Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-06-23

longs to be free from the pain Of
your presence
"And what" he asked, IF 1 refuse?"
Il have thought of that" promptly
answered Angela. IF you refuse, l
shall go at once to my fathers lawyer,
Mr.. Sansome, shall lay the whole
matter before him, and ask him to
take criminal proceedings against
you.''
You can prove nothing" he said.
Il can prove sufficient to make you
detested in all decent society," she
replied Il can prove that you mar
ried my mother for her money and
broke her heart; l can prove how you
have tried to take my life, in order
to obtain my inheritance. 1 am not
the only one who knows it,
"Who else knows it?" he gasped.
81 shall not tell you. I need have
no regret that the law will not be
called upon to punish you, for
Heaven has already done so. 1nG
curse of Cain will be forever upon
you, and your heart will be heavy
with the knowledge that with your
own hand you have slain the one
woman whose life was dear to you.
Again | ask you, do you accept my
cOnu4tIOnS?"
II refuse to leave the country . 9
said doggeuly, "and l defy you to 40
your worst"
CHAPTER LIX.
For a few moments after Captain
Wynyard had def1antly refused 20
leave the country, there was silence
between the accuser and the accused,
but Angela knew the victory was wou
''Then you will face exposure and
ruin,'' she replied, firmly. "Act lol
once with prudence and sense. If you
will leave my mother in peace for
the few remaining years, if you will
leave England, promising never to
return, | will undertake to see that
you have a share of the money tol
which you have marred my mothers
life, and would have taken mine
She paused in blank establishment,
for ne flung himself upon the grass,
wildly crying out that Gladys was
dead; that he had slain the only
woman he had ever loved; that he
loathed his fate and longed for DEATH
Surely if ever sin was quickly pun
ished his was. Never did man weep
more bitter despairing tears. WhaL
to him was wealth, freedom, anything,
now that Gladys was dead? He had
not realized until this moment what
here death meant to him. It left the
world blank, life valueless. Wicked,
desperate as he was, the anguish that
wrung both heart and soul was
pitiable to see.
II cannot face life," he cried, pas
sionately, "without-without Gladys!
My sun has set, my love is dead!''
my mother should be your love"
cried the girl. Your words horrify
mel"
my love is dead" he repeated.
Life will be blank to me now"
Their, in paroxysm of grief, he
cried: ooh, Gladys, Gladys
Spare me-" cried Angela. Il will !
hear no more. | ask you for the las.
time, will you accept my conditions?
I await your answer"
For few moments the captain
maintained a sullen silence; then
came his reply, in hoarse, trembling
voice:
Il consent; l will CO." he replied.
"There is no one now in this Internal
country for whom | care. Gladys is
dead
"You promise me that you will
never pain my mctner by YOUR
presenter"
81 never wish to see her again" &c
replied, almost savagely. She is
nothing, never was anything to me-
The more false, cruel, and wicked
you!" she cried. "You give me your
promise that you will not return to
England?" she continued.
why should l, when Gladys is
dead?" he moaned.
For my part, l promise to keep
your secrets-the blacklist my heart
will know; and | will see that you do
not want for money. Your punish
ment I leave to Heaven" And with
out another word, she turned and left
him.
For long hours afterward he sat OF,
stunned and bewildered. Desolate,
shuddering, with the brand of Cain
on his brow, he sat until the sun had
set, and then he wendell his weary
W ay back to Culdale.
Late that same evening, as Lady
Culdale was going to her room, she
met Captain Wynyard in the hall
looking so haggard and so i'll that she
cried out in genuine alarm.
Hush, Lady Culdale!" he said in
hoarse whisper. 81 want you to grant
me a favor. Take me to her room,
and let me stay with her awhile. I
have something that I must say TO
her."
Lady Culdale felt alarmed at his
strange words and his wild looks.
"Will it not pain you too much?
You are already very ILL.,
l.