Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-09-15
Continued.
n yourself,

Never mind the contract IN a case
Of this kind" she rejoint d quickly.
And for the second time in his lie
he held Lady Ianthe's hand in his own
Gently and tenderly he bound up the
wounded finger.
Does it pain you now?" he asked.
"Not much" she replied. Ihank
you"
But for a minute longer he held her
hand, looking at it intently.
my wife's hand" he said-"the
hand that holds my heart, my love,
nv life-the hand that has never yet
lain willingly in mine. May KISS IT,
Ianthe. before I let it go?''
Yes she replied, her face flushing,
''tt it pleases you
He bent down and kissed it with
such love, such passion, that the KISS
burned her like flame; then, without
another word, he quilted the room.
''What a sad thing it is that he is OF
low BIRTH" said Lady Ianthe to her.
self. There is something really
pleasant about him.
All day the memory of that kiss was
with her. The hand he had caressed
seemed to burn her. More than once
she caught herself remembering how
his eyes had shone and his lips had
trembl ed-what passion and what pain
there had been in his face. She be-
gan to reflect deeply. Her life was
one round of self-indulgence, Of gayety,
flattery, and pleasure; while noble
heart lay under her feet--a heart
that she crushed at every step.
One morning it seemed to her that
something unusual had occurred; the
servants looked tired, and some OF
them were absent. Her maid told her
that during the night the earl had been
seized with a sudden fainting fit;
they had hastily summoned the squire,
whose first care was that Lady Ianthe
should not be disturbed. He had sent
off at once for the doctor, and had sat
up himself during the whole night.
The earl was better-almost well, in
fact; the attack had been but trifling.
Yet the squire had never left him, but
votion of son, his only anxiety being
that his wife should be spared all care
and trouble.
where is Mr.. Care now?" she
asked.
They told her he had fallen asleep
on the couch in the morning-room. She
went i'll quietly. There was little
stand by his side, and on it stood her
favorite lemon-plant. She broke off a
spray as he stood watching him, and
bruised it in her white fingers. How
pale and worn he looked! How hand
some his face was in it's repose-the
lips so firm, the rich clustering hair
falling over the broad brow. Had he
been of her order, she would have
called him princely One arm was
thrown above his head; and she stood
silently watching him. He did not
look like happy man. There, we're
great lines of pain on his face which
told of many weary hours.
Not happy? Her heart smote her as
she looked at him. How he loved her!
How he had lavished most royal gifts
upon her! He had given her his
wealth, name, love, verything-had
sunk his very identity-and all for
love of her. What had he gained? Not
a loving look or kindly word.
poor fellow!" she murmured to her
self. She bent over him, with more
tenderness in her heart than she had
ever felt before. She heard him muir
muir in his sleep:
'Ianthe, my love, my wife-so cold,
SO crue1!"
A deep sigh that was almost moan
came from his lips. She bent still
lower, and the bruised lemon-spray fell
from her hands on to his breast.
"PoOr fellow!" she murmured again,
and with sudden impulse she touched
his hair 1t was the first time she had
voluntarily gone near him or touched
him. Was it paradise opening to him
in his dreams?
Suddenly he stirred in his sleep, and
she fastened away. Her face burned
at the thought that he should wake
and find her there She quilted the
room, and he opened his eyes with a
confused sense of her presence. He
saw the folds of her white dress as
she closed the door behind, and he
found the lemon spray on his breast.