Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-10-05

Richmond, both trembling and aSl-
tated, TO grasp his hands, and fight
hard against the desire to throw
themselves sobbing upon his breast.
The nurse remained, not from curl
osity, but TO watch over her patient,
whom she had literally dragged from
the grasp of death, while, after the
first loving words, Mark Heath gazed
at Richmond in a troubled way, and
proceeded TO tell of his adventures.
But did you really bring back bag
OF diamonds, Mark, or is it"
Fancy" he said bitterly. mo; 1t
is no fancy. l have been delirious,
Jenny; but l am sane enough now. 1
had the bag OF diamonds, and over a
hundred pounds in gold, IN belt abou.
my waist. Rich, darling, | was silent
during these past two years; for /
vowed that l would not write again
\ Till l could come back to you and say
7 l have fulfilled my promise, and now d.
have come TO you a beggar."
Yes" said Richmond, laying her
hand in his, as an ineffably sweet look
his, and there was tender yearning
love in every tone of her sweet deep
voice; but you have come back alive
after we had long mourned you as
dead"
Better that had BEEN" he said
bitterly. Better that that dark nights
work had been completed than 1
should have come back a beggar.
Janet and Richmond exchanged
chances, which with a sick man S
suspicion he noted, and his brow con
/ tTacted.
They doubt me-" he thought.
But you have GENE back, Mark. We
are young, and there is our life before
Us. do not complain" said Richmond
! gently. we must wait"
Watt" he said bitterly; and he Ut
tered a low groan, which made the
nurse approach.
NO, no." he said, 4 Will be quite
calm"
The nurse drew back.
Tell me. Mark" said Janet, with
her pretty little earnest face puckered
up. why did you not come straight
to me? How stupid! OF course you
/ did not know where, as you did not get
my last letter"
! No, / have had no letters for a
year. How could |, out in that
desert?"
But, Mark, you recollect being pur-
4 sued by those men!"
Yes, yes"
You are sure il was not a dream?
He looked at her almost fiercely.
Dream? Could a man dream a
thing like that?"
Don't be cross with me, dear
Mark" she said, laying her cheek
I against his. 1t seems so strange, and
/ you have been very, very i'll. My own
darling brother!"
i Ii was not jealousy, but something
I very near akin, that troubled Rich as
I she stood there, with an intense long
I ing to take her friends place, after the
I long parting. But there was the
recollection that their parting had not
been the warm passionate embracing
Of lovers, only calm and full of the
/ hope Of what might be.
Janet continued:
And you went late at night through
q dreadful fog, and took refuge with a
/ friend?"
yes" he said, with his features
/ contracting. and a snudder passing
/ through him. as he gazed furtively at
Rich.
And what can you recolIect be-
sides? Are you sure you had what
you say-diamonds and money!"
Yes, 1 am certain"
/ Il never wore diamonds" said
Janet, with her pretty white forehead
growing more puckered, land l don't
want any, but afte- being so poor,
and with ones dearest friends so
poor, and when it would make every
one 50 happy, / should like you to find
them again"
Mark uttered q low groan.
But tell me. Mar, what else can
you recollect?"
Very little" he sad. 1T all seems
misty: but 7 recollect drinking some
thing"
Brandy, Mark!
Yes: and afterwards a medicine
that was TO calm me. for I was half
mad with excitement"
Yes; go on"
Then everything is confused: |
seemed TO fall asleep-a long restful
sleep. that was broken by my taking
Q long journey"
''Yes. but that was dreaming, dear"
I Maybe" he said, and then / was
wimming-swimming for life-and
then tOiling on and On, a long weary
journey under hot sun to get nv
diamonds
'Yes. dear. fever" said Janet, with
tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Oh. Mark. what you have suffered!
Rich. love, do you hear?"
''Yes-yes," cried Rich, who seemed
to be reused from a strange dream, in
which she was fighting TO recall an