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

door of the boudoir on her way down
stairs and looked IN.
A young man was seated, pen IN
hand, at uainty little escritoire. On
the blotting-pad in front of him lay a
blank sheet Of fancy note paper. An
addressed envelope, ornamented with
fowery design, was propped UP
against the gilt handle of one of the
three little drawers in the interior OF
the desk He was not writing, but
was resting his forehead on his hand,
upon the third finger of which spar
killed. a couple of diamond rings above
a plain gold band.
Augustus, called out the lord chan
cellor, in somewhat peremptory tones.
The young man looked up, and a
slight blush momentarily tinged his
cheek. He was decidedly pretty. His
hair, which had been allowed to grow
some way below his collar, waved
about his neck in natural ringlets, and
it's golden hue formed a charming set
ting to the fair oval face. A silken
mustache curled coquettishly on his
upper lip, giving an added archness
to the mischievous expression of the
light blue eyes.
Augustus, what are you doing?"
repeated the lord chancellor, sternly
The tell-tale blush had not escaped
her vigilant eye.
I'm only sending out the invita-
tions for the reception" stammered
the young man, concealing his counte-
nance from further scrutiny by affect
ing to pick up something he had drop
ped.
Lady Brighton crossed over to
where her husband was sitting and
pointed to the scented missive.
ITO whom are you writing?" she
asked coldly.
ooh, only Miss Tomkinson, he ans
wered glibly, recovering his compos-
ure. "I met her at Lord Haughton's
the other day, you know, and gave her
permission to call on Sunday. She is
a nice, well-behaved girl, and
thought I'd send her card for the re-
ception, as we shall want all the
young women we can get to take the
men down to supper, and make them
selves useful, don't you know"
What is Miss Tomkinson, pray"
inquired the lord chancellor, vino had
listened to her husbands hurried ex-
PLANTATION with supercillious smile,
Augustus looked perplexed.
"She's something in the city, I be-
lieve," he replied vaugely. 'She in
stlres ships, or does bill broking or
whatever it's called at Lloyd's or some
such place."
'I know" nodded his wife sagely.
"But why write to herr" she added
suspiciously. Surely card sent in
the ordinary way would do?"
"I thought it more civil, you see.
Some people are so touchy-
Oh, by the way he broke eff sud-
denly, as if DESTROYS of turning the
conversation, 'Ithave been obliged to
dismiss James"
Dismiss James?" repeated the lord
chancellor, in a tone of yeXat1on.
''Why, what has he been doing?"
''Well, you see, I caught Mary kiss
ing him in the corridor. told him it
was very immodest of him to let her
do it; and then he grew very imperti-
nent, so I was obliged to give him his
congo. II he had cried and said he was
sorry, 1 might have forgiven him.
The lord chancellor looked pleased.
''Pm glad you acted as you have
done, Augustus" she remarked. "You
had better speak to Mary, and tell
her that if she kisses any of the men
servants again we shall be obliged to
send her away"
A sound of wheels was followed by
a ring at the front door.
There's the carriage. I must be off
to the house." exclaimed Lady Brigh-
ton, patting her husbands curly head.
"Good-by, dear, 1 suppose you will be
busy shopping this afternoons"
Eyes, Gibson is bothering me to get
a petticoat-trouser, and I'm going to
Merime's in Oxford street, to be tried
on. Shall you be home to dinner?"
''Not tonight, dear. promised
Lady Salter l would dine at the Carle-
ton and go to the Empire"
Won't you take me with your"
pleaded the young man, looking up
luJO u6I Lace Will a DOoOCChlA5 "a
preston.
"No, not there" said the lord chan
celIor firmly; at least, not at present.
Perhaps when you're older"
And, kissing him lightly on the fore
head, she left the room.
The whole of the fashionable and
official world attended the reception at
the lord chancellor's residence. Au-
gustus, looking very charming in his
new petticoat-trouser, stood at the
top of the staircase to receive the
guests. The women unanimously en-
We'd their hostess good fortune in
having so graceful a man at the head
of her household.
While Lady Brighton talked politics
with two of her colleagues in the min
istry Augustus was surrounded by a
perfect little court at the opposite end
of the room His sDrightlv reDarfeeS