Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-02-06

| but together you know"
Cali my people"
Reginald astonished her by the
bluntness of his retort.
"You oughtn't to speak like that of
them," she said, reproachfully.
mo, | oughtn't, he admitted. "But
what 1 say doesn't matter. The word
is with you."
Glow often have T said it?" she
cried.
''But this time there seems a kind
Of fnality about it" he said, ruefully.
And as he spoke a hanson drove up
to the door,
''That is Lord Roper" she ex-
claimed, darting to the window.
Gam I to go?" he asked.
ooh, please"
"Good-by, JOAN he said, and took
his hat again.
''You will meet him on the stairs"
she cried, as Reginald stepped toward
the door,
81 will stay if you like he offered,
coming to standstill.
81 don't think"
ooh, very WE'LL" he said, turning
away.
Perhaps you had BETTER" she ex-
claimed coming toward him. 'And,
Reggie!"
eyes," he said, meeting her half
way.
eff you care for the primrose"
II do he returned.
"ShalI T.
She drew quite close, and, standing
on tipped toes (she was a small per-
SOM, deity placed the bunch in the
button-hole of Reginald's frock coat.
Suddenly Joan sprang away, and the
door opened.
Lord Roper entered with the air of
a successful wooer, but, seeing Regi-
nald, he appeared ludiciously as
tonfshed He stroked his dyed mus
tache with one hand, while he held
his hat in the other. Joan's face grew
red as a poeny and Reginald looked
down at the bunch of primroses in his
| buttonhole. His attitude seemed to
arrest Lord Roper's attention; then
he darted sharp glance about the
room.
"Those are the first primroses I
have seen this year," he said.
"Harbingers of spring." remarked
Joan, with smile.
"You attach a great significance to
them, then, Miss Joan,' continued
Roper, coolly.
ooh, yes, I am not like Peter Bell"
she answered.
II am afraid I can't stay to see
your people, after ALL" said Lord
Roper. 81 am like the Irishman," he
continued, with a smile, II am here
only to say I couldn't come"
II am sorry, Lord Roper"
ooh, we'll, it is the fortune of war;"
he said, "and the spoils go to the
victor"
''But the battle may be drawn" she
cried, with rather apprehensive
glance at Reginald, "and," she added,
there may not be any serious casual
ties.'
With that she offered her hand, and
he pressed it slightly. Then he nod
ded to Reginald and went away.
''He bears it WE'LL" said Reginald,
as the door closed.
Bears what?" Joan asked, with a
sigh.
'Why, his defeat" answered Reg
gle, Though I don't see how he
knew"
Il suppose it was the pfimroses," she
said, demurely
did he"
"Ie brought them from Ropen park
this morning." she said; and Joan
sighed again.
Roper is not bad sort of fellow"
he remarked.
ooh, I respect him immensely"
cried Joan.
"And you respect his dictum," Regi-
maid suggested.
what do you mean?'' she asked
quickly.
"The spoils to the victor, you
know" said Reggie and he took her
hands.
"Are they worth having?" she
whispered.
Darling
"And yet"
"Yes?" he said, as she stopped.
TT hesitated, Reggie, dear" she
murmured, dropping her eyelids
Still, you were not lost" he muir
INJURED, drawing her closer.
ct was rather near thing" she
said. eff you had not come"
''WeII?'
~ might have been tempted"
Never mind that might have been,
JOAN" he urged.