Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-09-24
Continued.

Continued.
The moonlight fell full upon her face
and lit up every line OF it. In that
moment there flashed upon Lord VIII
lars the consciousness that he had
never seen a more beautiful girl; in
the next, that this girl with the face
of an Aphrodite must be one far and
away beyond the common run of wom-
en-, to be sitting there so calmly and
quietly, so self-possessed, so confident
in her innocent and maidenly dignity.
The thought gave him pause" and
he found himself dwelling upon her
face in deep study, until, warned by
2 sudden upward glance of the lovely
gray eyes, he reused himself and said:
See how much you have spared
yourself and me by the accident which
compelled you to hear part OF my
story. Miss beg your pardon, | do
not know your name"
my name is joan she muir
INJURED. with a calm innocence, which
smote him so that he stopped her.
stop" he said quickly; Il have
no right to ask you that question!
You shall not tell mel You may wish
when you come to consider the cir
cumstances, that we should remain
strangers until we are properly intro
duced. You shall not tell me your
name!"
"As you please, my lord!"
He glanced down at her thought
fully.
you have heard me tell Mr.. Grad
dock how came to own this" and he
waved mis- hand toward the Void. land
that | am now a rich man. Most per.
sons, like Mr.. Craddock, would
imagine that | should be only too
anxious TO enter into possession and
enjoyment OF the good things which
fortune. in the shape OF the late earl
Of Arrowhead, had given me. But
possession and enjoyment. Miss Joan
Il may call you so, may not?"
Joan nodded, without taking her
eyes from the distant sea.
Thanks. Possession and enjoy.
ment do not always go together.
have been a very poor man, for one in
He stopped, as if he had suddenly re-
membered that he was speaking to a
young girl-"a life of change and
movement. | have always been a
wanderer. and | know If tried to
settle down here, that before a month
had passed the wandering fit would
come upon me, and | should have 70
take up my STAFF and plod the weary
road again, in search of that forget
fulness which, like the Jew, should
seek In vain"
There was silence for a moment,
then he went on:
"If | am right In my conjecture, why
disturb the place?-why produce the
fuss and hustle to no good purpose?
On the other hand, one owes q duty 10
ones position-you were going to tell
me, Miss Joan?" Joan looked up with
slight start. And one should con
slider the happiness of others before
ones own. The people here-they
are my people now, suppose-tell me
what are they like? You live here.
you know them?"
Yes said Joan, softly She felt
bewildered. like a person In mes
merle trance. Yes, live here, I
knew them all They would be glad
II you stayed-I Think do not
know" she said, putting her hand to
her brow. "Why should you not be
happy here?"
"Ah!" he said. with n strange smile.
1T is easy for You to ask! You have
friends, father and mother whom
you love-"
Joan's face paled.
Il have no father nor mother" she
said, without looking at him, land few
friends, save these fisher people"
He looked down at her with
warmer light in his eyes.
Forgive met ought not to have
said that! You, too are alone in the
world, Miss Joan?"
Joan forced n smile.
Every nearly, my lord" she said.
He watched her thoughtfully.
And you are happy?"
Joan was silent for moment.
itSt oAAi hafAn SUE Sdlu. VT
nearly so" she added. with a faint
laugh. why should | not be- But
we are speaking Of myself now and
that is wasting time You have not
decided yet"
He started; the speech conveyed to
his mind in an instant her intense
loneliness and unselhshess.
Eyes, yes" he said. quickly. Il beg
your pardon. No, | have not decided
You shall decide for me. please, Il
you say stay. | viii stay If you say
go, | will SO, once and for all"
Joan began unfastening the ulster
with trembling fingers.
'You are TESTING" she began.
mo. am quite serious" he said.
''If you had not happened to have been
here, should have arrived at the de-
cision by the spinning Of coin--in
common language, | should have
tossed up for il. Yo@ snail decide in
a more poetic fashion"
Il" began Joan, and then she