Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-01-26

she resumed her writing.
The presence of the waiter during
dinner prevented much private con-
versation, and it was only when ne
had removed the table and they had
established themselves by the wood
| fire which was throwing out cherry
glow, that both felt that the best part
of the whole day had come.
Nigel smoked in silence for few
seconds and the girl watched him.
"Stella," he said at last, there is
some..lng l want to tell you, but
have a horrible presenument that our
evenings of bliss are going to be put
! an end to, and | hate to spoil one Oh
them"
well, please do not attempt 1t,
she answered. Suppose l tell you IN
stead when I first began to love you.
That is much more important than
YOUR information which makes you
| look so solemn. She left her seat
and slipped down on the hearth rug,
where she sat with one arm resting
on his chair, gazing straight before
her into the fire. "It was that night
YOU brought me home from the
Savoy" she began, dreamily. You
remember when you said good night
YOU kissed me? Well, before that L
had not been absolutely sure OF my
self, but then | knew that l cared toI
you and you only, and since then
every ming has been like a gloriously
happy dream"
my dearest" Nigel broke in pas
sionately, st am not worth it, ana
when l told you"
"Hush," she said, putting three. soft
fingers on his lips, "you must not
interrupt. I want to tell you that
loving you has shown me what
fiend l have been to other men, but,
Nigel, ever since l have known you
| have never liked my old heartlesS
sort of life and l have hated myself
| because l ever did. Somehow, when
one is alone in the world and has
/ never learned what love really means,
nothing seems to matter Now 1t is
all so different"
II never knew what joys and Won
ders this queer old world held until
i | met you, little girl said the man
tenderly. ''You are so different to
| every one else and so wonderfully
full Of sympathy. How ghastly life
would be without you. Did you ever
think it odd of me never to have
asked you to fix a date for our mar
riage until just lately?"
"Of course not" she answered. 81
trust you and we have been so happy
all the time. Now you must not be
! angry, but I was talking to you about
| my old life. That letter | was an
swering was from a man l used to
| know. He is a theatrical manager
now and has offered me leading parts
| in everything he produces for the
next three years, but l would have to
marry him to get them"
''Of course, it is that brute, Skip
toni" exclaimed Nigel, furiously.
''What did you say?'
20, need you ask?" answered
Stella. a little YEARLY. THAT it was
impossible; 7 know you do not like
my sticking to my profession, hut l
have always spent every penny /
earned and I must have something to
! live on, so I am bound to work"
81 wish I we're rich, little woman, .
said the man, earnestly; ''but [ am
not and 1 am not good enough for
you She regarded him steaully.
He was good looking and fair, with
blue eyes and a pleasant honest
smile; and as she looked Stella
thought herself a lucky woman to
possess his love. She smiled con-
tentedly, rose from her lowly posi-
ton and. putting her head close to
his, whispered, Il like you as you are,
dear; we could not help being happy
together whatever outside circum-
stances may do"
Thank you,' he said; you are
good to me; but, dearest, you look
tired: I shall go now. Good night
May l come tomorrow
yes, please, at II o'clock" she an
swered Il am tired tonight" and so
he went.
He, walked through the same
streets in which they had been before
! dinner, thinking all the while of the
woman he had left and wishing he
had possessed sufficient courage to
tell her that until a few weeks ago he
had not been free. she would hate
me for having made love to her while
my wife was still alive. he told him
self mournfully; Il cannot tell her
that at the beginning Of our friend
ship if all meant nothing to me; she