Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-10-28

! tea in the quaint old hall. At one
end was small crowd, gathered round
Mrs. divers table. Celia and myself
! having finished, had taken ourselves
/ to charmingly secluded little alcove
Celia, by the way, was the only daugh-
ter, a pretty girl of 22, and heiress to
quite vast sums.
| put my finger suddenly to my lips
with warning gesture, and pointed to
a little window that looked out on a
gravel path. 1t was open, and the
sound of voices foated in.
Eyes, Hugo Hessinford's- here, and
that's something to be thankful fort"
one was saying. recognized the tones
as those of Jack Peploe, and he was
evidently talking to a new arrival
He's good shot, a good sort, and
jolly good company. Not a beastly
marrying man, you know"
The voice died away, and l turned
to Celia.
And they say one man cannot ac-
curately judge another" 1 remarked.
Surely after this striking instance
Mr. Peploe must have an abnormally
large mind" she said, with a laugh
Il wonder, though, how you got that
reputation of not being a marrying
man-why haven't you married?"
my dear Celia" began-I knew
them all so well that l allowed them
to call me by my Christian name and
exercised the same privilege myself
you know well what my income is
$4,000 per. annum-just sufficient to
pay for small apartment and to get
into debt! And you talk of marry
ing!"
She was toying with the edge of a
cushion.
STILL" she suggested, refiectively, it
would be sufficient to pay the honey
moon expenses"
.'What-marry for money!" l ex-
claimed with shudder. Fancy hav-
ing to say two graces for everything
one to heaven and another to your
wife-fancy having to take your tai
lor's bills to her!"
you mean you are too proud ?" she
said slowly
We'll, I'd rather save myself an I'M
comfortable feeling-that's all To be
comfortable is everything
eyes, but if you loved her and she
loved you?" she persisted.
l glanced at her keenly; she was
still playing with the fringe of the
cushion
Il decline to enter into such wild
dreams of fancy" said firmly. LET
us turn to real facts instead-discuss
an actual marrying man of our ac-
quaintance-and, incidentally, your
approaching happiness"
She sat bolt upright; there was a
little flush on her face.
Nov, don't pretend you know moth
ing about it," I went on quickly.
Everyone else does, and I more than
anybody, for the unhappy youth has
cOnfided in me. Yes, tomorrow or the
next day, according to the state of his
nerves, he means to propose, and you
will have the chance of becoming Mrs
Hilstock. It's not to be sneezed at,
you know"
What nosense you talk, Hugo!" she
said a trif1e shortly.
Il debut it's quite frequently the
truth o, you're lucky! A decent chap
all round. But there-as if you cared
a snap for my opinion, when you're
in love with him. Now come, confess,
you love him."
1 was watching her closely. She
turned her head and her eyes met
mine.
What do you want me to say?" she
said with nervous little laugh.
We'll, as you will marry him, I
should prefer to hear that you do
being such an old friend"
She rose to her feet; there was a
dangerous CLEAN ii her eyes.
Eyes, I do love him!" she said
emphatically, and the next moment