Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-07-04

the twcnty-ninth of June. The heat
and glare If the sun had died away,
leaving a sweet, fragrant warmth;
golden CLEANS came and went in the
evening sky; great rosy clouds seemed
20 drop down sweetness on the smil-
ing earth. The wind was full Of music;
ii danced lightly over the Swallowed
grass, over the ripping river, over
the singing brooks, over the leafy
trees; it seemed to play round the
lilies and roses, to WOO with fresh
ardOr the dropping jasmine and pink
hawthOrn-an evening when the
beauty of nature makes ones heart
warm, and makes us look up TO
Heaven with fearful eyes. wondering
what that world can be like that they
call thousand times more fair.
Selwyn Castle was in full beauty;
every flower was in bloom, every bird
seemed to be singing; the tall chest
Tut trees were all in flower, the leafy
elms were filed with birds nests, the
stately oaks rejoiced in the sunshine,
the larches and lady birch, the silver
birch. the huge cedar trees, were all
N their gorgeous summer dress. The
gardens were full of lily and rose, of
great carnations. heliotrope, whose
sweet, subtle perfume took one far
away to eastern lands. The fountains
rippled merrily. Far away over the
hedges came the strong. rich fragrance
from the clover meadows and the
fields when the newly mown hay was
scattered.
Amidst all this sweet summer beauty
Lord Vivian walked alone; he had
been three weeks new at the castle.
Mrs. Rivers had brought Lance home,
thea asked permission TO absent her
self for some weeks; Lord Selwyn
had gladly accorded it, and she was
still absent The two boys were to-
gether in the park, not far away, for
the shrill, sweet sound of Lance's
laughter came. mingled with the rich,
deep tones of Rupcrt's voice. Rupert
was trying TO teach the little one TO
ride, holding him safely on the pretty
pony. while Lance devoutly believed
all the valor and prowess was his own.
Thank Heaven" said Lord Selwyn,
that ny two sols love each other"
He had reason to be grateful; the
attachment between them was some
thing wonderful Little Lance was
never so happy as when trotting after
his big brother, or perched upon his
knees. Ru~ert was about leaving home
for Oxford. and Lord Selwyn was an
ticipating the time when he should BE
left alone with Lance.
As he walks this evening under the
long rows of blossoming lines, it is
easy to see how his troubles have
changed Lord Selwyn. His handsome
face Is worn and haggard, there are
deep lines round the lips and on the
broad. white brows. All the happi-
ness that once frightened his face has
gone. Lord Selwyn looks like man
who had seen much care, much sor-
row. and most bitter disappointment
The lines under the shade of which
he was walking have been Violante's
favorite spot The grove itself was
very beautiful; thousands of Wild
flowers grew at the roots of the trees
golden primroses, graceful, slender
cowslips. modest little vioIets, and
wild hyacinths. Here, for Violante's
pleasure, Lord Selwyn had ordered
garden chairs to be placed. so that she
could sit down to read and enjoy the
perfume Of the lime blossoms at the
same time. He had come here quite
alone TO think.
His life. in all probability still long
one, lay before him. so bare, so desc
late. that even on this sunny summer
evening he shrunk shivering from it..
The son who had become quite a cen
panion TO him was going awav an
panion to him was going away, and
Lance was too young to make a COM
panion of, so that the time was com
ing when he should be completely
alone. He was trying to think how
he could best fill up his life. when
duties could best absorb him, what he
should do to Danish the feeling of
uIN1I ueSOldllOu anu iuutllhGSS ludl
overwhelmed him now. His thoughts
went deeper than that. He was Won
dering, reverently enough, why he had
been so bitterly punished; why so
hard. so cruel a fate had oveTtaken
him; why, while the love of other men
fourished and prospered, he had been
so signally unfortunate.
II seemed that evening, as though
every memory of his former life came
over him. He thought of the far
haired boy who had died in his arms
his last word a message of love to his
sister; he thought of his journey to
WOodeaves, and the sweet face of Vio-
lante Temple as it first dawned upon
him; he remembered his marriage, and
the glorious. golden time that had fCl-
lowed it-had ever man been loved as
Violante loved him?
Then he began to wonder if Beatrice
had really been unkind to Violante, or
it was but a jealous fancy.