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

She put on the dress of pale rose
colored brocade with rich white lace.
She was tall and slim-this PROUD
daughter of a proud race-with a
graceful figure of perfect symmetry,
while sloping shoulders, a slender
throat. hands and arms of exquisite
shape and color; and her movements
were all grace and harmony. She had
a uueenly bearing-a certain sweet
and gracious dignity that never de-
serted her-and face that had in it
all the proud, bright beauty of the
Carres-dark, proud eyes that seemed
to look out with serene stateliness on
the world, passionate, beautiful eyes
that could express both love ana
. scorn, straight clear brows-a fault
| less face, oval in contour, with the
most exquisite bloom, surmounted by
a natural ripple.
Eighteen years old that day, the sole
! daughter of one of the noblest and
most ancient families in England
beautiful as the fairest dream of artist
or poet, accomplished, gifted, could
any fate seem more happy than chat
| awaiting Ianthe Care? On this, her
eighteenth NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. eve
she came of age, and, by her own
special wish, the day was to be cele-
brated by a grand ball.
| Much to the old earl's delight, he
F, had received a letter from Lord
Ravenscourt, saying that he should be
! in the neighborhood at Christmas, an
how much pleasure it would give him
| abbey-the answer to which was, Of
! course, a cordial invitation for the
birthday ball.
There were several other visitors IN
the house-Lord and Lady Morston,
Sir Harry Tredegar- was one Ct
Lady Ianthe's most devoted admirers
Miss Belhoughton, and pretty blonue
Alice Lowther-a pleasant party II
guests, assembled to do honor to the
beautiful Lady Ianthe, and to spend
, Christmas under the hospitable roof
of Croomue abbey.
Lady Ianthe had been busily en-
gagged, for she was sole mistress Ct
that magnificent mansion. She was a
perfect and most gracious hostess
ladies of twice her age envied her tact
and judgment on this Christmas eve.
She had found her powers fully taxed,
but she had also found herself equal
to the occasion. Still it was late
when she had gone to her dressing
room; yet no one could have told That
her toilet had been hurried-ever er
own exquisite and fastidious taste was
gratifed. The pale rose brocade
showed the white shoulders and grace
full neck; the white rounded arms
were cIasped by a diamond bracelet
a necklace of the same costly jewels
adorned the beautiful neck, diamonds
shone in the masses OF rich hair ana
in the shell-1ike ears.
Nevertheless, although she was one
of the proudest girls in England, she
thought more Of the old earl's admir-
ton when she should see her in her
Jewels than of her own pleasure in
wearing them. She took the jewelled
fan, the lace handkerchief, her
bouquet of flowers, and went to his
room, one of the brightest pictures OF
girlish loneliness and womanIy grace
ever seen. She laughed aloud-a low,
sweet, musical laugh-that seemed to
stir the old mans heart as she bowed
before him, and then she raised her
| clear dark eyes to his.
'Do you admire me, papa?"
''You are the queen of fair women, .
he said; and, she having taken his
arm, they went down the grand STAIR
| case together
There was a slight murmur as they
entered the drawing-room. Lady
Ianthe had never looked so beautiful
Lord Ravencourt fastened to meet
and greet her.
It was easy enough to see then that
| her words we're true-of all the world
! she loved her father the best. NO
| lovers, no admirers, could draw her
attention from him. Handsome young
faces, admiring eyes sued in vain.
Lord Ravencourt would have given
much for a tete-a-tete for a few
minutes. in which to whisper his ad-
miration; but he could not draw Lady
Ianthe from the old earps side.
The great gong sounded, and thew
all went to the dining-room where the
grand Christmas banquet was spreaa
while Lady Ianthe did the honoTs
with a winning, stately grace; and no
one knew, while Christmas greetings
and good wishes went around, how the
earl was praying in his heart that the
greatness of his anguish might not
s1av him-,nat he might have strength
tc endure a little longer, for his
daughter's sake. No one knew how
he looked at her with the calmness OF
deadly despair in his heart, thS
anguish of a mighty dread in his soul
asking himself, over and over agar
how he was to tell her.
; Presently he raised his white hea(
in wonder. What were they WISHING
him? "a merry Christmas and
happy new year," He thanked them