Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-03-29
A LITTLE REBEL
By "THE DUCHESS. =


What namer' says she. Worse
than mine. And yet" still laughing, 1T
suits him, think
Hardinge laughs with her. Not at his
friend, but with her. 1t seems clear 70
him that Perpetua is making gentle fun
of her guardian, and though his con-
science smites him for encouraging her
in her naughtiness; still he cannot re-
frain.
He is an awfulfy good old fellow
says he, throwing a sop to his Cerberus.
rs hep says Perpetua, as if even
more amused. She looks up at him, and
then down again, and trifies with the fan
she has taken back from him, and finally
laughs again. something in her laugh this
time, however. puzzles him.
you don't like him?" hazards he.
After ALL suppose it is hardly natural
that ward should like her guardian"
Eyes? And why?' asks Perpetua,
still smiling, still apparently amused
For one thing, the sense of restraint
that belongs to the relations between
them. A guardian, you know, would be
able TO control one in measure"
would hep
"Well, l imagine So 1t is Evolutionary.
And you"
II don't know about other people, !
says Miss Wynter, calmly, Il know only
this, that nobody ever yet controlled me,
and l don't suppose now that anybody
ever WILL
As she says this she looks at him with
the prettiest smile; it is a mixture OF
amusement and defiance. Hardinge, gaz-
ing at her, draws conclusions. C'Perfect-
ly hates him." decides he)
1t seems to him a shame, and pity
too, but after all, old Curzon was hardly
meant by nature to do the paternal to
strange and distinctly spoilt child, and
a beauty into the bargain.
Il don't think your guardian will have
a good time" says he. bending over her
confidentially, on the strength of this
Don't your She draws back from
him and looks up You think | shall
lead him very bad life?''
''Well. as he would regard it. Not as
| should" with sudden, impassioned
glance.
Miss Wynter puts that glance behind
her, and perhaps there is something
something little dangerous in the soft,
soft look she now turns upon him..
He thinks so, too, of course! says
she, ever so gently Her tone is half a
question, half an assertion. 1t is mani
testify unfair, the whole thing: Hardlnge,
believing in her tone, her smile~falls into
the trap. Mindful OF that, night when
the professor in despair at her untlmely
descent upon him, had said many things
unmeant, he answers her:
Hardly that. But
"xc4fO on"
''There was a little word or two, you
know" laughing.
strangely! Eyes? And-w
"Oh! a mere hint! The professor is
too loyal to go beyond that. l suppose
YOU know you have thu" best. man IN
all the world for your guardian! But "
was a little unl1ind of your people, was
it not, to give you into the Keeping OF
a confirmed boOkworm-a savant-Wlth
scarcely a thought beyond his studio:
''He could study me!' says sne L
should be a fresh specimen.
"a rara avis, indeed! but not such as
the professors soul covets. No, believe
me. you are as dust before the wind III
his learned eye"
''YOu think then-that lam lfouple
to him?'
shrug of apology, "but he has no room
in his daily thoughts, | verify believe,
for anything beyond his beloved books,
and notes, and discoveries.
yet l am discovery, persists she,
looking at him with anxious eyes, and
leaning forward, whilst her fan falls idly
on her knees. >,
returns he with a smile:
'"Truer' says she. She gives him one
swift brilliant glance. and then sudden
" grows restless. "How warm it ISL
She says fretfully 81 wish
What she was going to say will never
now be known. The approach OF tall,
gaunt figure through the hanging ORR
entail curtains at the end of the conserva-
tory checks her speech. Sir Hastings
CuTzon is indeed taller than most men,
and is. besides, man hardly to be mis-
taken again when once seen. Perpetua
has seen him very frequently of late.
CHAPTER XII.
But all was false and hollow; though MS