Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-10-24
Did she know Mrs. Davenant p,

! her before; there's nothing wonderful
in that. But what is wonderful is that
Stephen should do anyone a good turn,
unless-unless-" and his face dark
ened suddenly and grew fierce-"unless
he had some end in view"
What end could he have in view
here?" said Leonard.
That's what 1 can't make out; can
you?"
Leonard shook his head.
It's strange story throughout"
''It u.s." said Jack, grimly. But,
Stephen Davenant, if you mean any
mischief, look out! I'm on your track,
my friend! But, Len, old man, you
look rather done up. What's the mat
ter?"
Leonard passed his hand over his
brow.
Something strange and mysterious
Also" he said. 81 went to Cheltenham
Terrace an hour ago, just on the chance
of getting a glimpse of-of-"
"Of Laura Treherne. Well, old
MANI"
yours in Warden Forest. l found the
house shut up, and she-gone, van
ished, disappeared"
What" exclaimed Jack,
Leonard paced up and down.
81 went to inquire next door, and l
dead-you remember my telling you
that the blinds were down-that the
funeral took place yesterday, and Miss
Treherne had gone. They only lodged
there, it seems, and of course she could
go at any moment. Where she has gone
no one seems to know. So there is
an end to my little romance! But no.
it shall not end there
mo; take courage by my luck, old
man. said Jack, laying his hand on
his shoulder-"take courage by me!
Let us talk about it..
mo, MOI" said Leonard, shrinking;
81 cannot-yer. You don't know how
1 feel Tell me what happened to-
day. Was she glad to see you? Did
you let her see that you cared for her?
Of course you did,"
eyes," said Jack, with proud,
happy smile. eyes, I told her that l
loved her and-oh, Len! Len! l know
that she cares for mel"
Leonard stared at him gravely and
put down paper which he had taken
up. But Jack saw it and took it off
the table.
What are you reading there, LEM"
Leonard took it out of his hand
"My poor, light-hearted, unreasoning
Jack he said. Its Levy Moss re-
hinder about that bill"
Jacks face fell and he dropped into a
chair.
"Quite right, Len" he said, hoarsely.
Il am an unreasoning fool! What have
done? I've behaved like a black
guard I've got this angel to admit
that she loved meme, a beggar- more
than beggar! But | swear l forgot
forgot everything when l was near
her. Oh, Heaven, Len, it's hard lines!
What shall do! If the poor old squire
had but left me few hundreds year,
how happy we could bel"
ly. "And what are you going to do?
There's the money you lost last
night"
Jack groaned.
What an idiot was. Len, swear
to you that l was nearly driven out of
my mind last night. First there was
Lady Bell-she was more than civil,
and bearing in mind all you said and
wanted me to do, made myself agree
able, and-and-sh very beautiful,
Len, and when she looks right into your
eyes and smiles she seems to do what
she likes with you. Len, was nearly
gone when that vision-as l thought it
came into the glass amongst the
ferns. l thought it was a vision-I
know now that she was there-and it
drove me silly. l bolted out and made
for the club, and played to forget it
ALL"
''And made bad matters worse" said
Leonard. you're in hole, Jack, I'm
afraid. Moss won't wait; there are
other bills, and there's the |. o. u. of
last night, and you've lost the money
you had, and you've asked this young
girl to love you. You mean to marry
her-I say, you mean to marry her.
On what? How can you go to her
father-who already doesn't seem alto
gether prepossessed in your favor-and
ask him to give his daughter to a pen
niless gentleman? Mind-a gentle
man! If you were woodman like
himself, your being hard up wouldn't
matter. You could take an ak, or
whatever they use, and earn your liv-
ing. But you can't go and ask him to
let her share your overdue bills and I.
o. US"
Jack groaned.
What shall I do, Len? My darling,
my darling!"
Leonard sighed. His heart-the
heart of as true a friend as ever the
world held-ached for the wild,