Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-03-22
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX
Your face. my Thane, is book, where men
May read strange matters.
81 see no reason why she shouldn't
be" says the professor calmly-is there
a faint suspicion of hauteur in his tone :?
''As we are ON the subject of myself, l.
may as well tell you that my brother is
Sir Hastings Curzon, of Whom'-he
turns back as if to take up some mag
mary article from the foor-'you may
have heard
''Sir HASTINGS Mr.. Hardinge leans
back in his chair and gives way to
thought. This quiet, Woodworking stu
dent-this man whom he had counted as
a nobody-the brother of that disreputa-
BILE Hastings Curzon! Gas good as got
the baronetcy," says he, still thinking.
''At the rate Sir Hastings is going he
can't possibly last for another twelve
month, and here is this fellow living in
these dismal lodgings with 100000 a year
before his eyes. A lucky thing for him
that the estates are so strictly entailed.
Good heavens! to think of a man with all
that almost in his grasp being happy in
coat that must have been built in the
the intestines of frogs and such-like
abOminatiOns
you seem surprised again. says the
professor, somewhat satirically.
Il confess it, says Hardlnge.
Il can't see why you should be-
Il do" says Hardinge dryIy. ''That
you slowly, YOU should be Sir Hast
ings', brother! Why"
No more" interrupts the professor,
sharply. He lifts his hand mot an
other word. / know what you are go
ing to say. 1t is one of my greatest trou-
bles, that | always know what people
are going to say when they mention him
I or him oil To
ooh, I'll let him alone" says Hardinge.
with a gesture of disgust. There is a
pause.
You know my sister, them" says the
professor presently.
Yes. She is very charming. How is
it have never seen you there?
AT her house?'
'lAt her receptions
Il have no taste for that sort of thing.
and no time. Fashionable society bores
me- | go and see Gwen, on off-days and
early hours when | am sure that [ shall
find her alone We are friends, she
and l. capital friends, though some
to disapprove of my mode of living. But
we get on very well on the whole. She
is a very good girl" says the professor
kindly, who always thinks of Lady Bar
ing as a little girl III short frocks in her
nursery-the nursery he had occupied
with her.
To hear the beautiful, courted, haugh-
ty Lady Barring, who has the best of
London at her feefs called "a good girl
so tickles Mr.. Hardinge, that he leans
back in his chair and bursts out laugh
ing.
''Yes?'' says the professor, as if ask
ing for an explanation of the joke.
'Oh. nothing-nothing. Only-you are
such a queer fellow!' says Hardinge, sit
ting up again to look at him. You are
a rara avis, do you know? No, of course
you don't! You are one of the few peo-
pie who don't know their own worth. |
don't believe, Curzon, though | should
live to be a thousand, that | shall ever
look upon your like again"
And so you laugh. Well, no doubt it
is a pleasant reflection" says the pro-
fessor dismally. Il begin to wish now
l had never seen myself
"Oh, come! cheer up!' says Hardinge.
your pretty ward will be all right II
Lady Barring takes her IN hand, She
sor. Twill she like Per-Miss Wynter"
Sure to- said Hardinge, with quite a
touch of enthusiasm. ITO see her is to
love her, and love but
''That is of no consequence where any.
one is concerned except Lady Barring,
says the professor, with little twist IN
his chair. land my sister has not seen
d
only question: greater one remains
by Jove! you don't say 50! what!
demands Mr. Hardinge, growing earnest.
Twill Miss Wynter like her?' says the
professor. ''That is the real point"
ooh! | seev' says Hardinge, thought
fully. =,
The next day, however, proves the
professors fears vain in both quarters.
An early visit to Lady Barring, and an
anxious appeal brings out all that de-
lightful woman's best qualities. One
stipulation she makes, that she may see
the young heiress before finally commit
ting herself to chaperon her safely
through the remainder of the season.
The professor, filled with hope, HES
back to his rooms, calls for Mrs. Null
cahy, tells her he is going to take ms
ward for a drive, and gives that VOL tiny
and now intensely interested landlady
full directions to see that Miss Wynter
looks" er-nice! you know, Mrs. MuI-
cahy, her best suit, and
Mrs. Mulcahy came generously 10 the
rescue. :,
Her best frock, sir, l suppose. an her
Sunday bonnet. I've often wished It
before, Mr. Curzon, an I'm thinkin'
that twill be the maxim of ye; an a
handsome, purity little craythur she IS
the poor dear, sir, askin' yer pardon"
81 am,'' says the professor.
ooh, no, sir; the likes was niver
known. IT'S the father or one of his be-
lodgings as gives away the bride, niyer
the husband-to-be, an if We have nobody,
sir. you two, why I'm sure I'd be proud
to act for ye in this matther. Faix, | don't
disguise from We, Misther Curzon, Gear.
that l feels like a mother to that purity
child this moment, an l tell ye this, that
if We don't behave dacent to her, ye'u
have to answer to Mrs. Mulcahy for that
same"
what dye mean, woman?" roars the
professor, Indignantly. do you imagine
that l.? =,
mo. I'd behave nothin' bad of ye,"
says Mrs. Mulcahy solemnly, I've
cared for We these six years, an niver Il
fault to find. But that child beyant,
whin ye take her away to make her yer
wife,
'.You must be little mad says the
professor, strange, curious pang con-
tracing his heart. Il am not taking her
away to II am taking her to my
sister, who will receive her as a guest.
''Mad"' repeats Mrs. Mulcahy furious
". ''Who's mad? FaiX," preparing to
leave the room, e" it's yerself was born
rrro;, - SiDcnp'