Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-06-02


or another"
/ AS the easiest way to carry It, she
placed it round her shoulders, at the
same time fostering the clasps; and
| then, as she wandered on, it occurred
to her that she did not know her
road. She had not walked either on
i the high-road or through the clover
| fields before, and so she did not
know which way to turn. She had
not noticed the direction in which
she had come when she walked with
Angela.
| She smiled to herself at her
dilemma There were two roads be-
| fore her-one with a broad verge If
grass on either side, and the hedges
filed with pale pink roses; the other,
narrow, dusty, and without shade.
Gladys naturally chose the pleasant
one, little dreaming that the road with
the fowery hedges and the shady
trees led to Brantome Hall, and that
the narrow road that was hot and
dusty led to Culdale. She fancied
that she remembered certain land
marks-a lane that looked like a
green bower, a group of elms, a brock
that ran by the hedge. She felt
satisfied that she had seen them be-
fore, therefore she must be on he
right road. She walked on quickly
without any misgivings for half an
hour; then she saw plainly enough
that she had lost her way, that she
was in part quite unknown to her.
st am LOST" she said to herself, with
smile; but she continued to pro-
coed feeling sure that she should
meet some one who would be able TO
show her the right road.
She walked on until she was close
to Brantome Hall-indeed, had the
foliage not been so thick she must
have seen the tall gray towers. She
found her way into Brantome park
by crossing what was called Brantome
FRS. She had no idea whittier the
road led; but seeing large gate
open at the end of it, she kept on
steadily That gate as rule was
closed and locked; on this day, 2y
some accident, it was left wide open;
so Gladys passed through and FOUND
herself in an extensive park.
II must be at Culdale,' she thought;
"and yet the place is quite strange to
Ime"
She believed that she had made her
way round to some part of CuldaIe
park that was unknown to her.
| It was warm and close now the
fresh breeze had died away, and the
sun was setting in glow OF heat.
Gladys was thoroughly tired out. She
had never walked SO far in her life
before She felt sure that this was
Culdale park, and every minute she
| hoped to see a keeper, or catch a
glimpse of the towers of Culdale Hall.
How foolish l was" she said TO
herself 81 should have asked Miss
Rooden the way home
Then, to her infinite delight, she
saw in the distance a sheet of wate1.
She did not recognize it-she hau
never seen it before; but then she
had not explored the whole of Culdale
| park.
! The sheet of water was evidently
a small ornamental lake, for q
| fountain rose in the center, the water
from which fell with sound that was
| like delicious music on this oppressive
evening. On one side of the lake ran
] q narrow terrace of white stone, with
steps leading down to the waters
edge.
The very aspect Of the place, with
the noise of softly falling water
spoke of rest \and peace, and to
Gladys, thoroughly tired with her Ions
walk, the sight Of it was most
welcome.
With a sigh of relief, she sat down
| on one of the steps leading from the
terrace to the water, and, as she thus
rested, a gentle breeze came over the
lake and famed her hot face. The
better to enjoy it, Gladys removed her
hat from her head and let the breeze
play among the ripples of her hair.
! The music of the falling water was
luke an invitation to sit down!
Her tired limbs were at rest;
her burning head and face were
famed by the breeze, her tirou
senses refreshed by the sound OF the
| falling water.
Then sleep came and weighe
down her eyelids; she could not re
sist it-and why should she? She
was safe now, and evidently close to
the Hall. Some one would be passing
presently, and then she would be all
right.
In few minutes Gladys Rane was
lulled to sleep by the sound OF the
! falling waters, while the wind played
with the dark ripples of her hair and
I stirred the silvery-gray folds of the
wrapper; and, as she slept, dream
came to hel.
It was of shadow that followed
her, a shadow that was dark and over
powering and seemed to press her
down--a shadow so terrible, so colo
| G black fha If cauSad her t0 Shudd 81