Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-12-22

coin. who had country seats, a town
mansion, and untold wealth, who
would have made her a duchess. She
would not be Duchess of Lincoln; and
she had no other reason to give than
that she did not love him; and the
one thing she longed for in this life
was love.
Love-" said the duchess. ut will
come with marriage"
MOT the love I want" she replied;
that must come before. want a
romance in my life
TT is the way with those dark-eyeo
girls said the duchess. What a
pity it isl"
Then a great legal celebrity fell in
love with Leah; and OF all the con-
quests she made that was certainly the
most wonderful. He Was a man
whose name was tower of strength,
whose opinion was held in the highest
esteem, and who had never spent one
half-hour in wooing in his life. He
grew desperate about her, and the
wonder was that he did not run away
with her. He could not realize his
disappointment; he could hardly bear
his life when she refused him. The
duchess sighed, but said nothing. II
the Earl of Burberry could not win
her, there was little hope for the legal
lord.
''You will marry some time, Leah,
she said, with the resignation OF
despair.
ct is possible" she replied, smiling;
"but it is more probable that I shall
never marry at ALL
Should you mind telling me why?"
asked the duchess, in tones of mock
resignation.
81 Will take the pain, if there should
will be angry with me. | want some
one 10 be devoted to me, to give me
all his thoughts, his whole life;
want his heart to be one with mine,
mis- soul to be the other half of my
soul. l want perfect love and | want
a perfect lover l have my ideal love,
and no other will do; have my ideal
lover, and | shall wait for him"
my dear Leah, you are all wrong,
cried the duchess; you are, indeed!
Take care that you do not find such
love and such lover costly
II will take tie pain, if there should
De any, with the happiness she said.
"All my life l have thought that the
one thing to he desired is love-"
There is no accounting for taste,
! Leah; but certainly, with such pros
poets as you have, to make love the
, chief aim of your life is, to say the
least of it, a sad pity. This ideal hero
of yours is sure to be both poor ano
unknown.
Leah laughed again. How sweet
that laughter was! The duchess
smiled as she heard it.
81 cannot tell; he may be the very
reverse OF poor or unknown. | do not
know who he is or where he may be.
1t is just possible that l may never
meet him; but he exists somewhere.
You know the old belief, duchess, that
souls were made in halves, and that
real marriage is the union Of those
half souls in one?'
laughing, there is no hope for you!"
mot much" she said, ''for believe
that l am waiting for my ideal; and
he, rely upon it, is seeking me some,
where If We meet, l shall ask no
more in life. He may he poor and I'M
known; if so, it will make no diff
ference to me. He may be great,
noble, and wealthy; it will be mat
ter Of perfect Indifference to me.
Shall l shock you just a little more,
i'duchess?' she added.
Say what you will, my dear; I am
resigned
81 have an idea that the moment |
see him I shall know him. I shall
look into his face, and a revelation
will come to me-
"a very dangerous notion, Leah.
You may fall in love WIN the wrong
man altogether"
How can I, if my theory be true?'
she replied. Il have no doubt it
seems absurd to you; but it is a
serious matter to me- l should not be
surprised if some day l look into a
face and hear voice say: 1 have
been looking for you all these years.
The duchess raised her hands.
And this she said musingly-
this is after five years spent almost
entirely with me, after three. seasons
Of brilliant, uninterrupted success"
Il have enjoyed it," replied Leah;
"but there must be something better.
To be continued.