Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-08-15
Continued

said. sadly. 4 hav estriven to make it
a happy one"
Silently she rose and laid her hand
upon his arm and put up her lips to-
kiss him, but with a gentle gesture he
put her away from him.
Una. listen TO me. All my life I
have had but one aim, one purpose,
your happiness and welfare. For
your sake I left the world and an
houOred name he stopped sud
denly, warned by the gentle wonder of
her gaze. and with a faint color in his
face hurried on for your sake, and
yours only. Do you think that il is by
choice that I have kept you hidden
from the world? No. but OF necessity.
Una. between the world and you yawns
a wide gulf On this side are peace, and
innocence. and happiness; on the
other" and his voice grew grave and
solemn. ''lie misery and-shame."
White and wondering, she gazed at
him. and the innocent wonder in the
beautiful face recalled him to himself.
Enough. You can trust me, Una; IL
Is no idle. meaningless warning. Re-
member what / have said. when your
thoughts turn TO the world beyond the
forest. when you grow weary and i'm
patient with the quiet life which, though
IL may seem sad and weary, is the only
one you can ever know without passing
that gulf Of which have spoken"
"And now want you to give me
promise. Una"
"A promise. father?" she echoed, in
a low voice.
YES: I want you to promise me
that IL this this young man
should come, as he has threatened to
do-that II he should come TO you, and
speak 10 you. you viii not listen, viii
not speak TO him"
An impatient frown knitted Gideon
RoIfe's brow.
us this so much to ask your" he said,
in a low voice. rs II so grave a thing
10 demand OF you that you should avoid
a man whom you have seen but twice
i'm your life, one whom you know TO be
wicked and wOrthless?"
Girl he exclaimed, in low, harsh
accents. has the curse fallen upon
yOU-already. Has he bewitched you?
Speak? Why do you not speak? Has
all the careful guarding Of years been
set az naught and rendered of no avail
by the mere sight OF one of his race, by
a few idle words spoken by one Of his
hateful kim
He grasped her shoulder; instantly,
with a revulsiOn Of feeling. he with
draw his hand. and bent his head with
a gesture almost OF humility.
Una. forgive me. You see how this
unmans me-cal you not understand
how great must be the danger from
which wish to save you? Promise
me what ask you. for your own sake
-ay. and for his"
For his?" she murmured.
Yes. for his. Let him but attempt
to cross your path again. and viii not
hold my hand. held Il once-would
to Heaven had mott I say. for his
sake. promise that you viii hold no
speech with him"
Father. what has he done to make
you hate him sO?" she asked.
4 cannot. viii not tell you more
than this. His race has ruined my life
and yOurs-ruined Il beyond all repara-
ton here and hereafter. No more. I
wait for your promise"
Il promise" she said.
Good" he said. Il can trust you,
child" -.
Yes. you can trust me-" she said. In
a low voice: then with slow. listless
steps he crossed the room and stole up
stairs
CHAPTER XI
The Savage. wholly unconscious OF,
and totally Indifferent to, the fact that
his every f0Otstep was watched by
Stephen. enterd the Bush" Inn and
went straight to his room. the little
knot Of regular customers, who were
drinking and smoking in the parlor,
either rising respectfully as he en-
tered or maintaining an equally re-
spectful silence until he was out OF
hearing.
'ATr. Jacks a fine fellow" said the
landlord. looking at the fire solemnly.
did you notice his face as he went
through? I'm afraid it's all over with
the old squire. Well, well, rest his
soul. say. I'm not one to bear
grudges against the dead"
There was. II not a hearty. a I'M
animOUs assent TO this dutiful senti-
meut. and the landlord, encouraged,
ventured a little further, looking first
over his boulder to see II the door was
shut. and then glancing at a little
wrinkled faced man who sat in the cor
ner by the fireplace. and looked. in hts
rusty black suit. like a lawyers clerk,
as indeed he was.
"AII over now. Mr.. SkettIe." said the
landlord. with a little cough. Il won
der-ahem-whoTl be the next
s1uire2"
The old clerk peerd ont from under
his hairless brows. and shook his head