The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-01-25


- ~ drove back 10 Bed
a7rl'''HHlv1NHH' Dick was relieved
70 see how quickly
the open air restored the color 10 "a
millas cheeks; she was herself agar
by the time they reached home an'
seemed 10 have recovered even th'
gaiety which had been conspieuouslS
absent from her manner all the morn
ing
He stayed an hour or two. and was
induced 20 tell many stories Of the sea
The colonel listened for some time, anc
then excused himself on the plea OF haV'
ing letters 70 write. But l hope you
viii dine with US. he added.
Thank you" said Dick. ruefully; Il
wish I could but my lawyer is coming
10 see me on business at 4 o'clock; he Is
an old family friend, and l asked him
10 stay 20 dinner" And. in fact he
tore himself away soon afterward.
When he had seen him out Of the house
the colonel came back 10 the drawing
room smiling and rubbing his hands to-
gether with an appearance Of great
good humor
We'll, Camilla" he said. "and when
will II be convenient to you to pay me %
PAY you what?"
Have you forgotten? You wagered
your fortune that Estcourt would not
help us"
She started to her feet; terror. in
credulity, anger. and terror again,
flashed in her glance and shook her
voice.
Well" she cried. what then; what
them"
"Why, then, Of course. you have lost"
You are lying" she cried, fiercely.
THAT would be useless here" he
said; zone can not deceive oneself. But
surely" he expostulated. you can't
pretend to have misunderstood him all
this timer"
What timer" she asked. in faint de-
spair
This morning" he replied. Il
changed my mind again. and decided
in favor of writing. At 1890 l sent him
that If he kept our appointment for IL
o'clock at Great Russell street I should
understand him TO have accepted our
proposal. He kept the appointment; as
you know; you saw the friendliness
win which he met his new confeder-
ass. Carnac and Rabodanges; and
an surprised he continued, that he
6f not hint 10 you his acceptance Of
your cause and your guidance
You have ruined a mans honor"
she cried. land a woman's happiness;
but you shall not have your way with
both OF US; If he goes with you. I stay
behind" And she left the room before
he could find an answer.
Dick. in the meantime, stepped with
a swinging pace along the streets. look
Ing eXultantly back upon the brightest
day in his memory, and forward TO a
yet brighter one tomorrow. He sprang
up the stairs 10 his room. and burst
gaily in. His glance travelled 90 the
mantel-piece, where his letters were
usually placed; today there were two,
and he hummed tune as he TOOK them
In his hand. They We're both from
known correspondents. and quite un-
Interesting; but third, lying near
them. was directed in a handwriting
that he had never seen before.
lie was surprised % find on turning
n over, that this last one had been al
ready opened but he Immediately for
got this IN his establishment at the con-
tents.
was no mlstaking the source from
which 1t came; the words my sister-in-
law and /" brought flush 10 his face
He was amazed. bewildered. over
whelmed
Before ne could collect his scattered
senses the door opened. and Mr. Wick
srby" was announced. on the thres-
hold stood the lawyer ne had been eX-
Oh.
Cise-looking man Of s. or more, with
his hat I'm one hand and a bag i'm the
other.
Good day, sir" he said. And then,
with a quick glance from Dicks trou-
bled face 10 the paper in his hand, he
added. Anything wrong? No bad
news / hope?"
Dick jumped TO his feet took the hat
bag from his visitor, and drew "A chair
up 20 the fire for him.
You must excuse me, Mr. Wicker
by" he said; Tn in a regular maze
over this extraordinary note"
Let me see" said the lawyer.
Dick mechaDically handed it over to
him, and tried 20 put his own ideas in
order while the other read in silence
Dear ne" said Mr. Wickerby. look
ing up at last, this is a cool fellow,
upon my word! He pretends to be
friend Of yours DO you recognize the
writing?'
No" replied Dick, II never saw'it in
my life but
But you can guess the author. Ell?
Hmm. so much the worse! II you will
excuse my freedom. Captain Est
court"
stop" cried Dick Il must warn
you that these are intimate friends Of
mine" and he blushed crimson.
Mr.. Wickerby looked at him curious
~. They must be- he said very in
innate, / should say. 10 venture upon
such a proposal as this"
Hang IT." cried Dick. you don't
suppose he meant it seriously? It's a
joke, OF course"
The lawyer shrugged his shoulders
Not in very good taste as a joke" he
said; but after all II doesn't matter;
the letter contains its own answer, and
there's an end Of It,"
What do you mean?" asked Dick.
How does It contain its own answer
"Silence, in this case. was to give re-
fusal; consent was only to be inferred
from a particular act"
Dick was thunderstruck at this. and
lost his head.
But I went" he stammered.
Went where?" asked the other,
sharply.
ITO Great Russell street"
You went 10 Great Rugsell street