Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-06-26
A Sacrifice on the Altar of Love.

q The young man stood with his bach
to the fire and his hands thrust int
his trouser pockets.
. Mrs. Langley sat on the lounge, sob
I bling Historically. Her husband, Col
! Langley, strobe up and down the room
; angrily displacing various chairs anf
tables, while the boys cousin-for he
was not much more than boy in
| years, tried to pacify the trio.
Cali right, sir; go your own way; &C
your own way and be-"
The last word was lost as the door
slammed behind the irate colonel.
ooh, Ted! How can you be so fool
ish?" said Mrs. Langley, brokenly.
How can you dream of marrying a
vulgar, uneducated dancer?"
Mother" replied the boy, sternly, Il
love Madge Baptiste, and whether she
| be dancer or duchess, a millionair-
ess or a retired shop keepers daugh-
j, ter, it can matter to no one but myself
if I really love her."
The mother recommended her hyster-
|
young girl about his own age, went to
him and rested her hand on his shout
der.
Teddy, say no more now, but come
with me. Let us think the matter
over calmly"
The next evening Gwendoline stole
quietly from the house and drove to
M -
danced nightly.
It was dusk when she arrived. She
sent up her card, telling the commits
sionaire that her business was urgent.
He returned with the information that
Miss Baptiste would see Miss Harper
for a few minutes. Then she found
herself in a small and dainty dressing
room. Clouds of soft, silken petit
coats lay her and there. A large jar
of flowers stood on the mantelpiece.
and the dressing table was covered
with silver powder boxes, scent bottles
land makeup" utensils. Photographs
of actors, painters and poets stood in
every available corner; old programs
in wooden frames and one or two etch-
ings hung on the walls.
Before a large mirror stood Miss
Madge Baptiste arranging her hair.
"Ah, come in, Miss-Harper. Ex-
cuse the untidy state of the room.
| think you'll find chair. Let me see
I don't think have met you before
perhaps you are journalist, Or
mo, I haven't ever met you before,
stammered Gwendoline; ST came
camel think you know my cousin
Mr.. Langley" She felt her face grow
ing red. She did not know why she
2 blushed, but this vivacious beautiful
) girl frightened her. She had expected
) to find such a different woman-a vul-
gar, ill-bred woman.
"Mr. Langley? Teddy! Oh, yes,
know him well. SO you are his cousin?
Pleased to meet you-he is not i'll, I
hope?"
mo, he is not ILL.,.
ooh, that's all right. Ted and I are
fond of each other, you know; in fact,
we think of getting married soon-at
least, he thinks of it. I didn't know
he had cousin. such a pretty cousin,
tool" with a laugh; "he kept that a
secret
Il really came to speak about it
about this marriage" said Gwendoline,
nervously. "You know his people
"Oh! Madge Baptiste turned sharp
ly from regarding herself in the mirror
ooh, understand They have heard
perhaps he told them; he said he
should. They object-ah? And you?"
She drew chair opposite the girl and
rested her arms on her knees with her
face between her hands.
IT am only his cousin-we have been
chums always. I said | would see you
and tell you that his father and moth
err are angry; that he was merely boy
and"
Eyes, yes-I know-don't go on. "
She looked Gwendoline up and down.
She saw her youth; she guessed the
real reason of her visit.
'Ted is boy in years, know, but
he is a man for all that. He is % and
I am 23 Besides, am only dancer,
and he is COL Langley's son. Please
understand [ have-no-wish to-mar-
ry him-if his parents object. I will
tell him he must go away and not see
me again. I shall miss him at first,
expect. A dancers life is lonely
one, you know. She has so few
friends, and unless she-Ah, there is
the call boy. Well, good-by-and if
I don't see-Teddy- again, say good-by
to him for me-"
But Miss Harper had risen, and was
holding Madge Baptiste's hands in
hers, while two tears ran down ner
cheeks.
ooh, don't, please! How cruel you
must think me! I didn't mean to-
really didn't But his mother was SO
unhappy, and I thought you we're "a
I mean, didn't dream you really cared
for him. He shall marry you!