Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-01-26
|sSI
By Bertha IA. Clay.

| Work it in gold and silver graSSe,
In leaves and silver fleur-de-lys,
Because the birthday Of my life
Let us have some music" said the
duchess, as she leaned back in her
chair. Leah, let us hear you sing
Is cOme-my love is come to me-"
She did not heed who was in the
room. The words sprung as it were
from her heart to her lips. She was
thinking just at that time more of her
love than of her lover-this golden
winged love that had taken her cap
tive and stolen her heart.
Sir Basil came quietly to her side.
CHOSE are quaint lines, Miss Hat
TOM he said. Whose are they?'
There was no music on the piano, and
it struck him suddenly that both
words and notes were impromptu. L
believe" he added, impulsively, chat
they are your own
The white fingers wandered over the
keys. She made no answer; she was
wondering whether he had guessed
her secret at last.
MY love is come to me"-the words
startled her when she came to think
of their truth.
Sir Basil left the piano and went
back to his chair, which was placed
outside the long French windows. He
thought more of Leah than he had
ever thought before. He remembered
all that the duchess had told him of
her fanciful idea that she would be
able to recognize her ideal lover the
moment she saw him; and now she
sung that he had come. Was it real
Iy so? He looked round on the men
sitting apart in little groups; there
was not one he considered worthy of
her. He never thought Of himself.
Each time that night that his eyes
fell on her fair face the words came
back to him: MY love is come to
me-"
She was more shy and timid with
him after that. She avoided him
little, but loved him just as much.
She would have gone through fire and
water for him; she would have made
any sacrifice for him. The marvel
was that the young baronet never
dreamed of the conquest he had made.
AS for Leah, she had not yet begun to
doubt; she felt certain that his love
would be hers in the fullness of time.
A little incident happened shortly
after this which changed the current
| of their lives and hurried on events.
Sir Arthur Hatton was a stranger to
all fair love- dreams and sweet fancies.
Lady Bourgoyne had married him
without giving him any trouble; his
comfortable affection for her had
never caused him a pang. That he
should understand a nature or a love
like Leah's was not to, be expected;
but he was one day the unwilling wit
ness if a little scene that opened his
eyes.
In the library stood a large Japanese
screen, and Sir Arthur enjoyed moth
! ing more than placing this round one
of the great bay-windOws and intrench-
ing himself therein with his newspa-
! pers, and letters. 1t was the
paving the least attention to him. It
was he only room in the house where
he was free from the lively chatter
and laughter Of the girls, or the gossip
Of the older women.
One morning there was some Indian
news in the Times which interested
him greatly-letters written by fellow
officers whose opinions he valued high
| ly. He wished to be undisturbed, SO
! he betOok himself to his favOrite re-
treat. He found the library cool and
empty; the sun-blinds were all drawn,
the light was dim and pleasant. He
placed the screen round his favorite
window THANK goodness he said
to himself, that I shall now be able to
read in peace!'
Sir Arthur had hardly settled him
self comfortably, however, before the
duchess came in.
She looked over the screen r.ar
81 shall not disturb you, general"
she said. "A man deep in his morning
newspaper is to me as formidable as
lion in his lair Indian news, be-
Iieve?" 49, q
''And very bad news" answered Sir
Arthur, briefly.
hour, and then went away
Presently Lady Maude Trevar Ell
tered, and sitting down, wrote a letter
without a single thought as to whether
any one was in the room. She was
no in the least surprised when the
general in turning his newspaper, be-
trayed his presence. Then came his
! Grace Of Rosedene.
Il do not like the Indian news this
morning" he said. IF government is
not more on the alert, we shall have
another terrible rising, I fear"
Most likely" answered Sir Arthur,
| briefly again.
The duke went on in his usual ami
able manner, making very mild and
pointless comments, which elected
but mOnOsyllabic replies.
81 see you are busy" said his grace.
| EEVTTn will 6iCpI1Cc tho 011pCtiOO more