Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-03-14

| sHlie aS companion Two wears
hard hunting it has taken me to find
you"
/ knew that you would want me to
come to you, if I let you know of nv
| whereabouts" Vesdris said softly
Il did not want to be burden on Won
for thought that l could earn nv own
living! Rather than do that I
would have accepted the hundred a
year Uncle Walter offered me, when
he stepped into everything at the
death of my poor father. Her lips
trembled ominously for a moment
then steadying, she continued, 81 have
been very happy here. Everybody
has been so kind to me, and Bert has
looked after me as carefully as if T
were his own sister,"
Perhaps more so than if you were /"
said the solicitor dryly adding briskly
| as the young man colored awkwardly.
| well, l must be off now. l am due
| at York at and
But you will stay and have some
lunch" said Wilmot, speaking for the
first time. II know Peggy-er-Lady
| VeSdrlS would
Thank you, but am afraid that I
cannot. My train leaves at 12:43. and
II the clock on the mantlepiece is cor
rect, I have just ten minutes in which
to get to the station" The solicitor
spoke briskly. "Good-by! Of course
you must leave here, little girl, at
once, and come up to town. You have
a lot of documents to sign before you
can enter into possession of your own
Let me see, today is Monday shall
expect you at my Office not later than
Tuesday week. Good-by! Good-by!
Remember what I said about the title
and making suitable marriage. AS
you are one of, if not the biggest
heiress in England, you have enough
money to revive it," And so saying
the busy little solicitor walked to the
door and out of the house, pausing at
the drive gate to wave an adieu, be-
fore he stepped briskly out toward the
station. Vesdris closed the door softly
and sped lightly back to the drawing
room, where Bert had remained, with
unwonted discourtesy, while she had
shown her visitor out.
He was standing by the window,
his hands thrust down into his jacket
pockets, gazing absent-mindedly out
into space. So occupied indeed was
he in his own thoughts, that he was
unaware of Vesdris' presence till
he felt her hand lightly placed on his
shoulder
Bert" she said wistfully. 'You
told me this morning that you had
something TO speak to me about-it
was just before Janet came to tell
me that Mr.. Brent was in the draw
ing room"
He turned to gaze at the girl be-
side him in mute agony.
won't you tell me now what it
was you wanted to say to me dear?"
mo, I am afraid that I cannot"
he said hoarsely, as once again he
turned to look out of the window.
''I-I-to tell you the truth, II for
get what was going to say"
Don't tell a fib, Bert" she said
quietly, as putting her arm through
his, she laid her head upon his
shoulder "You know really quite
we'll what you were going to say.
Won't you tell me-that is, if I really
want to hear?"
A faint smile stole over his fea-
lures.
"You-that isl can never tell you
what l was going to say, now"
"Why@' She raised her head from
his shoulder. "Why won't you tell
me now, when half an hour ago you
were willing top
"Why?" He placed his hand on
her shoulders and looked straight
into the violet eyes raised halfshyly
to his. ga great deal has happened
in those thirty minutes-and I won
der if you would be angry with me,
if said-that you have hardly been
quite fair with me-
Hardly fair. Why do you say
that, Bert?" SIZE asked. A faint flush
suffused her cheeks, mounting to the
very temples where her soft golden
hair strayed in unruly curls Of gold.
"Why do you think that l have been
unfair?''
81 don't know why I should have
said it." he said, unless it is that
the world has suddenly seemed to
grow cold and bitter on me- he add
ed abruptly, his voice becoming odd
ly strained you came to us as
Peggy Smith, nearly two years ago,
and as Peggy Smith I loved you
Cannot you see your way to love
-Vesdris Pendual as much-as you
loved Peggy Smith," The faint flush
mantling her cheeks deepened into
furious blush.
SIT would not be honorable on my
part to tell her so, even If l did
and"
But you have" she said, ring OF
| triumph in her voice. "And now will
| you explain to me why it would not
be honorable for you to tell Vesdris
Pendual that you love her. when you
could do so without dishonor to Peggy
| Smith,"