Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-10-31
CHAPTER XVI.

'Jack Newcombe!" exclaimed Mrs.
Davenant, looking at the card which
Mary had brought in. Jack New
combe!" she repeated second time.
''My dear, come here!'
Una was sitting beside the open win
dow, book in her lap, her eyes fixed
on the sun setting just behind the
chimneys.
eyes," she said, her face flushed, her
eyes glowing as if the sun were re-
fected in them; but she did not move.
Mrs. Davenant hurried across the
room with the card in her hand.
''Una, dear, see here" she said,
nervously. Here is Jack Newcombe:
You've heard me speak of him.
Una, feeling guilty and deceitful,
hung her head.
Her heart beat fast. For two days
she had waited and watched for him
never for moment had he been alb
sent from her mind.
And now he was here, in the next
room.
eyes," she said, Ell remember"
"Well, my dear, don't know what
to do. I don't know what he wants
Go you?-but of course you don't!'
Una flushed crimson to her very
neck.
'I think you had better go, my DEAR
said Mrs. Davenant, fidgeting with
the card.
Il
''Why?' she asked, raising her eyes
for the first time.
Mrs. Davenant moved her head nerv-
ously.
because don't think Stephen
mean-Jack Newcombe is the sort OF
man you ought to know"
But" said Una, softly and with a
steady look in her dark eyes, Il do
know him already"
Mrs. Davenant stared.
"You know him? Jack Newcombe?"
Una nodded.
Eyes" she said in a low voice. Il
met him up the river. I saw him at
Lady Bell's-he is a friend of hers
"But why didn't you tell me?" said
Mrs. Davenant, looking distressed and
frightened.
Una felt guilty.
II don't know she said in reply. Il
think it was because knew you would
feel angry"
Mrs. Davenant stared at her. 1t
was like the reply of child in it's
Simnle naked truth
"Well, WE'LL" she said, with a
troubled voice, "of course you couldn't
help it and 1 couldn't help it. AND
here the door opened quietly, and
Jacks head appeared, and Mrs.
Davenant started.
Seeing that they were alone, Jack
came in with his usual GOODNESS, though
his heart beat; and he crossed the
room, and took Mrs. Davenant's hand
and kissed her forehead.
And the poor woman melted in a
moment, as she always did when Jack
was actually present. AS matter of
simple truth, she was really as fond OF
him as if he had been her own son, and
but for Stephen, Jack would have seen
her oftener.
He had lost his mother in early
boyhood, and the kind-hearted, affec-
tionate, timid Mrs. Davenant had often
dried his boyish tears and held him IN
her arms. Even now, notwithstand-
ing Jacks wickedness, of which
Stephen made the most, her heart
went out toward him.
He had not been near her for some
months, nearly year, all through
Stephen, and she had almost given
him UP; but Jacks kiss revived all the
old tenderness And what woman
could resist his handsome face and
frank manly way?
"Well ma'am," he said-and
INA am sounded in her ears and IN
Una's almost like mother" land how
are you? And aren't you glad to see
me?"
eyes, jack said Mrs. Davenant,
nervously.
"Then why do you keep me in the
draughty hall for half an hour? Do
you want me to catch cold?"
''Half an hour?" murmured MRS.
Davenant. "I'm sure you haven't been
there three minutes
1.-TWO minutes and a half too long,
he said, smiling. He was giving una
time to recover herself.
"You never come to see me now,
Jack" said Mrs. Davenant, looking up
at him sadly.
'And now do, you keep me outside
Besides. you never ask me. Who's that
in the lack room. ma'am?"
Mrs. Davenant started; she had al