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

nounced earlier in the evening, ana
mad noted the impairment manner in
which the young woman had squeezed
| her husbands hand, and the flush of
pleasure that mounted to Augustus
forehead.
The political discussion became ami
mated, and for some little time the
lord chancellor was engrossed in
heated argument. When she looked
round, during breathing interval,
she discovered that the group had dis
persed, and that her husband was no
longer to be seen.
Her annoyance was increased on per-
ceiving that Miss Tomkinson had dis
appeared also. Making some excuse
to her companions, she left the room
and hurried downstairs in search of
Augustus and the missing guest. She
looked in the supper room,s but it was
empty. She tried the library and her
own little sanctum, the smoking
room; but with no better result. No
body was there.
Then she remembered the curtained
recess on the staircase.
Lady Brighton retraced her steps,
and noiselessly approached a secluded
retreat that had been arranged half
way up the fight of stairs leading
from the drawing rooms to the regions
above. Crimson draperies of rich
damask hid the occupants; but the
sound of voices was audible from
without.
The lord chancellor paused and lis
tened.
why did you consent to marry her,
them" were the first words that fell
upon her ear. The harsh strident
tone were Enthusiastically those Of
woman.
The soft, dulcet, masculine accents
OF Augustus made answer.
1T all happened when I came out
and papa took me to my first party"
he said. There was shy hesitation
in his speech, and Lady Brighton
could see in imagination Augustus
treacherous head bent in mock mod
esty, and his soft hand playing ner-
vously with her rings. "She was at
torney-general then, but everybody
knew the lord chancellorship was only
a question Of time. And papa got
somebody to Introduce her to me.
She didn't seem so old that night;
was so inexperienced, you know. And
she asked me to give her three dances,
and made me such pretty speeches
that it quite turned my head
when did the horrid old thing pro-
poser" inquired his companion.
The lord chancellor remained mo-
tionless. But she bit her lip till the
blood came and her fists were
clenched ominously.
ooh, papa gave her leave to call, and
she came nearly every day for a fort
night replied Augustus. Then
then she told me how much she cared
for me, and she put her arm around
my waist-because the suddenness of
it all made me- quite faint-and- then
she k"
"Stop!" cried Miss Tomkinson,
whose voice betrayed her Impotence.
81 can't listen to it any longer. To
think of another woman daring to
clasp you in her arms!"
FLUSH! lush. you frighten me with
your violence . cried Augustus, tremu-
lousy; and there was the sound of the
stopper being drawn from a bottle of
smelling salts.
ST can't help it, Augustus dec AIRED
the woman N passionate accents. i
love you, darling. love you. I must
i will"
There was slight struggle, fol-
lowed by an audible kiss.
GLOW dare your" exclaimed Angus
tus, weakly. But his voice belied his
words, and the offense was repeated
again and again.
This was more than the lord chan
cellor could bear. Rushing forward,
she pulled the curtain on one side and
disclosed her faithless husband in
Miss Tomkinson' arms.
The latter rose instantly to her feet.
And for moment the two women
stood glazing at one another.
Then Augustus threw himself be-
tween them in an agony of apprehen-
sion.
'Spare her!" he cried, going down
on his knees to the lord chancellor.
Il ought to punch your head, you
heartless Don JUAN" gasped Lady
Brighton, shaking her fist in Miss
Tomkinson's face.
The after made no reply. but put
herself in an attitude of defense.
'Oh, uon't fight! please don't fight"
moaned Augustus, and the tears began
to course down his launched cheeks.
''If you do I shall scream for help" he
added to his wife, knowing the lord
chancellor's horror for scandal.
Lady Brighton pointed downstairs
Leave this house. she said, sternly,
'fand if 1 ever catch you in it again I'll
give you a good thrashing."
Miss Tomkinson smiled disdain-
fully. She was more muscular than
her adversary, but discretion being
the better part of valor, ~he went.
Wife and husband were alone. "Au-