Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-12-26

You cOuldn go away ike CnaL, you
know. You are doing splendidly with
your art studies, and it wouldn't be
right to-to-go away and leave-such
a future as you have before you"
Why, Mr.. Bletherwyte! How can
you say | have any future to nope for?
You have never seen any of my work
that amounted to anything. Nothing,
at least, so good as what l have done
lately
mo, but 1 have seen you-er-that
is to say-I-"
You pitied and wished to encour-
age me.
ooh, no, didn't mean that at all.
only intended-that is-the idea
wanted to convey wlas-er--'
'You we're simply poking fun at my
girlish ambitions. All! that was not
kind in YOU
Indeed, l didn't think of such a
thing al all. Upon my honor, | didn't.
| couldn't be such a brute. Really, |
felt that your departure would leave
void in my-in the art school,"
NO. not at all. Another student
would take my easel and my absence
merely remarked and then forgot
ten .1he spoke with an information
of sadness, but in her eyes-which
were turned away from his gaze
there was merry twinkle, for she
had an intuitive perception of the real
reason for his verbal founderings
and enjoyed his growing confusion.
"Well-yes- the school maybe,
but here in our home-I-we would
miss you very much from our-ah-
er-family circle
ooh, Mr.. Bletherwyte! How can
you call boarding house a home
and family circle?'"
"You are right. 1t isn't" exploded
the young man, who had become des-
perate, "and should not be, for you.
I recognize that fully. Your goodness,
womanly grace and beauty are jewels
that merit the setting of real home
sheltered by love from all cares;
where the chill demon Loneliness
should ever find the door barred
against him by the radiant fairy Do
mestic Happiness. Such home Il
Happy new year," shrilled at the
door the sharp voice of an old maid,
who was just entering.
Happy new year, Miss Narl," re-
sponded the young folks together, but
Adolphus mentally added: "Execra-
BILE old woman! I'd like to see your
skinny neck wrung. I-good heavens!
[ have her to thank that my new
years resolution isn't knocked to
flinders already"
And Milly thought: MEAN old
thing! Why couldn't she have stayed
away just little longer? I'm sure he
was going to propose"
And so he was. The idea of Milly's
going away startled him into con-
seriousness that he loved her far more
than he had before realized, and in
two seconds he would have asked her
to be his wife-and she would have
said seYes"- had not his guardian
angel, mindful of his resolution, sent
the old maid in the nick Of time to
stop him He tried to think he was
thankful for the escape, but really he
was not. His resolution irked him al
ready. Nevertheless, now that he re-
membered it, he vowed to be firm, and
as soon as possible after breakfast
fed temptation by starting out on his
round Of calls.
Ado1phus was little in the habit of
using intoxicants Even light wines
event to his head and could he nave
done so without seeming singular
would gladly have refrained from ac-
cepting the beverages pressed upon
him by fair entertainers at every
house wher he made a call. But every
body else "took something" and he
followed the fashion, so it is not to be
wondered at that by the time he
bowed before the brilliant and hand
some heiress, Miss Cornelia Craesop,
wishing her the compliments of the
season, he saw her, if not exactly
double, at least with twice her ordi-
nary charm. Her brother Ned had,
before going out that morning, con-
cocted for his sisters table ffendish-
ly mellifuous, seductive and potent
punch, one to be feared even by those
mighty in contention with strong
drink, and she took mischevious de-
light in commencing it to the expert
mental interest of such callers as were
already visibly con the ragged edge
of sobriety Unhappi1y for Adolphus,
he was one of those. Not having yet
outgrown that common delusion of the
young that the sherry Of commerce is
a mild and innocuous drink he had IN
consciously accumulated quite an i'm
posing yet still controllable 'jag"
when he encountered Ned Craesop's
wicked punch. One glass of it-and
Cornelia insisted upon his taking it,
because he must be cold'-played the
mischief with him. He had to close
one eye to see her singly, and reason
rested while speech played out the
game She was amused and sqnilingly
encouraged him to be funny. And he
was When what seemed to him an
Apostle quotation Of a poetical line