Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-04-03
CHAPTER Kill

thrown by the lamps, he begins to
stumble and draw long face. 1t is
not three years ago that he used TO
tramp through city streets and High
bury lanes, in dark and fOggy weather.
uncomplaingly; but now-now he feels
aggrieved at having to walk from the
stately Void to his own gorgeous res
idence. and misses the carriage! May,
who has seized his arm and cl1ngs TO
it, leaving Sir Heron to Carrie, is not
much assistance, for she seems rapt
in a dream, and utterly Indifferent as
to the road a
Its rather dark" his plant reaches
Sir Heron.
"Wait!" sounds the grave voice be-
hind him; but May, as if she had been
commanded to hurry, pulls at Mr..
Dalton's fat arm. 'If you'll wait a
moment, I'll go first" says Sir Heron.
Certainly Thank you,
Sir Heron. Bless my soul, May! why
are you in such a hurry?"
eft is rather dark" says Sir Heron,
coming up with them. Suppose you
take my arm, Miss Dalton, and let US
leai the Way?"
May hesitates but Mr.. Dalton, who
sis fat and scant of breath" like F'al-
staff, is only too glad to exchange
Mays breakneck pace for Carries
slower one, and gives her a gentle
push
She just puts her finger-tips on Sir
Heron's arm, but he takes them and
gently draws them further; and, thus
reorganized, they start off afresh.
All the night is dark and still,
hushed in the embrace of soft clouds
that move, not threateningly, but with
majestic peacefulness over the
heavenly vault. Silence intense reigns
in earth and sky, so intense that May
is filled with fear that the wild
beating of her heart can be heard,
and, nerved by that fear, she forces
herself to speak. :
t'How still it all isl" she says.
She feels that he has turned to her.
feels that his eyes are seeking hers,
and that they are filed with the pas
sionate tenderness which has wrought
so strange a change in them.
yes" he says and his voice is SO low
that it does not reach the two plodding
on behind. care you in pain now?"
mo" she says; sit does not pain
me unless | move it. 1t is quite mere
nothing; l have forgotten it,
'Forgotten?" he says. "You will not
forgot all that has passed-all that has
been said tonight?"
He feels the little hand tremble on
his arm.
"You will not do that?" he says.
s.You-you promised to say no more
tonight"
Ibid I-promise?" he says, "then
YOU must let me retrace. Why should
not speak to you? Are you angry
with me?"
MO-" family.
81 was rough and unmannerly, but
had some excuse. was so glad to see
YOU come back to life-you do not
know how deathlike you looked" and
he represses a shudder. $50 glad, so
wildly glad to hear that had made a
stupid mistake
"Mistake!" she echoes in a low
voice.
"a mistake that has made me
wretched for days-so wretched tnat
might have known that loved YOU
80, stop. II ought not to listen TO
you. Please stop"
'sWhy-why?" he says, with passion
ate eagerness; and she feels his eyes
searching herself inpatiently. WHY
should I not tell you that love you?
Is it so unnatural?" and he smiles sig
nificantly.
"It is unwise," she says. 'You
should not say it."
He stops for moment, then goes
on at a quicker pace, which instantly
carries them out of sight of Mr.. Dalton.
"Unwise- he repeats. at
is only unwise-and not then even
unvise-if you tell me that love you
in vain. Is that what you are going
to tell me? For Heavens sake, do
not!''
He cannot see how the beautiful
face Pushes and pales, or how hard IL
is to keep the soft lips firm enough
to answer him.
"What does it matter what IL
think?" she says, trying to speak calm
1y-.it cannot matter in the least.
You ought not to have said what you
have said to me, and ought not TO
have listened
He does not speak for a moment,
and she feels instinctively that he,
too, is trying for calm. At last he
looks down at her.
"May-let me call you May-are
you going to send me away for q whim
a fancy, or some miserable idea?
love you with all my heart and soul
will you make me happy. and be my
wife?'
She looks up at him, an6 her hand
tightens convulsively.
GtAYo - eha cars "T Sh Quill not make