Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-09-03

nice shawl, isn't it! 1t is one OF dear
Miss Olivia's. She brought it down to
me this morning, and put it around
me with her own, dear hands"
His own hands fell from the shawl,
and his eyes dropped.
"That was kind of her, he said, al
most coldly.
"Kind! Why, she is all kindness,
she and you, Mr.. Faradeane."
He smiled absently.
I'm afraid I'm made of something
more than that, Bessie. And Miss
Vanley has been here, has she? Has
she gone back to the house?"
NO" said Bessie, gravely. "She
said she was going int the Spinney--
the wood, you know, sir"
She paused a moment, looking visit
fully at him, and with the quick tut
ton which was a never-ceasing sub
ject of Bessie's admiration, he said:
well, Bessie?'
She colored, and plucked at the
fringe of the shawl.
81 don't think she was quite happy
this morning, Mr.. Faradeane."
mot happy!" he said, slowly,
'Why?"
well, 1 think, am sure she had
been crying. She was so pale ami
and sad. And besides" naively, Il
know for certain she had been crying,
because she smiled and trie to laugh;
and could-could-"
Hear the tears in her voice." he
said, more to himself than the girl.
Bessie nodded quickly.
Yes, that's the words, sir; and It
seems $3.50 dreadful to me that Miss
Olivia should have any trouble; it's
just as if an angel were to cry, and
her own eyes grew dim.
81 understand" he said. He stood
for moment looking down at the
path, and Ticking his leg with his rid
ing-whip, then he said, "And Miss Van
ley went to the wood, Bessie?"
Eyes, sir" she replied; "and oh, Nj
Faradeane, if you"
She stopped abashed.
"Well?' he asked, with faint smile
81 was going to say, only I'm afraid
if you'd only go and find her and talk
to her. She thinks so much of you
She stopped again, for the smile had
suddenly vanished from his face.
That's nonsense, Bessie" he said.
But as it happens, want to see Miss
Vanley, and I'll go and find her"
Eyes, sir" said the girl, humbly.
"Are-are you angry with me?" and
her lips quivered piteously.
He exclaimed, reassuringly, and he
patted her arm under the thick shawl.
why should be angry? But''-he
paused almost imperceptibly-"but
you must not talk such nonsense as
that Miss Vanley thinks much or at all
of me-
"Rut she does!" interrupted Bessie,
eagerly. eff you only heard her
Il mustn't hear you any longer, you
foolish child, or I shall miss Miss Van
ley"
And with another gentle and-to
Bessie-forgiving touch he turned and
rode towards the wood.
All through the night olivia had
lain awake, tossing to and fro, like
soul struggling in chains. The scene
with BARLEY Bradstone seemed like
hideous dream, from which, try as
she would, she could not awake.
That he should have dared to tell
her that he loved her, have asked her
to be his wife was torture enough to
her proud, maiden spirit; but that her
father should be in his tolls, and his
happiness and even life-for she knew
that BARLEY Bradstone spoke only the
truth when he said that to leave the
Grange would mean death to the
squire-was an agony almost insup-
portable.
At any time in the past the idea OF
accepting him would have been repug-
nant; but now, since the last few
days, she shrank from the prospect
with an absolute loathing. She rose,
pale and weakened, bewildered; she
felt she could not meet her father that
morning. She dreaded to hear even
BARLEY Bradstone's name. And yet
what escape was there for her? II
what he said were true, he held her
in an iron thraIl. For her father she
would sacrifice anything-life itself
But she must have time to think, time
to realize the awful ordeal through
which she must pass; time to learn
how to school her voice and conceal
the agony that racked her.
Taking up her hat, and telling the
footman that her father was not TO
wait breakfast for her, she went out,
caring nothing about the direction she
should take. and after leaving Bessie
she wandered aimlessly on to the
woods and threw herself down on the
thick underground in an abandon OF