Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-05-30

Sleeping or waking, he asks for you"
From her quivering lips came no
word Never did woman suffer as she
did then. Her own husband was close
20 her, III and sorrowful on account of
their only child, and she dare not COM
fort him. She longed to put her arms
round his neck to kiss the sad face to
whisper cheerful words, TO call him
her love, her husband, dearer than
life. A torrent of burning words rose
from her heart and died on her lips. He
thought her strangely cold, and won
dered why his son loved this quiet,
silent woman so dearly.
Lady Selwyn thinks that Janette
Hearton might take the school for a
few days" he continued, while you
remain at the Castle You have been
so kind to my poor son, Mrs. Rivers, l
need hardly add my entreaties to his"
Il will go at once" she said.
Let me beg of you to make yourself
as comfortable as possible" said Lord
Selwyn. Her ladyship has had Rupert
removed to an apartment we call the
red room, so that he may be nearer
her. There are two smaller rooms adj
joining it that you can have for your
self. Be pleased to remember that
everything and every one in the house
are at your service"
He could not hear the low-murmured
words that answered him.
Il need not ask you to do your best
for my boy" he continued. He would
not cling to you unless you had been
most good 70 him."
A low, passionate cry, she could not
repress, came from her lips.
Il Will do my very best" she said.
You may trust me implicitly"
She always spoke to him in the same
low, hushed tone, lest he should detect
a familiar sound in her voice. Lord
Selwyn made no effort to move; he sat
quite silent, looking listlessly at the
fire-so utterly wretched, so complete
~ miserable, that her heart warmed TO
him. In her sweet, womanly compass
sion she colfld not refrain from trying
to console him.
children, Lord Selwyn," she said, "and
have seen such marvellous recover
ies, that while one breath of life lin
gers in a child there is reason to hope"
The grave, sad look on the handsome
face deepened.
Il am afraid" he said. II love my
boy so dearly, Mrs. Rivers, and do
not deserve TO keep him. Ny con-
science tells me that"
For in this dark hour of trouble and
distress the memory Of his fair and
gentle young wife returned to him with
redoubled force. He could see more
plainly now here he had done wrong.
She was so loving, so sensitive. so ten
der of heart; he had not shielded her
as he should have done; he had not
foreseen and averted that great trouble
as he might have done. His con-
science was not free from reprOach;
and now that his child lay under the
shadow of death. all these things rose
up before him. and he said 10 himself
that he had not deserved to keep his
boy.
She understood him. and her whole
heart trembled at the knowledge that
he thought so tenderly of her. She
could not trust herself 10 remain with
him there.
Il viii go to the castle at once. my
lord" she said. Perhaps Lady Selywn
viii allow me 10 send one Of the maids
to Janette Hearton."
you are very kind" he said, in
broken voice IF my child lives,
will"
Thank Heaven for IT," she inter
rupted. and something either in the
words or the tone was familiar TO him,
for he started; but when he turned
round she was gone.
How her trembling limbs lore her
through wood and park. she hardly
knew. There was a mist before her
eyes--a rush, as of mighty waters, in
her ears. This is why she had miss
ed Rupert. While she had been watch
ing for him i'm the soft, fragrant even
ings. he had been wrestling with death
doing hard battle for his young life
duu SHes MS mOlutIs HSlluCI Knew IL
nor was there TO help him.
She could hardly breathe or speak
when she arrived at the castle. Mrs.
Purton. the housekeeper, met her,
and asked her into her own room.
pouring out a glass of rich cordial,
but she could not drink it.
Il am so glad you have come, Mrs.
Rivers" said the portly dame; Il sat
up with Master Rupert last hight my
self. and he asked so often for you"
HAS he had no nurse?" she asked.
Yes. one from Thornleigh; but he
never took to her; he would neither
take his food nor his medicine from
her hands; so she went away today"
rs he very ill?" she asked again,
and the piteous entreaty of her eyes
was painful 70 see.
I do rot like the look OF him." said
the housekeeper, but then, I am not