Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-06-09

seen Gladys" he said, over and oyo
again.
He fingered about the Hall 20
some time, in the hope of meeting
her; but no Gladys came.
CHAPTER Nv.
The drawing-room at Culdale Hal
was well filled with brilliant party
when Captain Wynyard entered. liz
looked round at once for Gladys, 1n1
not seeing her there, he went over r.
his hostess and asked impatiently
where she was.
Miss Rane?" repeated Lady Cul
dale. "She is with the rest of he
party, 1 should imagine l have not
seen her since luncheon"
81 was told that she was with you
this afternoon" said Captain Wynn
yard.
"Only for a minute" replied Lazy
Culdale. "She told me she wished 10
go to Culdale for some wool or colors
i forget which I asked her to take
the carriage; but she said she pre-
ferred to walk I have not seen her
since"
"She is not here?" said the captain.
Lady Culdale smiled at his undis-
guised impotence.
"My dear captain, how impatient
you are!" she remarked.
81 am he confessed, in grave
tones. l want to see her particularly. -
"She has probably come home late, -
said Lady Culdale, "and will therefore
be late in coming down."
The captain did not like to pursut:
the matter further; but he would
have given much if he could have
asked Lady Culdale to send to Miss
Rane's room, in order to ascertain #
she were really there. He was long
ing to see her, for he believed chat
her presence would Danish the fea
full vision that haunted him per
sistently. His hands trembled, and
he had strange sensation of faint.
ness 81 shall be all right the
moment by eyes rest on her face he
told himself. But the last bell had
! ruEg, and still she had not come.
Lady Culdale, taking compassion O..
him, quietly left the room and sent
for Fanchette. To her establishment,
she found the girl in state of great
alarm and distress.
'My mistress has not returned, your
ladyship," she said.
After a few questions, Lady Culdale
herself grew ANXIOUS.
81 wish I had made her take the
carriage, Fanchette," her ladyship re
marked. ''Do you think it is possijs,
that she has lost her way?"
Fanchette's face frightened at the
idea.
81 think it very likely, your lady,
ship" she answered.
"Send two of the men to Culdale to
inquire" said her ladyship. "Do OF
spread an alarm, Fanchette. 1 VIII
say that Miss Rane will not join Us
at dinner. But" she added to aer.
self, IT must tell the captain the truth
He will not be satisfied with an ex,
cuse"
The captain looked much distressed
and concerned when Lady Culdale
called him aside and told him that
her young friends had not returned.
"Do not speak of it until after
dinner" she added. "It would only
create unnecessary alarm, for I have
no doubt she is all right. l nave
sent two of the men-servants to Cal
dale"
with your permission" said the
captain, Il will go myself as soon us
|, dinner is over"
"By all MEANS" agreed Lady Cul-
dale, eff she has not returned by then;
but. do not tell any one. Miss Rane
would be much annoyed at the idea If
/, any commotion or alarm, even sup
/ posing that sac had lost her way
! ct will be careful" said the captain
Lady Culdale, on Joining the com.
pany, announced that she was sorry
Miss Rane would not join them at
dinner.
THE captain took down another lady
to whom he hardly spoke, his gay
humor and courteous manner having
apparently completely deserted MIN
| He was in no mood for conversation
for the remembrance of the hand
emerging from the water haunted
him. Nothing but wine perhaps
could make him forget it. The lady
whom he had taken down to dinner
| was astonished that the world should
call Captain VINEYARD a genial NAH
for he seemed completely to forget
her existence.
The captain longed for the dinner
| to be ended that he might be al
| liberty to seek for Gladys. Nothinx
worse could have happened to ne,
than that, from not knowing the
neighborhood we'll, she had missed
her way. But then the road from
the park to Culdale was straight as
; an arrow.
When dinner was over and the
j ladies had left the room, the captain
excused himself to LIS friends an