Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-08-11
Continued.

most noble minded man. He mas
offered-why, my darling, l can hardly
find words in which to tell you OF MS
cf1er. it is so noble! In the first
1.lace he will lend again, on terms you
shall hear, the ten thousand pounds
SO that Croombe, my beloved home'
shall not pass from us; next he Will
rlace to nv account the five thousand
mounds that | owe to Wyndham Care,
so that can repay him at once, ano
nv name not be branded; lastly, OF
that miserable two hundred thousand
have borrowed, he will, from his own
moneys, pay one, and the other is TO
be repaid by installments from Inc
estate-so that l shall be free. I cali
hardly say the words, Ianthe-I shall
he free. I shall still keep up the state
betting Maurice, earl OF Carre-l
shall die with my name unsta1neo,
and the world will never know the
ordeal through which 1 have passed.
She kissed the trembling hands that
held hers in feeble grasp.
HE is the nOblest, the k1ndest, the
most generous man in all the world,
she said; "but, papa darling, how does
all this depend on me? do not
understand
1T depends on you, and you alone,
Ianthe, he replied. why do you
imagine Herman Culross is ready to
do all this for us?"
Because it is a privilege to help
you, papa"
NO. said the earl, cit is because
he loves YOU
Loves me-" she repeated haughtily.
Eyes, loves you as 1 do not think
any man ever loved woman before
loves you, and wants to make you MS
Wife"
''His wife!" she exclaimed, with i'm
perial disdain. Papa, do you know
what you are saying? I-Ianthe
Carre-that mans wife!"
"And why not, my darling? Why
not?"
''You to ask me such question!
am a peers daughter. l have some
of the best blood in England in my
veins. He is a plebeian, a parvenu.
l, Ianthe Care, marry him! l would
die hundred deaths first" She rose
in her superb disdain, with flashing
eyes and heaving breast.
He rose too, and stood before mel,
the picture Of despair.
"You refuse, Ianthe-you, my only
child, who protested your willingness
to die for me? You refuse?"
: "What else can l do?" she demand
ed passionately. / would have given
my life for you; but cannot marry
him-a commoner-a manufacturer
soma man whose hand even / have
never touched. He is generous in
deed, with true plebeian generosity,
to offer to buy me! What is the Jur-
chase money, papa! One hundred
and fifteen thousand pounds! At
least 1 am highly rated. Oh, that
should have lived to see this day."
He sat down again under the pas
sionate torrent of her words; and the
white, haggard despair that came
over his face, even in the midst of
her angry pride, frightened her.
VERY WE'LL" he said, meekly, it
cannot be, Ianthe. I will not force
you, child-my only child. l am not
worth saving. There is no light-only
the darkness, growing deeper and
deeper"
81 cannot sell myself, papa" re-
turned Ianthe. eff he is so generous
and so kind, let him help without any
reference to me-that would be
generosity
"But, Ianlhe, he loves you," was the
eager rejoinder. "He tells me that he
has loved you for many years. He
caught a glimpse of you when he
came nere boy. He says that he has
loved you ever since-that he has
never even cared to look into another
woman's face. There is constancy for
you! Oh, Ianthe, does it not touch
your heart-this long, silent love of
years 2"
How could he love me? He was
only a boy" she said, scornfully.
What is a boys love? He was an
impertinent boy, or he would not
have dared to think of such thing"
HE is not boy now, Ianthe," OBJ
served the earl sadly.
mo, but he has the 1mpertinence
OF one," she returned hastily. II can-
not do it, papa. Pride of race is
stronger in me than love Of life! /
cannot marry this man, who owes his
position to trade
She turned away with a quick
shudder, and then looked down in feal.
Her father was kneeling at her feet,
his white head bent in lowly supplica-
ton before her. He held out his
hands.
See, Ianthe, 1 am praying to you,
my dear; for my sake, for Heavens
sake, help me--do not leave me to die
III despair!"
''You torture mel" she cried. "Oh
papa, do not kneel there at my feet!
You make me ashamed"
"You will grant my prayer, Ianthe-
yea will save me?" he moaned.
Give me until tomorrow she