Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-08-10
Continued.

-Four years." said Richmond
sadly; lis il only four years?"
That's all, dear, though il has
seemed like eight. and we will not
despair, even though it is so hard to
bear. Why, Rich, l feel sometimes
when I kneel down at night that If he
were dead / should know it.; he would
not let us 90 on suffering If it were
So -
Janet dear, feel sometimes as If
il was wrong 10 have loved him"
What, dear Mark?"
Yes"
Wrong? For shame. How could
any girl who knew my darling old
Mark as you did help loving him?"
But it made him dissatisej. / was
the cause OF his going away"
That foolish thought again! You
were not, dear. IL would have been
the same II he had loved any girl.
He said that he would not ask any
woman to be his wife while he was
tied down here without any prospects;
and he went of TO make his fortune,
as many another brave young English
nan has gone before"
But l made him disconnected,
dear" .s-..--.t--.
You made him behave molly. Why,
what other man would have said as he
did, I hold you to no engagement, l
ask nothing OF you: I only tell you
that 4 love you with all my heart"
And some day l viii return, said
Richmond, in a low deep voice.
Yes. and some day he viii return,
dear: I do believe il, / will believe IL,
and Oh, Rich, Rich, Rich. why, why
are we such unhappy girls?"
IL was the elders turn now to try
and comfort the younger who had
burst into a passionate fit OF weeping,
so full OF anguish that, at last, Rich
mOnj raised her friends face, kissed
IL, and holding the bOnny little head
between her hands, she said, with
almost motherly tenderness.
Janet, HendOn has been speaking
TO you again.
There was no reply.
Il knew Il" said Richmond half
angrily. 1T was thOughtless and cruel
of him!"
No. no. don't blame him dear. No
one could be more noble and more
good You know how hard he works. "
Yes" said Richmond, with a sigh.
And If he is impatient with his
home and your father, why, you must
recUllect that he is a man and men
are no. meant 10 be patient as
women"
he is too thOughtless, Janet, and
/ don't Ike TO say il OF my own
brOther-tOo selfish"
No, no." cried Janet, flushing.
Yes, dear, yes. Could he have had
his way. you two would have been
man and wife, and he half living on
the earning OF these poor tiny little
hands"
Il don't think he would have pressed
me 10 il, Rich; and alter all, it was
because he loved me So"
Yes, and would have taken ai-
vantage Of your loneliness here in this
great cruel city. and dragged you
down 10 poverty and misery such as
/ am bearing now. Janet, Janet dear.
/ feel sometimes as IL cannot bear
this miserable degradation longer.
and that all these troubles must be a
punishment FOR my not telling my
father about Mark"
why. Rich" said Janet. turning
comforter once more, what was there
10 tell? You made no engagement.
And look here, il so much trouble is
10 come OF love. why. you and I will
take vows, and be single all our days.
There, now, you look more like your
self; and I'm going 10 tell you my
news"
News" cried Richmond. starting
eagerly, and then looking sadly at her
friend.
Yes, two more pupils. I'm getting
along famOusly now. And il does
make me so happy and resigned.
Thee, I must go. but"
You have something more 10 say TO
me?"
Yes, Only-there. ! will be firm.
Don't be angry with me, Rich dear.
for / seem TO have no one 10 care for
here but you, and some day you shall
pay me again, and want you 10 bor-
row this"
She slipped a tiny little purse into
RichmOnd's hands. and then turned
scarlet, as she saw her companions
pallid face.
No, no, Janet, I could not: your
little scraped together earnings. Pray
don't speak 10 me like that again"
Il must, / will" cried the girl.
with passionate earnestness. Il don't
want il, dear. and it is only a loan.
Do, do. pray take H."
4 could not" said Richmond.
thrusting the purse into. her friends
hand
For Marks sake. dear"
For Marks sake." faltered Rich
mOuG hCarsely.
Yes; how could look him in the
face again. II had not behaved 10 you