Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-01-07

in the gray, golden cleaning. They
passed through the quaint old gate
that led to the gardens.
"You shall not go any farther, Syb
| ill.," said Sir Rupert; 1--WE will say good
night here. Think, darling, before the
sun sets again you will be my wife!-
mine to shield from care, to surround
with love"
| Long afterward he remembered the
expression of her face as she raised it
| to his, the love and tenderness. They
we're standing in the prettiest spot in
the garden, in a tangled wilderness OF
Iaburnum and lilac trees; the golden
] blossoms dropped over them; the tall
plumed lilacs bent their fragrant heads
proudly; round the trunks of the trees
J chung all the flowers nature loves-the
! purple violets, mignonette, climbing
roses, and carnations. 1t was a very
| paradise of sweets.
"The flowers have seen their queen,
he said, laughingly; "and I must see
! that her majesty catches no cold. We
will say goodnight, sweet Sybil Mind
you wake tomorrow fair and blooming
as the roses will BY the way, what
has become of the presentiment?"
ct has gone away she replied.
| "But while live, Rupert, I shall never
| forget that terrible dream!"
"Sybil,' said Rupert, seriously, ''you
must promise me one thing. From to-
night you must Danish all gloomy
thoughts-say farewell forever to all
sad memories; live for me and my
love! See, darling, we have long
life before us! A mans most beautiful
dream could not imagine fairer one
Lay your hand in mine, dear one;
promise me that from this time for
ward you will bury the past"
She chung to him, laying her bright
head on his breast.
81 promise" she said. Cali my life
shall prove to you my love!"
He clasped her in his arms, and even
as he did so he started, for the figure
of a man crossed the lawn, and went
toward the hall door
He made no remark, thinking it was
The very thought of the day warmed
his heart.
Il shall hardly know The Hide, he
said, with a mistress to rule it. King
Francis was right-a house without
ladies is like garden without flowers.
I shall love my home so dearly, Sybil
when you are in it.
He had talked Of saying good
night" he did not wish to keep her
out, lest she should take cold but
when did lovers ever learn the word
Farewell? The golden cleaning had
given place to the dull, gray night; the
last bird had gone to rest when Sir Ru-
pert managed to say the word.
AS she passed along the lawn shesaw
one of the servants from the castle
go up to him hurriedly. They stood
for some minutes talking earnestly
AS Sir Rupert had done before her, she
thought it was sons business of the
glorious morrow.
She walked back slowly to the draw
ing-room window. 1t seemed to her
that strange, deep hush had fallen
over everything; the summer air was
listening; the leaves had ceased to rus
tie in the wind-a hush, such as comes
before a storm.
His kisses were warm upon her lips,
the clasp of his hand still chung to her
as she opened the window and passed
from the still spring night into the
room she had left so lately.
Irene stood there, and the gathering
darkness hid from Sybil the awful pal
lor on her sisters face
Where is papa?" she cried, her
clear, happy voice ringing on the quiet
air. 81 left him here"
.He is in the library" replied Irene,
and Sybil wondered why she spoke in
such quiet whisper.
Il will go to him." she said. Il did
not half thank him for those superb
diamonds this morning; / will thank
him now"
4NOI uOW, Se1lu IL Cucs AC--uC 10
busy. Come to your room with me,
darling; l want you"
How strangely your voice sounds
here in the dark" said Sybil ooh,
Irene! on this, the last night in my old
home, I ought to go down on my
knees to ask your pardon for all my
faults. Will you be as god and kind
to me when I am Lady Dacre as you
are now?"
For Heavens sake, hush." said
Irene, hoarsely. Come to your room,
I Sybil; I want you there"
She wondered at her sisters words,
and still more at the way in which she
hurried her through the hall and up
the grand staircase. She wondered at
the hush which had fallen over the
house; and once-but it must have
been fancy-she thought she heard a
shrill stified cry from her maids room.
Then, in the brilliant light of her