Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-04-12
CHAPTER XVI.
Till the secret be secret no more
In the light of one hour as 1t flies
De lHc Aout DO VI suns IAsal 0APiAC
Or suns that rise.

In the light of one hour as 1t flies,
Be the hour as OF suns that expire
Or suns that rise.
It is quite a month later. August,
hot and sunny, is reigning with quite Il
mad merriment, making the most of the
days that be, knowing full we'll that the
end Of the summer is nigh. The air is
stiffiing; up from the warm earth comes
the almost oyerpowering perfume of the
late flowers. Perpetua, moving amongst
the carnation and hollyhocks in her soft
white cambria frock, gathers a few
of the former in a languid manner, to
place in the bosom of her frock. There
they rest, a spot of blood color upon
their white ground.
Lady Barring, on the death of her elder
brother, had left town for the seciuslon
of her country home, carrying Perpetual
with her. She had grown very fond
of the GIRL and the fancy she had formed
(before Sir Hastings death) that Thadde-
us was in love with the young heiress,
and that she would make him suitable
iWfe, had not suffered i'll any way
through the fact of Sir Thaddeus having
now become the head of the family.
Perpetua, having idly plucked few
last pansies, looked at them, and as idly
flung them away, goes on her llstless way
through the gardens A whole long
month and not one word from him! Are
he has fogotten he has ward? We'll, =
emphatically, and with q vicious little
tug at a big white hat, ''some people
have strange views about duty"
She has almost reached the summer
house, yine-clad and temptingly cool in
all this heat, when quick step behind
her causes her to turn.
They told me you were here" says
the professor, coming up with her. lie
is SO distinctly the professor still. III
spite of his new mourning, and the better
cut of his clothes, and the general air
of having been severely looked after
that Perpetua feels at home with him at
once.
II have been here for some time" says
she calmly "a whole month, isn't itT'
Eyes, | know. Were you going into
that green little place? 1t looks cool.
It is cool, and particularly empty. One
small seat occupies the back of it, and
nothing else at all, except the professor
and his ward.
Perpetual says he. turning to her
his tone is low, imprisoned, Il have
come. / could not come sooner, and |
would not write. How could | put it all
on paper? You remember that last even
ing:
Il remember says she family.
And all you said?
''All you said
/ was too poor man, too insignificant
to dare to lay bare to you the thoughts,
the fears, the hopes that were killing
me-"
Nothing echoes she. Have you then
forgotten % She raises her head, and
casts at him swift, but burning glance.
''Was it nothing? You came TO plead
your friends cause, / think. Surely that
was something! thought it great deal.
And what was it you said of Mr.. Har-
dinge? All! | have forgotten that, but
l know how you extolled him-praised
him to the skies-recommended him to
me as desirable sutton" She makes an
thing from her. why have you come
today?'' asks she. "To plead his cause
afreshT'
'Not his-today."
Whose then? Another sutton, maybe
1t seems / have more than even dreamt
off,
Il do not know if you have dreamed of
this one" says Curzon, perplexed by her
manner. Some hope had been in his
heart in his journey to her. but now it
dies There is little love truly in her
small, vivid face, her cleaning eyes, her
parted, s.ornful lips.
II am not given to Dreams, says she,
with a petulant shrug. Il know what !
mean always And as I tell you, if you
have come here today to lay before me,
for my consideration. the name Of an
other Of your friends who wishes to mar
ry me, why, / beg you to save yourself
the trouble. Even the country does not
save me from suitors. ] can make my
choice from many, and when | do want
to marry, [ shall choose for myself.
''Still-if you would permit me to name
this one begins Curzon, very hunbly.
lit can do you no har1a 10 hear at him.
And it all hes in your own power. You
can, if you will, say yes, Or lie
pauses. The pause is eloquent, and full
OF deep entreaty.
"Or no. supplies she calmly. "True!
You" with half defiant, half-saucy
glance, ARE beginning to learn tlat q
guardian cannot control one altogether.
81 don't think | ever controlled you,
''N-o. Perhaps not But then you
tried to- That's worse
DO you forbid me then to lay lefore
youths name-that I-Y'
Il have told you," says she, that
can find name for myself"
'You forbid me to speak" says he
slowly.
al forbid! A ward forbid her guar
dian! l should be afraid!'' says she,
with an extremely naughty little glance
at him.
fessor slowly, a little sternly, and with
uncontrolled despair. Il thought be-
lieyeG-I was mad enough to imagine,
from your manner to me that last night
W. met, that | was something more than
a mere guardian to you"
M ore than that? That seems to be a
Herculean relation. What more would
you be?'
Il am no longer that, at all events"
What" cries she, flushing deeply.
'You--you give me up"
1T is you who give me up
You say you will no longer be my
guardianv She seems struck with
anlazcment at this declaration on his
par!. She had not believed him when
he had before spoken of bis intention Of
no