Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-09-16

she entered the house E
He only dreams Of the past = she
murmured, half sob in Ter voice.
He will never know"
A few minutes later Wargrave was
Flooding leisurely along the road his
easel under his arm. Looking ahead,
he noticed an open carriage sweep
around the curve, and as it came
nearer he saw there was only one &C.
cupant, lady Catching sight of her
face he gave a start CT surprise and
came u an abrupt halt.
She had seen him, too, and had giEen
al order TO the coachman. The next
moment the carriage had drawn UP in
front Of him, and, with white, face he
was staring at the woman who SO smil-
ingly held oft a hand to him. She was
dressed in the latest fashion.
mot due to fate she saIu, laugning
at his surprise Il saw one of your
pictures in a London shop, inquired
the address, and came down specially
to this remote spot to find you" She
opened the carriage door Il have to
return to London tonight. want you,
for the sake Of old times, to come the
hotel and have tea with me- Will your"
He got in beside her and the carriage
turned. In a few minutes they were
sitting alone in the long dining room of
the hotel He had not tasted the tea
she had handed to him, but was look
ing at her intently, his eyes taking in
all the details of her appearance. She
had removed her hat and coat, and sat
before him. a smiling vision of magnifi-
cence
And what has happened to you,"
she asked quickly.
He gave a little shrug of his Shout
ders.
Nothing; l am where | was dozen
years ago, except that now-I know"
He paused. Then he looked across at
her "And you?"
She. bent a trifle over the table
toward him. -
81 came down to tell you!" she said
in low tone. ''Vansittart has been
dead two years. I am free again, and
a wealthy woman
She was looking straight into his
eyes, and he gave slight start. Ut
tering a soft exclamation, she rose
from her seat and stood by his side.
Eyes, in those old days, Austin, you
loved me!'' she cried quickly. 'sYou
thought me heartless, but that wasn't
quite the right word. / loved you, but
/ knew my temperament. | wasn't
born to be the vile of a struggling
man; poverty would have made me
miserable; we should have been ex-
tremely unhappy | did what you
know-married a rich man. Now
am free, come to you again; it isn't
too late, Austin-we are almost young
still"
He passed a hand over his fore
'eYou would be willing to marry me-
have me live on your money!"
She laid hand gently on his Shout
der.
Money is absolutely of no conse-
quence to me; that part of the arrange
ment would never cross my mind. We
may not love as we did, yet think what
it would mean, Austin! I should
have the husband I would have
realized. Everything that lies at a
rich mans hands, will be yours-you
can leave this narrow life forever"
He did not speak. The suddenness
of the thing had sent his brain in a
whirl
'If not love, an artistic comrade-
ship!" she said softly I'm the days
when we were together you gave up
your last penny to satisfy my within;
now let me show you the beauties of
the world-let us enjoy them together
1t is not good to see you here with all
your ambition killed."
SO she talked and he listened with
the blood throbbing through his veins
Presently she had to go, and he &C
companied her to the station. Then
when the train had vanished from
sight, he turned and walked down to
the seashore. If he consented he was
to go up London tomorrow, they were
to be married and Immediately start
for a long tour through Italy.
He strobe up and down the lonely
sands fighting the thing out. 1t was
all so curious, SO unutterably strange.
He knew that the love he had once felt
for her was dead. stamped out.
He might like her. he could
never love her again. But she did not
ask at-ssheS was prepared to be
satisfied with an artistic conrad
ship she had said so herself
He made up his mind with jerk,
and walked swiftly back to the little
house. He found Joan alone, and a
sudden hesitation seemed to creep over
him. I
JOAN" he said awkwardly, 81 am
going to London tomorrow leave
Fyou!"
She bent over her book.
For good?" she said, in quiet tone.
He gave little nervous laugh.