Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-03-28
Death spares nothing. Ii takes
The best and fairest first"


sarcasms. her cruel, singing words, her
never-ending persecution Of a young
and helpless girl, when her eyes fell
on Lord Vivian's tortured face, and
she read the telegram he held in his
hand? A fash Of triumph lighted up
her dark eyes. She even laughed to
herself that the fair. gentle, young
wife. who had been her rival, had
taken this dangerous step. over and
over again Lord Vivian read the letter;
over and over again he read the sad,
plaintive words that we're to haunt him
until he died.
IL was Mrs. Selwyn's pale face that
reused him. and she was asking:
What dishOnor had fallen in their
hOuse?"
We are all 10 blame!" he said, bit
terly. We have none of Us been as
kind as we should have been. oh,
mother. pray Heaven / may find her
safe."
He was not long in starting for Sedi.
The train left Florence at six, it was
now after I'VE. All the way there he
held the letter i'm his hands; it was all
that remained TO him Of his wife
ViOIante. By Mrs. Selwyn's desire,
Nicoli went with him. He was not
in a 1T state. she thought, to travel
alone.
SO the morning after the fete the
giver Of il. the brilliant host-who
only a few hours since had seemed at
the very pinnacle Of happiness and
prOsperity-witha white. drawn face
and an aching heart, left the sunny
city" in search Of his wife. The day
was bright-he saw nothing of its
brightness; the train was an express
that went at almost frightful speed,
vet it seemed 20 him that IL only crawl
ed. How was he 10 live until Sedi
was reached 2-hOw was he to bear the
cruel suspense. the agony OF waiting?
over and over again the words of the
telegram rang in his ears. IL was
well for him the journey was not long.
Suspense would have killed him had it
continued.
He had been longing for the train TO
arrive. and yet when IL did so. when he
heard Sedi called ont by the loud
voiced pOrter-when the speed slack
ened and the engine stopped-he would
fain have gone on: uncertainty then
seemed better 10 him than what he
might hear and see.
II was a small station. prettily built
and gay with flowers. As he LETT the
carriage. Lord Vivian saw a group OF
people gathered on the platform: there
was a hushed. solemn silence over
them. only broken. every now and
then. by the shrill cry OF a woman
who recognized a beloved one. crushed
and dead. Two gentlemen advanced
to meet Lord Vivian. One was DR..
Sheene. the other SignOr di Luna. who
had waited for him.
The English doctor spoke first
Il believe you are LCrd Selwyn." he
said. ~Of course. you have received
my telegram"
How Is she-my wife? Let me see
her at once" was the reply.
Then spoke SignOr di Luna.
Not this moment. Lord Vivian: you
must wait"
Wait. at least a short time" said
Dr. Sheene. 1t was a terrible acct
dent"
IF wait. I shall die" said Lord
Vivian. calmly. i can bear nc more;
tell me. at least. how she is"
And the two men looked at each
other. neither daring TO speak.
How came Lady Selwyn in the
train al0neg" said Dr. Sheene. She
was quite alone. apparently without
either servant OF friend; how did IL
happen?"
1T was a mistake" he cried; zone
that cannot explain-a cruel mistake.
I did not even know that she had left
the house. Oh. let me see her! Do
not keep me talking here: am half
mad with sOrrOw. Is she much hurt?
Is she injured? Can she be taken
homer"
They looked at each other again
the two who knew the fatal truth. each
them, with his wistful. pleading face.
saw that look. and a long. low moan
came from his lips.
Not that" he cried. oh. Heaven!
anything but that, She Is not dead?"
No denial such as he thirsted TO
hear came from them: the solemn ex-
preston Of each face deepened. Lord
Vivian grasped DIT. Sheene's arm.
DO you see that am going mad?"
hehissed. Tell me the truth"
you have spoken IL. my lord"
was the reply; you have said IT,
Heaven help you to bear IL. She is
deadt"
Dead" he mOaned at last. My
wife-ViOlante-it cannot be-"
Heaven gives. and Heaven takes
away" said the solemn voice OF the
English doctor.
But he looked at him with dim.
despairing eyes: then. BY a cruel trick