Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-03-05

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of the lake, and glided up the hill to
wards her house without pauge or a
look behind. 1t was a walk CT quite
two miles, the roads and paths were
deep in mud, and Armathwaite, who
was splashed and despatched to the
knees long before the end, wondered
at the febrile strength which enabled
the fragile woman to accomplish her
mysterious task. She went in by the
back door of the house, which was on
the latch for her and Armathwaite,
having waited in vain for a light to ap-
pear at any of the windows, tramped
rapidly back to Branksome, tormented
by indignation and anxiety, but con-
WINGED that he had made one important
step towards the discovery of the mys-
terry of The Crags.
The next morning, tired out by his
nights patrol, Frank slept late, and
woke oppressed. AS soon as break
fast was over he went to see DR..
Peele, who had not risen, but who
caused himself to be propped up in
bed to listen to the night-adventure
| the younger man had to relate. He
then said, with a grave and troubled
. face, that he would send Armathwaite
to The Crags with a note for Lady
| Kildonan.
''If you will kindly hand me that
writing-case and pencil, / will send
the note down to you" he added.
So Frank took leave of him, and
went down to the dining-rocm, where
he found Mile, who was in the high
| est spirits this morning, rushing to the
window-recess to bend, in a loving
manner, over some treasure which
she had concealed in her work basket
under the canary cage. Armath-
waite was fond enough Of this girl to
| be interested in all her interests, and
they were already on terms of such
brotherly and sisterly intimacy that be
could ask for her confidence without
| indiscretion.
What have you got in there?" he
asked in low voice coming behind
her just as she shut the basket.
"Oh, nothing worthy the honour of
being shown to your highpess" she
answered, saucily, facing him with
her hands on the box behind her.
is it a secret?"
ooh, dear, no-nothing so interest
ing"
Then why may not see what you
have there?"
ut would give you neither pleasure
nor profit"
you misjudge me. l have a mind
which can derive both from the mean
est things"
MY little secret is no mean thing,
assure YOU"
Come, Mile, am dying of curl
osity. Is it something you've had
given your"
YES"
Then it's a book. Nothing else
would interest you so much.
mo, it isn't book.
packet Of flow er-seeds?"
mo"
/ "Well, don't know what else you are
! interested in, unless it's something for
the poor. Is it soup-tickets, or penny
subscription-cards for muffin-fght?
Or, know, It's mustard plasters for
one of your cid vcmen?"
mo, it isn't"
Tell me, then
Its a letter"
"a letter! Oh. and who is it from?"
Really, sir, don't you think you are
rather pIesumptUous?
But you always read your letters
aloud"
"But sha'nt read this one aloud"
said Mile, dem ely.
The downward look with which she
said this took FIarks breath away.
"You donl mean to sey it's love
letter, Miliio!" he said with mingled
reproach, disda I'd and disapp intment.
"An1 why ret? Is ii soIt of thing
that has never come under your notice
before?'
"Oh, l know that silly girls have
them, but / though you had more
sense.
My dear Frank, you can't gauge my
measure Oh SSuS6 NlthNuI SSSitS my
answer"
well. hope you don't mean to say
yes If you &C, you will let yourself
down in my esteem to an extent you
may perhap1 never recover"
Dear me, you max me hesitate
81 must beg you &c do more than
that, Miss Peelo; must beg YOU to re-
! iect this persons advances without
further delay l don't wish to speak
of my feelings, which arc fightfully
lacerated at the mere thought of
rival: but must make one LITTLE stipu-
lation; If you do go away end marry
this ruffian, you must live near enough
to drop over here every morning to
breakfast for / simply went submit to
have my coffee made by Ms. Peele
She gets angry over ii and joggles it
up and makes it thick; besides, she
never gives me enough sugcr. You
don't mind my mentioning this?"
Not at all. What you say is very