Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-09-18
CHAPTER xXxVIII.
Lance's Determination


"You have not much to say to me to-
night, Lance" said Lady Marion, in a
tone of gentle expostulation. 81 won
der if that beautiful singer was really
looking at you. 1t seemed to me that
che moment her eyes caught yours she
faltered and almost failed"
Lord Chandos reused himself.
"Give me woman's fancy he said;
ut is boundless as the deep sea.
It think beautiful singer is like a
siren" continued Lady Chandos, "she
wins all hearts"
He laughed again, a tired, Indifferent,
reckless laugh.
81 thought we had agreed that you
had won mine, Marion, y he said, 'and if
that be true, it cannot be won again. =
She was silent for a few minutes,
then she continued
Which do you really admire most,
Lance, blonde or brunette. Tell me?
GA strange question to ask man
who was fortunate enough to win the
queen of blondes for his wife" he re-
piled.
He would have paid her0any compl1-
ment-said anything to please her-if
she would only have given him time to
think
They were driving home together,
but he felt it was impossible to remain
under any roof until he had learned
whether Leone and La Vanira were the
same. If his dear, good, amiable wife
would but give him time to think.
He could hear the sound of the mill
wheel, he could hear the ripple of the
waters, the words of the song:
SIN sheltered vale a mill-wheel
Still sings its busy lay.
My darling once did dwell there,
But now she's gone away"
The stars were shining as they shone
when he sat 10y the mill-stream, with
that beautiful head on his heart. He
shuddered as he remembered her fore
Dodings. Lady Chandos took his
band anxiously in hers.
|'My dearest Lance, I am quite sure
you are not we'll, I saw you shudder as
though you were cold, and yet your
you say about going to your club?
Nothing of the kind, my darling. You
must have some white wine whey; you
have taken cold. No, pray do not
laugh, Lance; prevention is better than
cure"
She had exactly her own way, as
chose very quiet, arniable wives gener-
ally have He did not go to his club.
But he sat by his dressing-room fire,
and drank white wine whey. He had
the satisfaction of hearing his wife say
that he was the best husband in the
world; then he fell asleep, to dream Of
the mill-stream and the song.
It grew upon him-he must know if
that was Leone. OF course, he said to
himself, he did not wish to renew his
acquaintance with her-he would never
dare, after his cruel treatment of her,
even to address one word to her; but
BE should be quite content if he could
know whether this was Lene or not,
II he could know that he would be
happy, his sorrow and remorse would
be lessened.
He knew that the best place for hear
ing such details was his club-the Roy
ri Junior. He would take luncheon
there and by patient listening would
be sure to know He went, although
Lady Chandos said plaintively that she
could not eat her luncheon alone.
81 am compelled to CO." he said. 81
have business, Marion, that is impera-
tive"
'I think husbands have a reserve
fund of business" said Lady Chandos.
''What a mysterious world it is, and
how much it covers, Lance. Lord Sea-