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

would never understand that though
| f1irted with her at first [ love her so
dearly now that every moment spent
away from her is torture to me-
Stella meanwhile was still sitting
by the fire, too tired to make the
necessary effort to go to bed. She
seemed lost in a pleasant reverie, for
there was a happy little smile play
ing round her mouth and the beaut1-
full face looked absolutely free from
care or worry. Her meditations were
disturbed by the entrance of the
waiter with the evening papers and a
letter. Stella opened the letter
languidly. 1t was in a strange hand
and ran as follows:
Dear Old Girl: They say | can't
! live much longer. Got smashed up
trying a young horse last week.
don't like to sunff out without givin5
you warning and making a cOnIes-
sion. When Wallace first came home
he saw your photo and asked who you
were. | told him and added that you
had no heart and would never care
fCr any one and you know, old girl,
you never gave any of us much rea-
son to suppose that you ever did any
thing but firt and amuse yourself.
But he said he did not believe me
and laid me a monkey that he would
make you care for him and acknowl-
edge it yourself in three months. l
was cad enough to accept his bet and
so l feel l ought to tell you that he
is only playing with you. Indeed,
until a few weeks ago his wife,
from whom he had been separated for
four years, was alive; then she died
of fever in Cairo. l wish l had never
taken his bet. I have put the money
part right, as | ougA. not to have
warned you. Try and forgive me.
Burton is writing for me, for am not
able to move. Yours, Reggie"
Stella gazed blankly at the letter,
the only part of it which her
bewildered brain clearly understood
was that poor Reggie was dying.
The suddenness with which that
knowledge had come to her stunned
her for the time; then she reread it
through and through until she almost
knew it by heart, and at last realized
it's full import. He is only playing
with you; he did it for a bet,' she
murmured miserably. 80, Nigel, and
l love you SOL"
All through that long night she
sat thinking and crying like a child
! V1ybn dc oil q
dark room. Towards morning she
became calmer. Her one desire in
her bitter humiliation was that Nigel
should never know that she really
cared for him. Whatever it cost her
she would send him from her, be-
in earnest. She would meet and give
him his congo with a smiling face, al
though her heart might break in
secret through ali the long years
which would follow after.
She must not look i'll and tired, she
! reflected; and so with a great effort
she dragged herself YEARLY from her
chair and went to her room to rest.
At II o'clock the next morning
/ Stella was ready and waiting in the
sitting room. She had never before
taken so much trouble with her toilet,
and it would have needed keen OF
Iserver to know that everything was
mot going smoothly with her. Il
certainly never struck Nigel when ne
entered impetuOusly, W1.n a cheerful
I"Good morning, darling. How lovely
you look! Shall you be ready soon?"
mo- she said, coldly; q am too
busy"
1 "Too busy?" he echoed. But you
promised we should see some
pictures together"
well" she broke in, promises are
made to be broken and I cannot
waste all my times sightseeing with
you" F.
The man looked hurt and sur
prised.
81 thought you cared for me-" he
said, a little reproachfully.
20, no; I was only playing" she
answered. Surely you did not ex-
pect anything else from Stella
MandeIsy?"
But STILL" he urged, what about
last night?"
80, last night" she laughed, "was
only part of the game, and tnat
letter I spoke to you about-you
might like to know my real answer to
it. I wired this morning, Accept
your offer; you had better come ana
see me here.''
Her voice shook ever so slightly as
she uttered this faIsehood. but Nigel