Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-12-19

Una murmured an inaudible re-
spouse, and he went back to the fire
: and bent over it, warming his hands,
his face grown, if anything, still paler.
"How beautiful she looks!" he
| thought. "How beautiful! Worth
risking all for-all!"
won't you go UP and dress,
Stephen" said Mrs. Davenant. There
is large fire in your room, and in
Jacks too; have just been into both
of them"
Eyes, yes he said, not nervously
but with almost an absent air, and he
left the room.
stephen looks tired" said Mrs.
Davenant I'm afraid he has had
some business that has worried him.
l can always tell by his face"
4 ''I am very sorry" said Una, gently.
Eyes, he did look tired and worried
she added, but with her eyes on the
clock. The hands went round to the
hour-an hour beyond Jacks time
and the butler announced dinner.
ooh, we will wait little while fol-
Mr.. Newcombe!' asid Mrs. Davenant,
but Una, with little flush, murmured.
mo, do not, please; Mr.. Davenant
must want his dinner. Please do not
watt" and Mrs. Davenant, never able
to stand out againts anyone's will, rose
and put her arm in Una's and they
went into the dining-room Stephen
followed and sat down without making
any remark on Jacks absence; even
when Mrs. Davenant said to the but
ller-'Let them be sure and "eep the
Esoup hot for Mr.. Newcombe, Stephen
made no observation.
Dish after dish disappeared, and Una
made a faint pretence at eating as
usual, and joined in the conversation
between Stephen and Mrs. Davenant,
but her eyes were continually straying
toward the clock, her ears straln1ng
for the sound of wheels or a galloping
horse.
The dinner was a thing of the past,
land the soup had been kept hot in
vain; no Jack arrived Gradually
silence had fallen on the three, and
when Mrs. Davenant rose it was with
a sigh of loving sympathy with the
troubled heart that ached SO near her
own.
81 cannot think what has kept him.
she said, when they were alone to-
lgether in the drawing-room. eff it
were anyone but Jack l should feel
nervous even I cannot feel nerv-
Ious about him. 1t is a plain, easy road
from Earl's Court, and he rides like a
, Ia centaur."
Perhaps, said Una, with her eyes
fixed on the re-"perhaps Lady Bell
pressed him to stay to dinner, and he
, will be here presently
"That must be it," said Mrs. Daven-
; ant. hopefully. "He will come in di-
rectly making a most tremendous
I noise, and raging against whatever
has been keeping him. Jacks RACES
are dreadful while they last-they
don't last long!"
Una smiled, and listened.
Stephen entered-so noiselessly that
she almost started-and stopped over
, his mother
, There are some things in the
will you go and see to them?"
!, Mrs. Davenant rose instantly.
Una DEAR" she said, "see to the
tea, will be back directly"
: Una nodded, and sat down at the
gypsy table Stephen stood beside the
Z fire, one white hand stretched out to
the blaze. his face turned toward her,
hnir
lowered lids. His heart beat nervous
ly, the task before him seemed to over
master him, and he shrank from it;
with one hand he felt Jacks letter, "
ing like an asp in his breast coat poe
ket.
"There is a cold wind tonight" he
said absentIy. Jack said the wind
had gone round this morning"
Jack" SAID Una, raising her eyes,
with sudden flame of color in her
face. "Have you seen him? You
have been to Earl's Court?"
Stephen frowned as if angry at max
ing a slip.
| "No-no," he said with gentle hest
| tation. mo; I saw him in LondoA
He is not at EarIS Court.
mot at EarPs Court" said Una,
with surprise "How is that? Oh, he
lis not ill?''
And her breath came sharply.
, Stephen turned to the fire, with knit
ted brow and compressed lip, and
fidgeted with the poker.
NO." he replied, slowly, and as if
uncertain what to say che is not ILL.,
"Then why did he not go?'' asked
, Una.
, Stephen remained silent; and still
keeping her eyes fixed on his pale
face, she rose and glided to his side.
you have something to tell me,
she said, laying her hand on his arm,
and speaking in low, painting voice.
what is it? You will tell me, will
Ivo,1 not Hac ANYTHING hammered to