Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-08-08
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) Only One
5 CHARLES ~ Love {
> GARVICE

CHAPTER TX.

seriously my uaAAAs Laura" ~
worst part Of II is that you should
lave made such a journey alone, and
have To 20 back alone, and at night!
That Is what grieves me. IL / could
but 90 with yOu-and set that would
scarcely be wise-but II is impossible
under the circumstances. Come, give
me your arm. my dear Laura"
A little SILVER ran through her frame,
and she caught her breath with a
stified sob.
Come. come. my darling" he muir
INJURED: don't look back, lock forward.
In an hour or two you viii be home"
do YOU think I am afraid?" she
asked. and her voice trembled, but not
with fear. mo. l am looking back.
oh. Stephen, do you remember when
We met first?'
Yes. yes" said Stephen, soothingly,
and with an anxious, sidelong look
aEout-to be seen prOmenading the
high road with a young woman on his
arm on the night of his uncle's death
would be the ruin Of his carefully built
uD reputation. Yes, yes,' he MUIR
INJURED. shall ever forget? How
fortunate you lost your way, Laura,
and that you should have come up to
me 10 ask il, and that / should have
been going in that direction. And yet
the thOughtless speak Of chance!
And he cast up his eyes with unctu-
Gus soIemnity. though there was no
one in the dark road to be impressed
BY H.
Chance" said the girl, sadly-"an
evil or a good chance for me-whichf
Stephen. I sometimes wish that we
had never met-that had not crossed
your path. and so have left the old
life. with its dull, quiet and sober
gravness: but the die was cast that
afternoon. I went back to the quiet
home. 10 the old man who had been
my father. mother and all TO me, and
life was changed"
Your grandfather has no Suspicion
NO. he trusts me entirely. II he
asks a question when go 10 meet you,
he is satisfied when I tell him that /
am going TO a neighbOr. Stephen, IL
I had had a mother, do you think |
should have deceived her also?"
Deceived? Deceived is too harsh a
word. my dear, my dear Laura. We
have been Obliged. for various reasons,
to use some reserve-Iet US say candid
Iv. 20 conceal our engagement. You
have not mentioned my name 10 any
one?" he broke OF.
ITO no one" she answered.
such cOncealment was necessary.
NV uncle was a man OF rough and
hasty temper. il-iudging and merci'
less"
But" she said. with a sudden
eagerness. and a slight shudder, he
he is dead now. Stephen. There is no
need for further cOncealment'
softly. softly. dear Laura. We must
be patient-must keep our little secret
a little while longer. I can trust
my darling to confde in me-yes, yes
I know that"
stephen. tonight for the first time
why. I know mott have doubted
no. not doubted. for have fought hard
against the suspicion that was wrong
TO trust you"
MY dearest." he murmured re
prOachfully.
You we're wrong to leave me for
so long without a word-you put my
love to too severe a test. II cannot
say whether il has stood it or not To
night I am full of doubt. Stephen
lock at me-"
He turned his face and looked down
He had not far TO look. for she was tall
and in the moment Of excitement had
drawn herself to her full height. The
moon. sailing from amongst the clouds
shone on her upturned face; her lips
were set. and the dark eyes cleaned
from the white face
Lock at me. Stephen. III say ii
there is the faintest idea OF treach,
cry lurking in your mind"
Ny dearest"
Cast it QUIT Here, tonight, warn
you to cast II OUT Such love as mine
is Ike a twO-edged sword, 1t cuts both
WAYS. for l0ve-Or hatel Stephen,
have loved. I have trusted yoC-foI
msne. for your own sake, be Ide 70
me-"
He was more impressed than alarm
ed. This side OF her character had
been presented TO him tonight for the
first time. Hitherto the beautiful girl
had been all smiles and humble devO
ton. Was she bewitched, or had be
been mistaken I'm her? Perhaps II
was the moon. but suddenly his face
looked paler than ever. and the white
eyelids dropped until they hid the
shifting ewes. as he put his arm around
her.
My dearest, What can you mean
Deceive you. Treachery. Can you
deem me-me-capable OF such things
Ny dearest. you are Overtired! And
your jacket has become unbuttoned
Iista1. that &. the railway tell. Laura
you viii not leave ne with such words
on your lips?"