Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-12-19
CHAPTER II.


turned from India / was a mere boy
when he went away. He knew me
then, and when he came back he
sought me out"
And that is twenty five years ago,
Mr. Girtle?''
Yes. The year you were born
And he made you his eonfidant?''
Yes, he gave me his confidence, as
far as I think he gave it to any man. =
"And did he always live in this
way?"
Always He filled up the house
with the vast collection of curiosities
and things that he had been sending
home for years, and expected that he
would entertain, and lead the life of
an English gentleman; but no. the
house has been closed for twenty
years"
Mr.. Critic, clean-shayen old gen
lehman, with yellow face, dark, rest
less eyes, and bright gray hair, took a
pinch of snuff from handsome gold
box, flieked few grains from his
white shirt-front, and said, "Hah."
''Had my uncle met with any great
disappointment" said the first
speaker, a frank-looking man with
closely curling brown hair and high,
white forehead
What! to make him take to this
strange life? Oh, no. He was pecu-
liar, but not unhappy: He liked to be
alone, but he was always bright and
/ cheerful at his club.
"You met him there, then?" said
fresh voice; and a handsome, dark
young fellow, who had been leaning
back in an easy-chair in the dim
drawing-room, sat up quickly, playing
with his little black mustache.
ooh, yes! used to dine with Col
onel Capel when we had business to
transact"
but here, you say, he led the life
of a miser!" continued the young man,
| crossing his legs and examining the
toe of his patent-leather boot,
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Gerard
Arts do not say that. Your great.
uncle was no miser. He spent money
freely, sometimes in charities Yes,
he continued, turning to where two
J ladies were seated, Colonel Capel
was often very charitable"
Il never saw his name in any
charitable list" said the darker of the
two ladies, speaking in a sweet,
silyery voice; and her beautiful regu-
| lar features seemed to attract both
the previous speakers.
mo, Miss D'Enghien, | suppose
not, said the old man, nodding his
| head and rising to begin walking up
and down, snuff-box in hand. Neither
did /. But he was very charitable in
his own particular way, and he was
very kind
YES" said the young man who had
first spoken; very kind I have him
to thank for my school and college
education
'FWell-yes," said the old lawyer; IT
suppose it is no breach of confidence
to say that it is So"
| "And have to thank him for mine,
and the pleasant life have led, Mr..
Critic, have | not?" said the second
of the ladies, and but for the gloom
the flush that came into her sweet
face would have been plainly seen.
At that moment the footman entered
with letter upon a massive salver,
and as he walked straight to the old
lawyer he cast quick, furtive chances
at the other occupants of the room.
"a note, eh?" said the old solicitor,
balancing his gold-rimmed glasses up
on his nose; 'um-um-yes, exactly
aoI; ~ 4f
them I will see them shortly, Charles"
The footman Lowed, End was retir-
ing as silently as he came over the
soft carpet when he 'Tas checked by
the old solicitor.
''You will tell Mr.. Freeman to see
! tention."
Eyes, sir
The footman left the room almost
without a sound, for the door was
opened and closed noiselessly. The
only thing that broke the terrible 81
lence that seemed to reign was the.
faint clink of the silver tray. against
one of the metal buttons of the mans
coat AS for the magnificently fur
n1Shed room, with lES heavy curtains
and drawblinds, it seemed to have
grown darker, so that the faint CLEANS
of light that had hung in dull way
on the faces of the great mirrors and
the gilded carving of console and chif-
fonier had died out. It required no
great effort Of the imagination to be-
lieve that the influence of the dead
man, who had passed so many soli-
ta1'y years in that shut-up house, was
still among them, making itself felt
with weight from which they could
not free themselves.
Paul Capel looked across at the
beautiful face of Katrine D'Enghien,
thinking of her creole extraction and
! the half French, half American father
who had married his relative He ex-
| pected to see her looking as agitated
as her cousin Lydia Lawrence, but she
sat back, with one arm gracefully