Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-01-10
HIS SECOND LOVE.
isn't she lovely 2"

Isn't she lovely?"
Tom Charlesworth spoke enthusiastic
cally. with a vivid flash of his dark
gray eye and a singular scftness OF his
voice. His was a nature not often
stirred. but very deep and earnest; and
Fernand Wallace looked into his face
and wondered, with half smile, now
it would seem to feel things below the
mere surface depth.
He was very handsome, this Fern
land Wallace, with soft, treacherous
eyes, features like the Apollo Belvl-
deere and a lute-sweet voice; and Tom
Charlesworth, who read every one &C
cording to the keynote of his own
noble nature, loved him as if they has
been brothers.
'She's we'll enough" said Wallace,
debonairly. .'Nose a tri1e too short
and the lips too full, but otherwise
what the world calls beautiful. so
you're hard hit, my boy, eh?"
''I love her dearly said Tom, in
the quiet, unimpassioned voice that
meant SO much; "and, God willing, l
will be a good husband to her; and
you had better remain to be my best
man. It's hardly worth while to re-
turn to Exeter for three weeks"
'Well, perhaps you're right, old fell
low" said Fernand Wallace; but any
one a trife more observant than Tom
would have noticed that the handsome
eyes evaded his gaze with strange sub
tlety.
do you hear, Elsie?" said Charles
worth. exultantly. "Fernand will stay
to the wedding. knew we should per-
suade him!"
Elsie Mordaunt looked suddenly up
from the fancy work with which she
was idling mechanically, and some
thing wild and piteous in her gaze at
Eiracted even Tom Charlesworth's ait
tent1on.
Elsie, darling, are you ill?''
He was at her side in an instant,
with both hands in hers.
Elsie laughed, a little Historically.
She was a dark-eyed, brilliant little
brunette, with black silky hair
growing low ON her forehead, and
small, sensitive mouth like crimson
woodbury..
''No-what nonsense, Tom; I'm
well enough. Don't get any absurd
notions in your head
The might before the wedding was
frosty and star-sprinkled, with deli
cious air full of the aroma of withered
ferns and fallen leaves; and Tom
Charlesworth strobe over the fields
whistling as he went, his heart brim-
ming with the strange, sweet sense OF
bliss that most lovers have felt once
in a lifetime.
The little room where Elsie was
wont to sit of am evening was dark
and the window, looking on a border
of gay-colored dahlias, was open. Tom
leaned his elbow on the easement and
looked in.
He called, but there was NO answer
Elise was not there.
He went round ito the orthodox en-
trance, feeling a little disappointed, he
scarcely knew why. Mrs. Mordaunt
met him in the hall, with a white,
scared face.
ooh, Mr.. Charlesworth, we were just
going to send for you'll" she cried.
ITO send for mel" Tom felt him
self blanched to the very roots of the
hair. ''What has happened? Is Elsie
ill?'
Mrs. Mordaunt's lips trembled, but
gave forth no sound, as she placed in
Charlesworth' s hands a note stained
with her own tears-a brief note writ
ten by Elsie:
Don't blame me, mamma, nor let
him blame me, because I couldn't help
loving Fernand the best. Tell him not
to feel bad; for, indeed was
not worthy of his love, and he will b.
happier without me poor Toni"
And it was signed by the one word
Elsie
Charlesworth quietly gave her back
the note, and, parting, walked forth
into the starry silence of the night
No eyes but those of the All-Seeing
should witness the secret anguish OF
his heart!
y +
Mother thought you would come
sir, Tiff you knew how poor she was
and that father was dead, and
4 burst of tears checked the child's
voice, as she stood, with a dropping
head and hands tightly clasped to-
lgether, in Mr.. Charlesworthy library
} the snow melting on her garments
and the crimson touch of the cold
winter air glowing feverishly on he1
, cheeks.
''But, my child''- and he looked at
Eher with a puzzled face-"you have