Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-05-05
before the breakfast-bell had

seat, and was soon hard at work.
The strokes of her pencil were almost
magical and it was not long before
the outlines of the Brantome Beech
were on her sketching- board. She
was thoroughly engrossed in her
work: there was nothing to disturb
her but the song of the birds and the
hum of the bees.
All at once, without the warning of
coming footsteps, a shadow fell over
the grass and voice startled her.
"Good-morning, Miss Charles" said
Lord Arleigh. II must apologize.
cannot pretend that this is an &C
cidental meeting; it is not. / saw the
CLEAN of your dress through the trees,
and You will not be angry?-I fol
loved it. I have not seen you for
some days and am anxious to know
how you are
Angela bowed very gravely. Her
face flushed, her eyes fell before The
delight she saw shining in his
and a sense of unutterable gladness
seemed to fill her heart.
81 am afraid he continued, that
you must be very dull You are
almost as much alone in Brantome
Hall as you would be in a desert"
What could she say to him? She
could not tell him that she was only
too grateful for the shelter afforded
her. The next minute he was bending
over her, looking at the sketch.
''How perfectly you have caught the
outlines of the beech!" he said
what a capital SKETCH Miss Charles.
You are an artist"
'Not in execution-only in ap-
probation" she returned.
I'm both, | should say" he said
Then, after a pause, he asked: "May
speak quite frankly to your
She looked up at him in wonder.
What could he have to say to her?
There was something in his face
which made her own grow pale, some
thing in his eyes which caused her
own to droop.
Certainly, Lord Arleigh," she re
Piled
j
hardly know how to avail myself of
it, he continued. II long to speak to
you, yet I am afraid you should think
that presume-that I take advantage
O.; your being under my roof, even
though not my guest, to pry into your
affairs; but assure you it is not so.
1t is simple, genuine interest in you
an interest | cannot help, and which
is greater even than my fear of dis
pleasing YOU.
He did not know how much Of
tenderness had crept into his voice.
but she noticed it.
DO not answer one of my ques-
lions unless it pleases you to do so''
he went on. Tell me-are you not
very unhappy? Have you not some
great trouble?"
The miseries of the past seemed to
glide before her even as he spoke
her mothers unhappiness, her own
danger, the murderous hand that had
pursued her for so long-and she
looked at him with quivering lips AMI
tear-dimmed eyes.
yes" she replied; "I am in ter
rible trouble"
Il thought So" he said, gently.
"And your trouble has been caused
by others"
eyes," she answered.
Il wonder" he said, slowly, eff you
would trust me, if you would not let
me be your friend, if you would allow
me to help your"
She shook her head gravely.
"No help can be rendered me-" she
answered.
Miss Charles" he pleaded, earnest
ly, forget that you have known me
fol- so short time. Try to think that
[ am an old and tried friend, and let
me be of some assistance to yor
Will you trust me with your secret,
whatever it may be-"
81 cannot, Lord Arleigh,'' she re
piled. stYou are so kind and good
that, if it concerned myself only,
would tell you at once; but to COM
municate all the facts would implicate
others
"Shall ever know?'' he asked.
81 think mott hope not" she re-
piled, hastily.
care you quite sure, that If you
trusted me implicitly | could do moth
ing to help you?"
IT am quite sure" she answered.
Yet, as she spoke, she felt what an
intense relief it would have been to
her to tell him her story and ask his
advice But how could she tell him
her mothers weak, infatuated love for
the captain of the fatal WILL or of the
dread shadow which Lad hung over
her and threatened her with violent
death? No, she could never tell that
story. She must conceal her identity
81 am sorry" she said, that I can
not tell you my story. It is not pos
sible."
"You cannot tell me your trouble,
and you cannot accept my help!'
II cannot" she replied; 81 would if
could