Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-01-14
Continued.

Irene she said, slowly, there is
something the matter. What is it?"
But she only clasped the girlish fig
ure more tightly in her arms, and
wept over it, as though her heart
would break.
what is the matter?" she repeated.
why do you cry so? Tell me, Irene,
is my dream coming true?"
MY darling, my darling!" moaned
the elder, eff we only lay dead to-
gether!"
"You torture me-" she cried. What
is it,"
Irene's agony had mastered her.
She could speak no words.
"I will go to papa" said Sybil. eff
there is anything wrong, he will tell
me-"
She opened the door, but her sister
sprang after her, with a desperate cry.
''Not there, Sybif! You must not go
there-it will kill YOU!
Better than this" cried Sybil.
With rapid steps, deaf to Irene's cry
she went down the broad staircase and
through the hall The same dead 81
Ience seemed to have fallen every
where. Her sister followed, with wild,
agonizing fear in her every look.
She placed her hand on Sybil's as
she turned the handle of the door.
Come back" she cried, hoarsely
"It will kill you.
But Sybil flung off her grasp, and
opened the door.
There was d CIR OF dismay. All,
me! that the sight did not kill her
where she stood The squire sat as
ore paralyzed with dismay, and before
him, mocking smile on his face,
stood the husband she had believed
dead-Lyster Ayrton!
She uttered no cry or scream-the
life-blood seemed to rush back on her
heart, and then ebb away, leaving her
white, cold, and all but senseless. He
went up to her with outstretched hand.
''Sybil," he cried, "this is a poor well
come home I know you believed me
dead, but did not die. Have 7 fallen
so loW-am I SO utterly vile that even
my wife has no word for me?"
She placed her hands before her
eyes, with low cry they who heard
it never forgot. She could not have
touched his hand with her own if she
would, for the squire stood between
them.
do not lay a finger upon her." he
said, sternly, to Lyster Ayrton. "She
shall never more be wife of yours!"
"And why not?" he asked, insolent-
". "She is mine-I claim her-the
law will give her to me-"
"The law shall mott" cried the old
man.
81 have never done one single thing
which can justify separation between
u.s." he interrupted. ASK her if |
have"
The squire turned round to her She
still stood motionless.
my darling" he said, you will not
return to him. I am rich, and I will
give the whole of my substance to save
you I will expend it all to free
Yor
Il will aid you, said a stern voice,
and turning round, the squire beheld
Sir Rupert. Neither heaven nor
earth could sanction such deed as the
yielding up of your daughter to man
like that"
Gently, Sir Rupert" said mock
ing voice; we know where the shoe
pinches. Even if I don't have her, you
can't. With all due respect, let me re
mark that your interference is out of
place"
Out of place! and she, whom he had
loved so long, and believed to be free,
was to have been his wife on the NOR
row! No need to remind him that
she was lost to him. Men have died
on the rack, yet suffered less than Sir
Rupert Dacre in that hour.
"She is my wife, and I claim her."
said Lyster Ayrton. who shall take
her from me? 1 appeal to you, Sybil.
Have l ever done anything which
would justify the law in parting us?"
She, the spoiled, INDUCED, petted
child, rose then into sublime majesty.
Those whom God hath joined,
she said, let no man put asunder.'
Father, I married Lyster Ayrton years
ago of my own free will. gave up
all the wo-l Id for him. He claims me;
his claims are just. I must go with
him.
1T IS madness!" cried the squire.
ut is right" she said. IF my heart
breaks in the doing of it, it must be
done. Remember always, l brought
my own fate on myself"
They looked on her in establishment.
She who had been so delicate, so
fragile, so tender of heart, stood erect
and brave, no faltering in her voice,
no quiyering on her lips. She I'M
clasped Irene's clinging hands, aud