Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-02-22
CHAPTER TX.

, the sea-breeze swept over the pine
woods and mingled with the perfume
of the flowers; the waves broke and
spread out in great sheets of white
foam-they rose and fell like the
! change in some grand harmony. The
sun shone over the sea until 1t resem-
bled sheet of heaving restless, gilt
tering gold.
On the lawn of the hotel the visitors
were standing or sitting in little
groups-some watching the shining
sea, other, despite the beauty of earth
and sky, deeply engrossed in books,
others in conversation. Miss Digby
was with Lady Station. They were
watching the waves, and Ethel sat
near them-the fairest picture on
which the bright sun shone. The
evening was warm, and she wore
white dress of some shining material,
richly trimmed with gold fringe-a
fantastic dress; but Ethel was an artist
in dress as in everything else. The
dress was fastened round the slender
waist by gold band, and fell in
graceful folds to the pretty feet. The
square-cut bodice gave a glimpse of
beautiful neck, white and well nodded;
red nose nestled close to it. The
luxuriant waves of rich brown hair
were loosely arranged-they were
gathered back from the fair brow, and
fastened with golden arrow; a rose
lay in their sunny depths. No fairer
picture was ever conceived by an artist
or set forth by poet
Ethel was not joining in the CONVEX
sation her eyes fingered on the gold
en-, glittering sea. She was wishing
that she was far away over the rest
less waters-that she was in any other
place, and with any other people.
Those who passed near her wondered
at the listless expression of the beau
tiful young face. Her folded hands lay
still. But for the faint stir in the
leaves of the red rose, as it rose and
fell with each breath, one might fancy
her sleeping.
} Little did she imagine that she was
keenly watched by a pair of dark eyes
that belonged to handsome, debonair
face. That same evening had brought
{ a stranger to the Queens Hotel, who
wrote his name as Laurie Nugent,
Esq, and who seemed to have a we'll
, filed purse, and was on that account
! made very welcome by the manager
and his satellites. Mr.. Nugent had de-
/ clined to enter the larger dining-room,
, where most of the guests were dining,
but he had ordered a recherche little
! repast to be served to him in his own
room. Then he asked to look at the
visitors book; and the manager, with
low bow showed 1t to him.
Shall you have many more guests
this season. do you Think" asked Mr..
Nugent. with careless smile
No. the manager feared not They
had been pretty fortunate in May; in
June they had had very few; July
still fewer; and it was seldom that
any one came in August A satisfied
expression came over the handsome
face.
Il think it very probable" said Mr..
Nugent. that, if like the place,
may remain here for some little time"
The manager was pleased to hear it;
paid great attention to the wines Sc
lected for the strangers dinner, and
told him how pleasantly the evenings
could be spent in the grounds.
Mr., Nugent went thither; he looked
indifferently on the clear waters and
blue sky, but a sudden fire flashed in
his eyes as they fell upon the features
of Ethel Gordon sitting under the
lime-trees
What beautiful grill" he thought
to himself who is she?"
He stood still, and watched her with
charmed eyes He noted the proud
carriage of her rich brown head, the
superb beauty of the girlish face. the
grace and symmetry Of the perfect fig
ure.
who is she?" he repeated. And
what can she be doing here?"
Still watching her intently. he noted
how Indifferent she was TO everything
around her-how motionless she SAT.
her eyes never for one moment leaving
the great expanse of water. He noted
the tired. listiess expression on the ex-
quisite face, the shadow in the beauti-
ful eyes.
"She is not happy" he said to him
self. IF she were-if her ewes were
lighted up and her lips smiled--she
: would be simply Irresistible. What
can make her look so sad? At her age
she ought 10 be all smiles and
I bushes"
Once he saw the two ladies near her
. address her, She raised her eyes. hut
no light came into them, and when she
E replied to the question asked, they
= turned again toward the lake.
Those are her friends. and she does
not like them-she is not happy with
them, was his second comment.
Then he watched her again, until the
evening began to close around them
and the three ladies went in.
Il shall never rest until know who
she is and all about her" he said to
himself, II hardly like to own such d