Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-11-21


thanks.
"And now I will go down. BY the
way, will you please tell Simcox-
that's the butler-that the gentlemen
will want LATTE, at least, Mr.. New
combe will. I don't know what Mr..
Stephen Davenant drinks. What's
the matter?'' she broke off to impure,
for she heard Laura stumble and fall
against the wardrobe.
There was a moments pause; then,
calmly enough, Laura said:
my foot caught in your ladyship's
dress, think"
"Have you hurt yourself?" asked
Lady Bell, kindly, "You have gone
quite pale! Here, take some of this
salvolatile.
But Laura declined, respectfully. 1t
was a mere nothing, and she would be
more careful of alarming her ladyship
for the future.
Lady Bell looked at her curiously.
The quiet, self-contained manner, so
free from nervousness or embarrass-
ment, interested her.
She stopped her as Laura was leav-
ing the room.
eve haven't fixed upon name for
you yet" she said.
"No, my lady; any name will do"
"It is pity to change yours-it is
pretty one.'
"Will Mary Burns do, my lady? 1t
was my mothers name
every WE'LL" said Lady Bell; II
will tell Mrs. Felowes that you will
be known by that"
"That girl has a history, I know"
she thought, as she went downstairs.
Punctual almost to the minute, Mrs.
Davenants brougham arrived.
The evening had drawn in, and
lamp was burning in the hall; and a
small fire made the dining-room COM
Portable
Lady Bell welcomed Una most af-
fectlonately.
Now we will have a really enjoy
able evening"" she said. | hate
dinner parties, and if l had my way,
would never give nor go to another
one. If it were only little colder.
we'd sit round the fire and bake chest
nuts. Have you ever done that, Wild
Bird?"
"Often," said Una, with a quiet
smile and something like a sigh, as
she thought of the long winter even
ings in the cot. How long ago they
seemed, almost unreal, as if they had
never happened.
ooh, Una is very accomplished,
said Jack; 81 believe she could make
coffee if she tried"
Very snug and comfortable the din
ing-room looked. Lady Bell had dis
pensed with one of the footmen, and
had evidently determined to make the
meal as homely and unceremonious as
possible.
Never, perhaps, had the butler seen
a merrier party. Even Stephen was
genial and humorous; indeed he
seemed to exert himself in an extra
ordinary fashion. Lady Bell hao
given him Una to take in, and he was
most attentive and entertaining
much that Jack, who was sitting oppo-
site, and next to Lady Bell, felt
amused and interested at the change
which seemed to have come over him.
Could he have seen the workings of
the subtle mind concealed behind the
smiling exterior, he would have felt
very much less at his ease; for even
now Stephen was plotting how best
he could mold the material round him
to serve his purpose, and while the
laugh was lingering on his smooth
lips, his heart was burning with hate
and jealousy of the rival who sat OPP
posite.
For it had come to this, that he de-
sired Una, and not only for the wealth
of which he had robbed her, but for
herself AS deeply as it was possible
for one of his nature he loved the in
nocent, unsuspectng girl who sat be-
side him.
Tonight, as he looked at the beautiful
face and marked each fleeing express
sion that fitted like sunshine over it;
as he listened to the musical voice, and
felt the touch of her dress as 1t
brushed his arm, passionate long
! ing seized and mastered him, and he
felt that he would risk all of which he
was wrongfully possessed to win her
all. and if she were, indeed, only the
daughter of common woodman.
Course him!" he murmured over his
wine glass, as his eyes rested on
Jacks handsome face. eff he had
not crossed my path, she would have
been mine ere now; no matter, I will
strike him out of it, as if he were a
viper in my road
Meanwhile, quite unconscious On
Stephens generous sentiments, Jack
went on with his dinner, enjoying It
thoroughly, and as happy as it is given
TO mortal to be.
Presently the conversation turned
Upon their plans for the autumn.
What are we all going to do?" said
7 7 Mr.