Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-11-12
Continued.

alone, she would nave IOlu HIIn dill o1hO
the story of her life would have beer
different.
1t was noon the next day when Cap
tain Ayrton presented himself, an6
received the usual reply-there was
no one at home.
1 do not want to see the ladies, he
said; my business is with Squire Joce
Ign, and I must see him..
He managed to find his way to the
library, where the squire sat alone
He was coldly received. After a few
words of greeting, the squire inquired
what was Captain Ayrton's business
with him.
1t all came out then, and words are
weak to tell of the squire's angry
naughty dismay.
You ask me for my child! he cried;
you, against whom men with daugh
tiers and wives close their doors! YOU
are not even an honorable man! you
must be mad!
1t is very common madness, he
replied love your daughter, and ask
you to give her to me.
| refuse! cried the squire. She is
the daughter of my old age; but
would ten thousand times sooner see
her dead than give her to you.
Am l so very bad? asked the young
man, bitterly.
You are, said the squire, so very
bad, that l would sooner see her dead
You did not deceive me. Your charac-
ter is well known. You are not even
capable of approaching my daughter.
She is far beyond you. She is not of
see your motive. You want money,
and you think my poor child will have
it, To me you are so base and mean
that do not doubt, if | feared you,
could buy you off at heavy price.
Hot blood rushed into the fair face,
a, dangerous CLEAN played in the blue
eyes. The squire liked him rather the
better for that
You are Sybil Jocelyn's father, said
the young man, or l would show you
the price of such an insult to me!
There is no need, said the squire
Hear my resolve, and then shall not
fear your asking for my daughter
again. swear most solemnly-and
heed me well-that if my daughter
ever becomes your wife she shall
nay, not even if she wanted bread!
may, not even if she wanted bread!
I am Jocelyn, and the men of my
race never break an oath!
Captain Ayrton looked very differ
ent
1 swear another thing, said the
squire. If Sybil Jocelyn ever becomes
your wife I will refuse to help you in
any way whatsoever, let you suffer
what you may.
I can work for my wife sir! said the
young man, lightly.
You work! said the squire, with
Scorn that almost blinded him. You
work! Not while money can be made
without labor. Let us end it, Captain
Ayrton. refuse to give you my
daughter! I forbid you to enter my
house! 1 curse the blind folly that
caused me to let my innocent child
meet such one as you!
Then Captain Ayrton looked fxedly
at the old man.
Do you know, he said, that your
daughter loves me-loves me, Squire
Jocelyn-and that if you send me
from her you condemn her to misery,
perhaps to death?
Do not dare to say it! he replied
trembling with passion. My dead
wife's child love you! I would not
believe it if she swore it herself!
Ask her, said the captain. If she
says No. I am off to the wars, as the
song says; if she says Yes give me
chance. am very fond of her and
will make her a good husband.
Squire Jocelyn's face had become
very white. His adversary saw that
he had gained point at last
She loves me-she does indeed, sir
he said. You should have seen her
face when I spoke to her yesterday
You would not be so hard then-by
Jove, you would not!
Yesterday! said the squire, slowly
Did you speak to her of this?
[ did, replied the Dung man. Then
he stopped abruptly, for the morta
pain in the old mans face startled
him.
Yesterday she had known of this
and last night she had laid her heaC
upon his breast. She had kissed his
face with this secret between them
Never again in life did a moment Sc
bitter come to the master of Glynn.
I will not believe it! he said. I viii
be blind, deaf, and dumb. If it be
true, and she loves you, better die Of
love than of broken heart.
I would not break her heart, return
ed Captain Ayrton.
You shall not! was the stern reply;
for it shall never be yours. Go now
at once. [ refuse your request with
contempt and scorn. Always remem
Der this. If you were king, being
what you are, my child should never
be yours. Leave GIynn, and never
attempt to set foot within my grounds
again. If you do my servants shall