Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-11-27
Continued.

Il shall THINK or tnlS place, lie
says-"think Of it too often to be
comfortable. Why couldn't l come
here-and to her-a year ago?
What's that song about The might
have been? That's how l feel this
morning. Oh, Lord!"
He strides on, with his head droop.
ing, in an attitude very unlike that OF
Yorke Auchester's usual one, and with
out the last light opera song on his
lips, as it ordinarily is; and he is
near the station when he hears
laughter of children ahead Of him,
and, looking UP, sees group that
makes his heart leap and the blood
rush to his face.
Under a great oak in the pretty
lane stands no other than Leslie her
self, with a child upheld in her arms,
and two others clinging to the skirts
of her pretty, simple morning-dress.
The child held aloft has pulled off her
hat, and the sunlight, as it comes
through the trees, falls in flecks OF
light and shadow on her hair and up
turned face. She is laughing the soft,
sweet laugh which, though he should
1--we to be as old as the old man walk
ing along on the other side OF the
lane, YOrke will never forget-and--
she does not see him.
Shell he turn and go back-go back
and leave her forever? Better! But
he can not, SO he goes on slowly, and
it is not until he is close behind ner
that she hears him.
She turns, the child still held crow
ing and struggling above her head,
and "a startled look comes into her
eyes, and the color flies to her face
and then leaves it pale.
"Good-morning, he says.
Her lips move and her head bends
over the child, now lying in her arms
and staring with blue eyes up at the
big man who dares to address Miss
Lethlie." Leslie's lips move; 10
doubt she says Woodworking" in re
Spouse, thogh he can not hear her.
'tYou are early this morning." he
says; and he knows that his voice
falters and sounds unnatural as surely
as he knows that his heart is beating
like a steam-hammer, and that the
longing to cry to her Leslie, I love
you!" is almost irresistible.
YES" she says. ct is so beautifrl
after the rain"
She stops, for the words have re.
called that homeward drive-the
storm, his words, all that she has
been thinking of through the long,
long night.
Yes he says, vaguely, stupidity.
Then he says suddenly: THAT child is
too heavy for you"
ooh, no; l often carry it, she
falters, bending still lower over the
pretty face enshrined in the yellow
cuTls.
But it is" he says. let me take
it, if it must be carried"
She would not let you," she says
We'll see," he rejoins, scarcely
needing what he is saying; and be
held out his arms.
The mite stares at him, turns, and
clutches Leslie for a moment, then,
with the fickleness of it's sex, swings
round and holds out her arms to him.
Yorke laughs Immediately, AMI holds
it UP above his head.
''Now, what shall l do with your
he says, hurriedly. Take you to
London with me? No?" for the child
struggles. For that is where | am
going" He puts the child down, and
it toddles off with the other two
yes, 1 am going to London, Miss
Leslie" he goes on, trying to speak
lightly, carelessly.
Eyes" she says with downcast eyes,
and she stoops to pick up her nat.
AS size does so, he stoops TOO; they
get hold of it together, and their
hands meet.
But for that sudden meeting, has
touch of her hand, he would have
gone, and the history of Leslie Lisle
would have been very different one;
but it is the link which the Fates
have been wanting to make their
chain complete.
''Leslie!" he cries, scarcely above
his BREATH eslie!" and he takes
both her hands and holds them fast,
and looks into her eyes-the dark-gray
eyes which she lifts to him with a
swift fear-and is it swift joy?-
mirrored in their clear depths.
''Let-me-go!" she falters with
trembling lips.
mo! Not-not till I have told You
that love yoT!"