Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-03-15
CHAPTER VIII


CHAPTER VIII.
The house Of everyone is to him as his cas-
tie and fortress as we'll for. his defense
against injury and violence as for his repose.
''She's upstairs STILL, cries he in q fren-
Zied tone. ''She says she has come for
ever-that she will not go away. She
doesn't understand. Great heaven. what
am | to do?"
"She?' says Hardinge, who really in
turn grows petrifed for the moment
only for the moment.
THAT girl! My ward! All women are
demons" says the professor bitterly,
with tragic force. He pauses as it ex-
hausted.
Your demon is pretty specimen of
her kind" says Hardinge, a little friv-
olously under the circumstances, it must
be confessed. "Where is she now!
"Upstairs!'' with groan ''She says
she's hungry, and | haven't a thing in
the house! For goodness sake. think of
something, Hardinge"
Mrs. Mulcahyw suggests Hardinge in
anything but hopeful tone.
.'Yes-ye-es,' says the professor. You
would you, Hardinge?'
Not for a good deal, says Hardinge
promptly Il say rising, and going to-
ward Everett's cupboard, "Everett's a
Sybarite, you know, of the worst kind
sure to find something here, and we can
square it with him afterward Beauty
in distress, you know. appeals to all
ammer" Take it! The guilt be on my
head. Observation-Disclosures onions!
Oh, not picked onions, / think. Really,
/ had no idea even Everett had fallen so
low Cheese!about to proceed on a
care for that, thanks. Beer. No. No.
Sherry-W oinel''
give me that pie, and the bread and
butter" says the professor in great
wrath. "And let me tell you, Hardinge,
that there are occasions when ones high
spirits can degenerate into offensiveness
and vulgarityp'
stairs, leaving Hardinge, let us hope, a
prey to remorse. 1t is true, at least Of
that young man. that he covers his face
with his hands and sways from side to
side, as If overcome by some secret emo
tion-grief-no doubt.
Perpetua is graciously pleased to ac-
cept the frugal meal the professor brings
her, She even goes SO far as to ask him
to share it with her-Which invitation he
declines. He is indeed sick at heart-not
for himself-(the professor doesn't often
think of himself)-but for her. And
where is she to sleep? To turn her out
now would be imDossible! After all. it
was a puerile trifiing with the inevitable,
to shirk asking Mrs. Mulcahy for some
thing to eat for his self-imposed guest
because the question of bed is still to
come! Mrs. Mulcahy, terrible as she I'M
doubtedly can be, is yet the only woman
in the house. and it is imperative that
PerDetua should be given up to her pro-
lection.
Whilst the professor is writing in
spirit over this ungetOutable fact, he be-
comes aware of a resounding knock at
his door. Paralyzed he gazes in the di-
rectiOn of the sound. 1t can't be Har-
dinge: he would never knock like that!
The knock in itself, indeed is of such
force and volume as to strike terror into
the bravest breast. 1t is-it must be-
the Mulcahy
And Mrs. Mulcahy it is. Without
waiting for an answer, that virtuous
Irish woman, clad in righteous indigna-
ton and a snuff-colored gown, marches
into the room.
MAY / ask. Mr. Curzon,'' says she,
with great dignity and more temper,
what may be the meanin' of all this?''
The professors tongue cleaves to the
roof of his mouth, but Perpetual tongue
remains normal. She jumps up, and
runs to Mrs Mulcahy with Il beaming
face. She has had something to eat, and
is once again her own buoyant, way
ward, light-hearted little self.
"Oh! it is all right now, Mrs.
Mulcahy.'' cries size, whilst the
professor grows cold with horror
at this audacious advance upon
the militant Mu1cany. but do you
know, he said first he hadn't anything
to give me, and | was starving. No, you
| mustn't scold him-he didn't mean any
Dr1 how
unhappy | was with Aunt jane? he's
told you, | dare say, with a little fling
ing of her hand toward the trembling
professor because [ know -prettily-
he is very fond of you. Oh! Aunt Jane
is hOrrid! | should have told you about
bow it was Wher I came, but | wanted
so much to see my guardian. and tell him
all about it, that / forgot to be nice to
anybody. See!"
There is a little silence. The profess
sor, who is looking as guilty as if the
whole ten commandments had been brok-
en- by him at once. waits, shivering, for
the outburst that is sure to. come.
1t doesn'+ come, however! When the
mists clear away little. he finds Per
petua has gone over to where Mrs. Null
cahy is standing, and is talking still to
that good Irish woman. 1t IS Whis-
pered talk this time, and the few words
of it that he catches go to his very heart.
I'm afraid he didn't want me here, I
Perpetua is saying, in low distressed
little vOice-'Im sorry | came n0W-but,
you don't know how cruel Aunt Jane
was to me, Mrs. Mulcahy, you don't in
deed! She-she said such unkind things
about-about- Perpetua breaks down
again-struggles with herself valiantly,
and finally bursts out crying. I'm
tired, I'm sleepy" sobs she miserably.
Need I say what follows? The profess
~ 4ho NV fhnCn r1
sobs, lifts his eyes, and-behold! he sees
Perpetual gathered to the ample bosom
of the formidable, kindly Mulcahy.
CTO BE CONTINUED