Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-03-22
A LITTLE REBEL
BY "THE DUCHESS. F"
CHAPTER VIII.

that made yer purity heart sore. Lave
her to me now, Misther Curzon. dear,
an I'll take a mothers care Of her.
(Ths is an aside to the astound-
ed professor) There now, alanna.
Take courage now. Sure it's to
the right shop we've come anyway, for
It's daughters l have mesef, me dear
fine, sthroppin girls as could put you in
their pockits. Ye poor little crayther!
oh! Murther! Who could harm the likes
Of ye? Fax, l hope that ould divil Of
an aunt O. yours won't darken these
doors, or she'll git what she won't like
from Biddy Mulcahy. There now!
There now! IT'S into yer bed I'll tack ye
meself. for It's worn-out ye are-God
helD yeI'
She is gone, taking Perpetual with her.
The professor rubS his eyes, and then
suddenly an overwhelming sense OF
gratitude toward Mrs. Mulcahy takes
possession of him. What a woman! He
had never thought so much moral sup
port could be got out Of a landlady-but
Mrs. Mulcahy has certainly tidad him
safely over one of his difficulties. Still,
those that remain are formidable enough
to quell any foolish present attempts at
relief of mind. Tomorrow, and tomor-
row. and tomorrow
How many tomorrows is she going to
remain here? Oh! Impossible! Not an
D0uE must De wasted. by Iue
light something must be put on foot to
save the girl from her own foolhardinesS,
nay ignOrancep
Once again, sunk in the meshes OF de-
preston, the prosecuted professor de-
sends TO the room where Hardinge
awaits him.
Anything new?' demands the latter.
springing to his feet.
Yes! Mrs. MuIcahy came up The
professors face is so gloomy, that
Hardinge may be forgiven for saying to
himself, 'she has assaulted him!'
Pm glad it isn't visible" says he,
staring at the professors nose, and then
at his eye. Both are the usual size.
"IGh?' says the professor. 'She was
visible of course. She was kinder than |
expected
$50, l see She might so easily have
made it your lip-or your nose-or-
What is there in Everett's cupboard
besides the beer? demands the professor
angrily. For Heavens sake! attend to
me, and don't sit there grinning like a
first-class chimpanZeev'
This is extremely rude, but Hardinge
takes no notice of it.
81 tell you she was kind-kinder than
one would expect, says the professor,
rapping his knqckles OF. the table.
'No-Mrs Mulcahy!'' roars the pro-
fessor frantically. Where's your head,
man? Mrs MuIcahy came into the room
and took Miss Wynter into her charge
in the-er-the most wonderful way, and
carried her Off to bed The professor
mops his brow.
''Oh, well, that's all right" says Har
dinge. 'Sit down, old chap, and let's
talk it over
ut is not all right says the professor.
aft is all wrong Here she is, and here
she apparently means to stay. The poor
child doesn't understand She thinks
I'm older than Methusaleh, and that she
can live here with me. | can't explain
it to her-you-don't think you could,
do you, Hardinge?
''No, [ don't. indeed, says Hardinge,
in a hurry What on earth has brought
her here at all?''
''To stay. Haven't | told you? To
stay forever. She says'-with groan-
.'she is going to settle me! Toto brush
my hair! To-make my tea. She says
I'm her guardian, and insists on living
with me! She doesn't understand! Har-
dinge," desperately, what am | to do!'
Marry her!' suggests Hardinge, who
| regret to say is choking with laughter.
THAT is a jest!' says the professor
haughtily. This unusual tone, from the
professor strikes surprise to the soul of
Hardinge. He looks at him. But the
professors new humor is short-lived:
He sinks upon chair IN tired sort OF
way, letting his arms fall over the sides
Of it. AS type of utter despair he is
distinguished specimen.
"Why don't you take. her home again.
back to the old aunt" says Hardlnge
moved by his misery
81 can't. She tells me it would be
useless that the house is locked up, and
and besides, Hardinge, her aunt-after
this, you know-would be
Naturally" says Ha lard &C. c aGter
think it Overt The professor lights it,
and both men draw nearer to each other.
Pm afraid she won't go back to her
aunt anyway" says the professor, as a
beginning to the thinking it over" he
pushes his glasses up to his forehead,
and finally discards them altogether, hlng-
ing them on the table near
''If she saw YOU now she might under
stand" says Hardinge-for, indeed, the
professor without his glasses loses 30 per
cent. of old Time.
H"She wouldn't" says the professor.
And never mind that Come back to the
question. / say she will never go back TO
her aunt"
can see that he would part with a good
deal of honest coin Of the realm II his
companion would only not agree with
him.
rather enjoying himself. ''By Jove! what
y thing TO happen to you. CurZon, of all
men in the world. What are you going
to do, eh?'
at isn't 50 much that says the pro-
fessor family. "It is what is she going
to do
''Next?'' supplements Hardinge. Quite
so! 1t would be clever fellow who
would answer that. straight off. [ say,
Curzon, what pretty girl she is, though.
Pretty isn't the word. Lovely, l.
The professor gets up suddenly.
mot hat" says he, raising his hand
in his gentle fashion-that has now some
thing of haste in it. 'It-I--you know
what | mean, Hardinge. To discuss her
herself I mean-and here
"Yes You are right" says Hardinge
slowly. with, however, an irrepresslble
stare at the professor. It is a prolonged
stare. He is very fond of Curzon, though
knowing absolutely nothing about hin, him
beyond the fact that he is eminently like
able; and it now strikes him as strange
that this silent, awkward, addressed,
clever man should be the one
70 tnach him how TO behave