Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-04-20

again until she left it as his wife
all thess things made her wonder
fully and unutterably happy.
Sir Basil's heart was moved when
he looked at her; she so well de-
served the greatest love that any
man could give her. And he? All, if
Heaven would but take from him the
memory of the pale sweet face
drowned in tears! If he could forget
that for one half-hour in his life he
had known what true happiness was!
After dinner, under the pretense OF
looking at an accumulation of busl-
ness letters, but in reality to indulge
in ten minutes slumber, the general
went for half an hour to his study,
and Leah and Sir Basil were left to-
gether. A sense of the cruel wrong
that a loveless marriage would be TO
her. came over the baronet; and he
vowed to himself that he would
make amends to her by increased
kindness, by studying her wishes in
every way. He little dreamed how
clearly the eyes of love saw. He
would put an end to all doubts at
once; better a thousand times to fix
his chain so tightly that he could
not even move it.
Leah was standing against the
carved mantel-piece in the drawing
room; a bright fire burned in the
CRATE, the lamps were lighted, and
ihalf-golden radiance from them filed
the room and fell on the queenly
head with its crown of rich dark
hair, on the beautiful face that was
TRANSPORTED with love and happiness,
and on the white graceful throat and
rounded arms. The fine white lace
swept the floor. A prince might have
/ been proud to WOO this girl for his
wife; her beauty and grace would
have charmed any man. Perhaps,
out of the whole wide world, this
man who was to marry her was the
only one who would have looked on
her loneliness without emotion.
He went up TO her, and put his
arm round her waist. He was not
given to caressing, and Leah raised
her face with an expression of half
amused wonder.
II want to ask you a question,
Leah" he said, gently, What day
shall we choose for our wedding-day?
/ shall leave it entirely TO you, dear
he continued. I'VE arranged that
the wedding should take place in the
spring-in what month shall it be?'
s,o IN, Il &c oil hor
attention; his voice was not musical
with love, but earnest, as though he
weighed each syllable. She looked
at him keenly; he was calm, with
thoughtful expression on his face;
there was no rapture, no warmth.
She could not tell why, but in that
moment her heart chuled; then she
Ireproached herself for it. He could
give her no greater proof of love
than this-that he asked her to be
his wife. Why should she find fault
with the manner of his asking? Yet
she wished that there had been
more passion in his words.
May marriages are unlucky. so
people say" he continued. 1.-The
violets bloom and the trees begin TO
bud in April. Shall it be in April,
Leah?"
She put her arms around his neck
and raised her face to his; the love
that shone in her eyes might have
melted a heart of stone.
Are you quite sure that you wish
it then, Basil?" she asked, anxiously.
II am quite sure" he replied, with
more firmness and greater tender
ness.
Then it shall be just as you will,
she replied; and they parted that
night with the distinct understanding
that the marriage was to take place
in April.
You have the wedding-ring,
Leah?" said Sir Basil.
Eyes, l have il in safe-keeping,
she replied, with a happy smile.