loving
him? She had broken no promise, be-
trayed no trust, done no wrong. Yet
she dreaded seeing pain in the face
that ever looked so kindly on her.
He was to be there at oInner. She
would tell him then-he would not be
ever gentle to all women-he would
not be angry with her.
Squire JOcelyn looked considerably
relieved when he saw SYPHILIS blooming
countenance. He said to himself it
must have been all nonsense. and he
had made a great mistake. He had
positively fobidden the man to be ad
mitted into the house. Sybil knew it:
yet there she was. bright and beauti-
full as ever; her face joyous and sweet,
without a shadow or cloud. How
prettily she was dressed, too. in a
summer robe of light blue silk, with
few pale lilies in her hair. Talk of her
being unhappy-why, the squire laugh
ed at his own folly.
Violet Ruthers was the only one who
looked suspicious; she evidently had
keener sight than the others. and dis
eerned the cause Of SYPHILIS gayety.
After dinner the squire sat over his
wine, and the young people left the
warm dining-room and went out into
the garden. 1t was a warm August
evening; the air was faint with the
rich perfume of lilies and roses. Vic
let took her book and went down to
the lake. Irene followed her. and the
two whose fate was to be so cruelty
strange were left alone in the midst
of the white, cleaning lilies, and the
rich dropping fragrance of the night.
He prayed in after years to forget
ito forget the child-like face, and
how tender it looked under the light
of the evening sky-to forget the shy,
graceful way in which she came to his
side and said; Rupert, l want to tell
you something.
For one half moment his heart leap
ed with great joy. Had the time
come when the dear hands were to be
laid in his, when he might lay the
golden head on his breast, and know
her for his own? Was it that? He
stepped back among the lilies, and