Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-09-15
CHAPTER XIII.


His departure made some little stir.
The papers all agreed that It was sad
to lose the promising young member,
just when the country required his
services. The earl was loud in his
lamentations-inde when Herman
told him that he contemplated jour
ney to America the old man broke
down, and prayed him, with tears, not
to go away.
''You are to me like my own child 4"
he said eff I had had a son of my
own l should not have loved him bet
ter. Why go so far away?"
Herman, deeply touched by such af-
lection, answered something about
money; but Lord Care grew impa-
tent
Money" he cried. What does such
money matter to you? If you lost all
that there is in America belonging to
you, it would not matter"
But Herman gravely told him it
must be-he was compelled to go. In
his distress the Earl sent for his
daughter.
'Ianthe," he pleaded, "can you not
ask Herman to stay? I cannot bear
that he should leave us; ask him to
stay"
She knew that one word from her
would make him give up all thought Of
the journey; but that one word she
would not speak. Still, her fathers
sorrow opened her eyes as nothing else
could have done, and made her think
more of her husband than she had
thought before. He comforted the
earl; but to himself he said it was
more than probable that he should
never see Croombe Abbey again.
The morning came when he stood
before his wife, his preparations all
made, his farewells all spoken.
81 am here to say good-by, Ianthe. !"
She looked up in amazement.
care you going today-now? I lid
not know it."
Eyes, am going. I leave my heart
and my love with you. Ianthe. l pray
Heaven to watch over you"
She held out her hand silently. She
was nearer caring for him than she
had ever been.
"Ianthe," he said, in a low voice, 81
am looking for the last time, in the
eyes that have always held happiness
for me. I forget the pride, the scorn,
the anguish, and my heart goes out to
you in farewell-farewel my lost love
my idolized wife! Will you kiss me
once-only once? l shall never suf-
fer a greater bitterness than this. Will
you kiss me, Ianthe?'
She turned her beautiful face to his
her perfumed hair brushed his
cheek. She touched him with her
sweet fresh lips. She saw him grow
white as death, and then, with a pas
sionate cry, hurry away. Then she vas
alone, with strange fire creeping
slowly through her veins, and a
strange tempest breaking over her
heart what had happened.
Two days afterward a packet was
placed in her hand. She recognized
his writing, and opened the missive at
once. Hot tears filed her eyes as she
5azed. 1t was a deed of gift, making
over to her the greater part of his
fortune. He had reserved but a small
share for himself-and even that was
to be hers at his death. His wealth
was made over to her without the least
eservation. 1t was plain that he
thought that, when freed from him by
the death he sought, she would marry
in her own rank; but there was not a
word Of this in the deed Of gift.
She was touched more deeply than
she cared to own. Who could say,
after such love and sublime devotion.
hat noble souls belonged alone to
men of noble birth? There had never
been more noble soul than this.
To he continued