Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-09-08

She went up to him-he was stand
ing leaning against the open@ glass
! door-and it strudk her with sudden
pain how lonely he looked amidst all
this happiness of their home coming.
There was something of sad depres-
sion in his face, something of sorrow
and pain in his eyes.
He looked up as he entered, SO
evidently in search of him, with sud-
den CLEAN of light and hope on his
face. Was it going to be realized,
this dream of his? Had she come to
say,
81 love you husband love you at
last?"
She was coming to him, with a smile
on her face sweeter than any he had
ever seen there before.
Herman" she said, 81 come to
thank you. You are very good
very generous. thank you with my
whole heart and soul for all your
kindness; you have made us very
i He had advanced eagerly to meet
her, his heart on his lips, his soul in
his eyes, his hands outstretched; but,
when he heard what she had to say,
| hope died within him, his eager hands
! fell.
81 am glad that you are pleased"
he said, quietly "and that you approve
of what l have DONE"
She looked up at him in wonder;
his voice was full of pain of disap-
pointment, and the look on his face
was pitiful to see What had he ex-
pected? What did he think she had
come to say? She drew back with
crimson flush, and then tried to laugh
her unspoken questions away.
81 have run away from papa to find
and thank you. You have guessed
exactly what would please me. You
understand that I am very grateful to
your"
81 understand, Lady lar f1e," he
said, gravely; and then silence fell
over them.
81 will go back tt papa" she said,
presently. Twill you come with me-?
He is so pleased to show me all the
me- ~velous changes
81 think you will enjoy yourself
better in my absence" he replied.
eve dine at eight" said Lady
Ianthe, as he slowly walked away.
He had kept to the very letter of
the agreement; he had not whispered
/ one affectionate word. She would
have been very angry had he done So.
But. she did wish that he had not look
ed so lonely-that he had not spoken
with such pain in his voice; for, after
all, they owed so much to him-he
! was so good and so kind.
They met again at dinner. Lady
Ianthe had much to tell the earl of
the people she had met, the places
she had seen. the pleasures, gayeties,
and amusements of the trip. She was
all brightness and animation. After
dinner her husband said to her:
'I have been delighted to listen to
your conversation. am so pleased
that you enjoyed the tour"
"Did you not know it?" she asked.
mo" he replied. "You forget that
you never told me whether you were
enjoying yourself or not-in fact,
; do not know that you ever spoke to
me Of yourself"
'Then l will make amends now, y
, she said, with smile. "I did enjoy
my tour very much indeed"
cit was not spoilt by the fact of my
being with your" he interrogated.
mo, it was not" she replied.
GIN fact, that was matter of indif
, ference-a circumstance hardly worth
, thought"
eff you will press for the truth" she
said proudly, cit was a matter of in
, difference; yet I thank you for al
your kind attention. But we need
not handy words with each other on
, this first night of our return. II
all business arrangements went on as
, satisfactorily as ours, it would be q
happier world"
He drew step nearer to her and
{ looked into her face,
| 'Ianthe," he said, sadly, "yOu like tC
: humiliate me- You like to call ou1
/ marriage a business arrangement. In
3 all matters of business the benefit is
> supposed to be equal. Will you think
2 for one minute, and then tell me what
I have gained?"
The words struck her. He had given
them his fortune, his name, his serv
ice. What had he gained?
r "You made the compact of your
S own free will" she said.
/ 'I grant it, but it is hardly fair tt
e speak of it as business, Lady 1anthe.
|, Then" she said, soothingly, ''i
d the expression does not please you, i
: it hurts you, promise never to us'
t it again"
t It was the first little concession
/ that she had made him and he was de
e lighted. He forgot her pride, he
hauteur, the hard words that hat
y preceded it. He remembered chi,
that for the first time she had con
e siderably given in to his WISH and hi
e delight knew no bounds
S "She will be mine yeti" he thought
| 81