Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-10-22
Continued.

heads, as the colonel, with his most
effective smile, came forward.
How are you, Villiars? You look as
bright as a STAR Ha, what thing
youth is! Here we are; the girls all
anxious to be useful"
Lord Villiars got down and shook
hands all around, the eyes of the girls
taking in every detail of his dress, the
shapely coat and the sportsmanlike
hat. He looked "a lord" every inch
of him, they thought.
ITS very kind of you to come" he
said. "Craddock will be here directly
| passed his fly. All, here he is" he
said, as the fly drove up, and the bent
figure Of the old man crawled out and
he hobbled forward, hat in hand. Good
morning, Craddock. Pity to give you
so much trouble"
mo, no, my lord" said Craddock,
wheeling, his small, twinkling eyes
glittering towards the others. Colonel
Oliver, | think. How DO you do,
colonel? How do you do, young
ladies p
Then he stopped, for Lord Villiars
was standing looking about the ter
race with a sweeping glance.
Where is Missile paused sec
ond-"Miss Ormsby?' he said.
Couldn't put in an appearance,
said the colonel, lightly. Knocked
up by the ball. Only a headache.
What a lovely morning isn't it? How
envy you your drive from Redstaple!
Such beautiful horses, too"
only headache" he said, his eyes
fixed on Julia absently, and a faint
. frown making Itself perceptible on his
brow. "The air would have done her
good
80 | told her" said Julia, but she
seemed quite determined not to come.
Joan is a strange girl, Lord Villiars. :
He turned to Craddock modify.
Where are the keys?" he said, list
lessly.
Here, my lord. here" said Mr.
Craddock. shaking them; and he went
and opened the great door.
Lord Villlars stood for moment
outside. pulling his mustache. then
suddenly he turned to the colonel. go
inside with the ladies', Oliver; I'll join
you presently and he strobe off.
Enquire which is the EIms,' he
said CURLY TO one of the grooms.
The man touched his hat and sprang
up, and to the amazement of the party
who were watching through the hall
window, the dog-cart whrled up the
drive and disappeared.
Joan had waited until the others
had set off for the Void before she
left her room and came down.
She was as pale as lily and her
eyes loomed large and dreamily in her
sad face. The lunch was still on the
table, but she passed through the
room, and taking her cloak went into
the garden.
There was a seat at the farther end
from which she could see the sea- and
she was sitting looking at 1t, and
listening TO the distant roar which
mingled with the voice of Lord vim.
lars, when she heard the sound of
wheels, and the next moment the dog
cart stopped at the gate.
With sudden fash of the eyes.
Lord Villiars saw her in her bower.
and leaping to the ground, he opened
the gate and went towards her.
She remained motionless, her head
turned away from him. and his first
words were addressed to the back OF
her head.
Miss Joan, he said, quietly. but
with the masterful tone in his voice
she knew so well, Il have come for
you,"
She looked up, meeting his gaze for
q moment, then looked back to the
sea in silence.
Are you better?" he said, bending
over her.
Il am quite we'll" she said. trying TO
smile carelessly.
Come them" he said. quietly.
She shook her head.
Mo- cannot come" she answered.
No! A promise is a promise. Miss
Joan!-l hold you to yours! have
come for you. and the others are
waiting,'
"oh. why did your" she exclaimed
in a troubled voice.
Why? Because you promised. You
will not break that promise. DO so Ct
your peril, II you do. shall drive
back to Redstaple. and leave the Void
for ever. See now how momentous
is your decision. Miss Joan. and you
will comet"
Then he took her hand and led her
to the dog-cart.
Are you afraid OF the height" ne
said ALLOW me-" and bending. he
took her in his arms and lifted her on
to the step.
The next moment he was driving her
full pelt down to the Wold and all
unconsciously they were a step neare:
the fatal issue,
And Julia and Emmeline watching
at the hall window, saw Joan-the