Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-10-29
Continued.

that lunch the squire eyes "0AO oPoA
ed. He saw Captain Ayrton looking
at his daughter in a way he did not
annrove: with an expression OF tender
persuasion and speaking love in his
ewes that had no business there. Did
the man presume to think OF this beau
tifuI Sybil-Sybil who would be Sir
Rupert's wife?
Then suddenly it flashed across him
that three weeks ago he had sneered
at his guest for being male f1lrt, a
professed lady-killer. His pleasant
social qualities had made the squire
forget all he had heard to his preJu-
dice: he had forgotten it, believing 1t
could not be true. But now, with that
look upon his face, what could the
man be doing? Would he dare to fiirt
with his peerless Sybil, Sir Rupert
Dacre's wife that was to be? No the
stout old squire could not believe it;
the thing was incredible. The man
was a puppy and fool; but none the
less did the squire swear to himself
that Lyster Ayrton should never sit at
his table, and make eyes," as he
phrased it, at his daughter again.
He saw another thing which quite
decided him. He babe his guest
cold good-morning, carefully refrain
ing from any invitations for the fu-
ture, then went away over to the writ
ing-table, and sat down to write
letter
Then Captain Lyster took the little
Dencil-case from his pocket, and re-
stored it to SybiI. He thought himself
very clever-he believed himself I'M
seen-and he kissed the little jeweled
toy before she took it. But the squire
saw him. He made no remark. Cap
tain Ayrton Quilted the room; he
finished the letter as though nothing
had disturbed him. she stood just
where Lyster Ayrton had left her-a
sweet, dreamy smile on her face, and
that in her look which made Squire
Jocelyn start as though he had re-
ceived mortal wound.
Good heavens!" he cried; what
have I done?"
She heard him and turned to meet
him, the smile lingering on her lips,
and the love-light in her eyes.
But the squire brushed hastily past
her, bewildered by what he had seen
in his daughters face.
He shut himself up in his own room
to think, then said to himself that he
must have been mistaken. Sybil was
going to be Rupert's wife, and would
never look with a thought of love after
any other man. Then he remembered
+Io
Had he been sleeping or blind to let
his child be brought into continual
contact with such a man? He, who
had guarded her so carefully, who
kept her from the society of young
girls, fearing they were frivolous; who
had dreaded to see her leave for an
hour the shelter of her own home!
He, by some strange oversight, had
allowed her to form the acquaintance
of young man, seductive and hand
some, yet spoken badly of, even by
his own sex.
Then a terrible fear came to him
that chilled his heart, and struck him
like a sword-a terrible fear-for he
remembered the old proverb:
t'Those whom the gods will destroy
They first blind
He tried to forget the words, but
they haunted him, to believe that he
was nervous, growing old and fancl-
full, growing weak and wandering-but
when he had said all that, the fear
was there STILL
But time brought comfort. There
could not be much harm done, after
ALL He had been too frightened. A
little good management, he said to
himself, and it would all pass. He
might sooner have tried to stop the
rolling of the seas or the shining Of
the sun. But, in his honest simplici-
ty, the squire set to work ito manage"
SO that no further mischief could
be done. OF one thing he was quite
certain-not a word must be said to
Sybil. The good squire shook his
head sagely, thinking himself great
philosopher and a clever diplomatist
No, not word to Sybil-because
women, you see, are so obstinate. To
tell her she must not think of the
young man was the very to keep him
in her mind. All! yes, he knew that.
He would not talk to Sybil; he would
talk at her, and see what that would
do
He arranged the plan of the whole
campaign, and longed for the time of
action, which was to be breakfast
time on the following day.
Violet and Irene were there; Sybil
came in late, looking fresh and fair
as the morning itself She kissed her
father then began to prepare his tea.
Very cautiously did the squire open
fire going gradually round the neigh
borhood, finally resting at Ling. He
spoke kindly Of Lady Marche
GA pleasant woman" he said, "but
without much Judgment She does
not choose her friends WE'LL" he con,
tinued. THAT young fellow who
lunched with us yesterday, for in
i r j