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

Continued
BY
BERTHA M. CLAY


Continued.
There she raised the first day in
what seemed 10 her one long dream OF
main. unable TO think clearly, or 70
remember or TO plan for the future, or
do anything, except realize that she
had left husband. child and home for
ever. The second day passed In the
same manner: hour after hour VIC
Iante Selvyn sat in her solitary room
watching the clouds that drifted along
the blue sky and the birds that sought
So eagerly the shelter Of green boughs.
on the third day she went out 10
one Of the little shops in the village,
and there saw copy of one OF the
daily papers sold In Florence. she
took IL up. without dreaming that 1t
would contain any intelligence TO in
terest her. Then her sartled eyes fell
upon the words:
Terrible Railway Accident at
Sedi,"
Breathless and with thrObbing pulse
she read the story OF the fatal acct
dent that had happened TO the train In
which her maid travelled. She was
70 be startled yet more, for the story
continued.
Among the sufferers by this lament
able accident, We may mention one
whose loss plunged a noble family into
the deepest afliction. Lady Selwyn,
wife Of Lord Vivian Selwyn, or
Selwyn Castle, who had been suddenly
summoned 10 England, was travelling
by this same train 20 Genoa. or all
the deaths hers was perhaps one OF
the most terrible; she was crushed by
the falling Of a carriage. The deceas-
"a lady was young, beautiful and
amiable. Lord Vivian Selwyn, who
was almost Immediately upon the scene
of action. was inconsOlable. We un-
derstand that the funeral of the I'M
fortunate lady takes place today. We
may mention that the money and pa
pers belonging 10 Lady Selwyn were
found safe and intact"
The paragraph concluded by blaming
the signals. and those who used them.
The paper dropped from the white,
uerveless hands. and Lady Selwyn
could with difficulty repress the cry
that rose 70 her lips.
e She saw In am6ment what had hap
ueued. Theresa Bowden wore her fur
cloak she carried her travelling bag,
containing her money and papers, she
resembled her in stature, in the color
III her hair. and they had mistaken
The maid for the mistress. If she were
by this accident crushed beyond all
recognition who was TO know that II
was not Lady Selwyn who lay waiting
or burial in the stateroOms OF the
Yila9
she saw ID clearly enough; they all
believed her dead they all believed
that she had been killed in the terrible
accident. yet here she was living and
well.
Then came TO Lady Selwyn the temp
tation OF her life. the temptation that
led her into what was indeed "a wo-
mans error" She went with the pa
Der still I'm her hand through the
quiet village street into the little gar
den at the end Ct the house. She sat
down there 10 rest. and the tempta-
ton shaped itself-the error that was
70 have such strange consequences
became as a virtue in her eyes.
They believed her dead" she said
10 herself. and dead she would be TO
them forever and evermCre.' She
had a thousand times wished for
death. that he whom she loved so well
uieat re happy and free. Now the
very thing she had wished for had
come 90 pass. To all intents and pur-
poses she was dead Her husband
the papers said. had regretted her;
her friends had all mOurned for her.
II she we're TO go back. to show herself
a. them alive and well. how would they
receive herr The jealous. wounded,
sensitive heart answered her that she
would 10. be welcome. that sarcasm
and sneers would greet her, as they
had so often done before.
Better make the sacrifice; better die
To her own identity, to her own name,
die to her country. her father, her
child and all that life held dear than
return TO stand again in the way of her
husbands happiness.
The sin Of It never occurred 10 her,
the wrong OF It never struck her. IL
seemed rather to her overstrained
mind an act of heroic self-sacriice that
she would die TO all things in order
that her husband might regain hap
uiness and love.
CHAPTER XXI.