Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-08-31

lESs al AASANs oAN NS"As NSaAs dAAN
| won't be such a fool"
you must not leave me-"
II won't. I'll stop and fight it out
like a man. And as for James Poyn-
ter, wish l hadn't let him Pay those
rates"
"What?"
81 didn't like to tell you, but let
out to him about the gas and water
and the rest of it, and next day he
gave me all the receipts. 1t was one
night after I'd dined with him at his
club, and / was bit primed. thought
it was very noble OF him then, but
when | saw it all l did nothing but
curse and swear. 1t was nearly the
death of a patient at Guys, for for
got what l was about. Hang it, Rich,
dear! don't look so white as that"
Il was wondering why we had not
been troubled more" she stammered;
and then, with her face flushing, she
turned fiercely upon her brother.
"Hendon," she cried, do you know
what this means?"
There was utter silence, and Hendon
Charley turned his face away.
4 say, do you know what this
means? Hendon, speak?"
Yes"
Ii was slowly and unwillingly said
And you have encouraged this man
Ito make advances to the woman your
best frlend-almost your brother
Iloved?"
"Oh, Rich!"
Speak"
mo. no. | never encouraged him.
| fought against it, and it has made me
half mad when the great vulgar boor
has sat talking about you, and drink
ing your health and praising you. Rich
| tell you I've felt sometimes as if l
could smash the champagne bottle
over his thick skull for even daring to
think about you"
"And yet you have let him do all
this" cried Richmond, with her eyes
flashing. Hendon-brother, for the
sake of this mans money and the COM
forts it would bring, do you wish to see
me his wife?"
'D-n il. no. I'd sooner see you
dead!" cried the young man passion
ately. Say the word, old girl, and
I'm fight for you as a brother should.
i'm half starve myself but what I'll get
on, and pay that thick-slSinned City
elephant every penny I've had
"And some day Janet shall put her
arms round your neck, and tell you
that you are the best and truest boy
that ever lived"
"Ah! some day." said Hendon sadly.
eyes, some day." cried Rich, clasp
ing him in her arms. "Hendon dear,
you've made me srong where l felt
very, very weak, and now we can join
hands and fight the enemy to the very
last"
when old Mark shall come back"
"Hush."
mo, I'll not hush! When dear old
Mark Shall come back, and all these
troubles be like a dream"
Richmond looked up with a sad
smile in her brothers face, and kissed
him once again.
And Janet" he said hoarsely
after he had returned her caress.
rs acting as a true woman should.
Take her as a pattern, dear, and show
some self-denial."
why not take you, Rich?" he said
kindly, as he gazed in the sweet care
worn face before him. There, | won't
ask you to have the money. I'm on; If
stop here longer shall be acting like
girl AS for Poynter, If he comes
and posters you"
MIR. Poynter will not come" said
Richmond, drawing herself up proud
lily. He has acted like a coward to us
both"
Zone moment, Rich, said HendOn
eagerly: do you think-the COVER
nor"
HAS taken money from him? No"
Thank Cod"
my father, whatever his weakness,
is true gentleman at heart. He
would not do this thing"
Hendon advanced a step to take hts
sister in his arms, but in his eyes
then she wore so much the aspect of
an indignant queen that he raised her
/ thin white hand to his lips instead,
and hurried from the house.