Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-10-01

bachelor-and see whether Deercombe
is so charming place as you describe
IT,"
Joan laughed.
"And if you do not find it so, you
will blame me, / suppose?'
81 should never blame you" lie
said gravely. whatever happens. |
have instructed Mr.. Craddock to come
down tomorrow morning and go over
the place with me" He stopped
suddenly, as if ne had been about 70
add something, then he went on: Il
wonder whether the colonel would &C
company me and give me his advice?
But now let me take you back"
When Joan re-entered the room on
his arm, she encountered a volley of
envious glances that If giances could
kill would have laid her dead at his
feet.
But Joan, being innocent, was I'M
conscious, and Lord Villiars, though
neither innocent nor unconscious, was
perfectly Indifferent. At the same
time he saw that he should only be
making trouble for her If he did not
take care, and he led her back 10 her
seat.
81 am going to dance this with some
one else" he said, in low tone; "but
you must give me another waltz be-
fore | go, Miss Joan"
Joan watched him go across the
room and offer his arm to Julia, who,
beaming with smiles, danced the next
waltz with him. Then she saw the
Honorable Fitz-Simon struggling
through the crowd, and to her aston
ishment, she found him standing be-
fore her. ogling her-through his eye
glass, and begging for the honor of the
next dance.
Not only the Honorable Fitz-Simon,
but a nuIi1er of other gentlemen
seemed smitten with desire to have
her for partner, and Joan's program
began TO fill up; there was only one
waltz left, and this she kept in case
Lord Villiars would ask for it.
The evening grew late, or rather the
morning grew early; supper was over,
the hot crowd, slightly refreshed, were
dancing more furiously than ever.
when Joan, who had just gone through
process of humping and jostling in
the arms of young gentleman who
gasped out Il beg your pardon al
most with every bar of the music, saw
Lord Villiars re-enter the room. He
looked around, as if in search of some
one, and then, seeing her, came
straight for her chair.
my waltz" he said and he put
his arm round her waist, and joined
the rest. WELL" he said, in low
voice; "are you satisfied, Miss Joan?"
"Satisfled?" she repeated, question
ingly.
eyes, you ought to be. Have you
not achieved the height of every
woman's ambition? Are you not the
belle of the room"
Joan flushed, then laughed
why do you say such things?" she
said, rebukingly.
at is the plain truth he responde I.
II have been watching the progress of
your triumph, and not | alone-all
the old women on the chairs there, to
say nothing of the young ones, have
remarked your conquest. If you go
and ask the gentlemen there standing
by the door who is the most sought.
after young lady in the room, they
I will tell you Miss Ormsby."
Joan laughed again. Vanity not
being her weak point, she took for
flattery what was simply the plain
, truth. as he had stated.
why do you make fun of me?" she
said, smiling up at him. do you
think that l am so silly as not 70
know jest from earnest? But don't
let us talk-I like to hear the music
while l dance; and this is the last
waltz" And she breathed a faint
sigh.
"The last waltz" he repeated, in a
low voice, with his head bent so that
she could feel his breath stirring her
hair. Miss Joan, will you think 7 am
in jest or in earnest when tell you
That | have spent the happiest, and
the most miserable night this evening
for years!"
She shook her head.
Can one be happy and miserable at
the same timer"
"Ah, you can ask" he murmured,
How little you know of mems hearts !
How little you know your own! But
I must not talk, may II"
mo-" she said. mot yeti" and she
gave herself up to the enchantment
of tho moment.
1t was the last waltz-perhaps the
last she should ever dance with him,
and though she knew 1t not, she
was nearly understanding how one
can be happy and miserable at the
same time.
With half-closed eyes. she resigned
herself to his strong, guiding arm. that
steered her through even the awkward
crew by which they were surrounded.
Half an hour ago Lord villiars had
resolved to depart and see no more
this beautiful creature. whose in.