Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-04-05
CHAPTER XIV.

My love is like the sky,
AS distant and as high:
Perchance she's fair and kind and bright,
Perchance she's Stormy-tearful quite
Alas! / scarce know why.
1t is late in the day when the professor
enters Lady Baring's house. He had
determined not to wait till the morrow
to see Perpetua. 1t seemed to him that
it would be impossible to go through an
other sleepless night, with this raging
doubt, this cruel uncertainty in his
heart.
He finds her in the library the soft
light of the dying evening falling on her
little slender figure. She is sitting in a
big armchair, all in black-as he best
knows HEREWITH a book upon her knee.
She looks charming, and fresh as a new
born flower. Evidently neither last
nights party nor today's afternoon
have had power to dim her beauty.
Sleep had visited her last night, at all
events.
She springs out of her chair, and
throws her book on the table near her.
why, you are the very last person
expected" says she.
mo doubt" says the professor. Who
was the first person she had expected?
And will Hardinge be here presently to
plead his cause in person? "But it was
imperative / should come There is
SOL1clulAS nave " lClA SOuIO Atly DS-
fore you"
''Not a mummy, I trust says she, a
little fippantly.
ga PROPOSAL" says the professor, cold
ly. "Much as know you dislike the idea,
still, it was your poor fathers wish that
| should, in a measure, regulate your
life until your coming of age. | am
here today to let you knoW-that-M
Hardinge has requested me to tell you
that he"
The professor pauses, feeling that he is
failing mserably. He, the fluent speak
err at lectures, and on public platforms,
is now bereft of the power to explain one
small situation!
What's the matter with Mr.. Har-
dinge, asks Perpetua, that he can't
come here himself? Nothing serious,
hope?
Il am your guardian, says the profess
sor-unfortunately with all the air of one
profoundly sorry for the fact declared,
land he wishes me to tell you that he
is DESTROYS OF marrying you
Perpetua stares at him. Whatever bit
ter thoughts are in her mind, she con-
ceals them.
HE is most thoughtful young man. =
says she, blandly. "And-and you're an
other
Il hope I am thoughtful, if | am not
young" says the professor, with dignity.
Her manner puzzles him. with regard
to Hardinge, [ wish you to know that
that I--have known him for years, and
that he is in my opinion q strictly hon
orable, kind-hearted man. lie is Of good
family. He has money. lie will proba-
bly, succeed to a baronetcy-though this
is not certain, as his uncle is, compare
lively speaking, young still. But even
without the title, Hardinge is a man
worthy of any woman's esteem, and con-
fidpnco an1---''
He is interrupted by Miss .Wynter's
giving way to q sudden burst of mirth.
1t is mirth of the very angriest; but it
checks him the more effectually, because
of that.
.sYou must place great confidence in
princes!' says she. Even without q tt
tie, he is worthy of esteem She copies
him audaciously what has a title got
to do with esteem ?-and what has es-
TEEN got to do with lover
Il should hope" begins the profes-
sor.
'.You needn't It has nothing to do
with it. nothing at all. Go back and tell
Mr.. Hardinge so; and tell him, too, that
when next he goes a-Woolng, he had bet
ter do it in person.
II am afraid [ have damaged my mis-
SION saws the professor, who has never
once looked at her since his first swift
glance.
Your mission p