Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-07-14

daughter all-the hour in which he
must rob the young life of its bright
ness and it's hopes.
He chose the time when all the
| house was ent-midnight-whe
the visitors had gone to rest, and the
servants had all retired. He should
have her all to himself then, and he
could soothe her first outbreak of sor-
row. He had said to her:
| @'Ianthe, when the house is all silent
tonight, will you come to the library?
| want to see you'll want to talk to
YOU"
| She had answered him laughingly,
not feeling in the least surprised. 1t
was tue day after her birthday; per-
haps he had something to say to her
regarding the family jewels or the ar
! rangements for her coming of age
Never a doubt crossed her mind. She
dismissed her maid, saying that she.
was not ready for her yet, and that
| she need not wait Then SHE re-
moved the jewels from her beautiful
hair and her white neck, took off her
costly evening dress, and put on a
warm white wrapper. There was a
smile on her lips as she made these
preparations.
Nov l can talk at my ease," she
said to herself.
She went down quietly to the
library, wondering why her father lad
chosen this strange, weird hour Ii
night-wondering why it was SO
urgent that he should shorten his res.
and hers.
She had never known the sensation
of fear, but she shuddered a little IS
she went down the great staircase.
The taper that she carried seemed to
throw such strange lights and shades;
the evergreens on the walls seemed L.
nod as she passed by.
"a large house in the silence ana
gloom of night is not very cheerful"
thought Lady Ianthe.
Then she opened the door, and saw
the earl sitting by the fire. She
placed the taper on the table and
went up to him. She clasped her
tender arms round his neck.
'"rLis is quite mysterious, pape,"
she said-''this midnight meeting.
She started when she saw lis
white face and trembling lips.
What is the matter, papa?" she
cried. 'You are i'll, or you have bad
news to tell me. Your face is
changed. What is it?"
She knelt down by his side and LAID
her fair face on his hands.
"Tell me, papa am always Jour
comforter-tell me what has gone
wrong this bright, happy Christmas
tide"
She never forgot the pale, worn face
that was bent over hers.
"It is to tell you all, Ianthe, that
asked you to come here; and many
a criminal has faced his judge, many
traitor his king, many coward
his foe, with far less of fear than
have of facing you, my only child,
because of what have done"
She was all attention now. The
smiles had died from her lips, The
playfulness from her manner; her
sweet, frank eyes, full of wonder, were
looking at him, and he seemed %
cover before the clear, bright glance.
what you have done?" she echoed,
slowly. 81 do not know what that
may be; but of one thing am quite
sure you have done nothing un.
worthy Of Carre.'
"Alas, alas!" moaned the old earl,
as he bowed his head
"You shall not brighten me-" she
said. II am sure of it. You may
have mistaken a shadow for sub
stance, dream for reality; but you
have done nothing unworthy of a
Care. You have the tender, sensf-
tive conscience of a gentleman, and
you are making much of trif1e. You
have done nothing a gentleman sho lid
not do
"Alas,'' he moaned, when l began
life I had grand, noble Dreams
meant to do what no Care before he
had ever done. How miserably
have failed only Heaven nnows."
"You may say what you like, papa =
you will never destroy my faith III
you. could sooner believe that the
stars gave no light, that Heaven was
! unSind, that the sun was dark, than
believe that you had done wrong. A
Carre do wrong! Papa, you speak
thoughtlessly!'
Listen to me, Ianthe!" he cried.
"If I could give my life to undo what
have done, would give it cheerfully,
if any pain, any suffering, any torture
of mine could avail, I would bear it.
Nothing is of any avail, and yet
meant and hoped that it would all be
so different"
She was growing alarmed now
What evil idea possessed him? What
guileless folly had he magnified into
, a wrong?
Papa, will you tell we what it is?
Do not tremble so. If you had done
all the wrong in the world, it would
make no difference to mel should
but love you all the more, all The