Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-07-03

HE will not come" she says de-
spairingly.
The beauty looks down and raises
her arched brows.
"And Vane?"
He will not come without him. Let
us go in"
They go into the dining-room, and
the soup is put on.
Then the door opens, and a footman
says:
'Sir Heron, my lady"
Rose looks UP, too, and the flush
comes back for moment to her face
and the light to her eyes.
With his usual self-posses1son, he
comes across the room and kisses his
mothers then he holds out his hand
to Rose.
And as he does so both women re
mark-the old one with sorrow, the
young one with a fierce jealousy-the
haggard and wearied face.
Don't move" be says, as Rose
arises to give him the end of the
table. CPL sit here at the side. I'm
a guest, you know. Quite we'll, Rose?"
She smiles.
Quite; and are you?"
TIe mods and takes up the menu
In expectation of his coming, Lady
Letchford has ordered his favorite
dishes, and as he looks down the elab-
crate list he knows this.
ri am afraid I'm late" he says. "I'm
glad you didn't wait"
WED given you up" says Rose,
lightly, as lightly as if she had seen
him every day for the last month past,
as lightly as if nothing had occurred.
eve were just lamenting our solitary
state. Where is Vane?"
''Vane?" he says, absently. ooh,
yes, he called at Mivart's today, twice,
I think Was he to be here? came
in only just in time to dress"
Then he begins ON the soup, and
they leave him alone for a little
while.
By the time he has finished, Lady
Jetchford has taken her cue from
Rose, and makes an effort to initiate
her light carelessness.
lie is to be treated as if nothing had
occurred. Even the butler catches
the tone, and hovers about him with
an earnestly affectionate obsequious-
ness, taking care that he gets his IA
vCrite dishes and favOrite wines;
they treat him as if he were prince,
who had suddenly returned from long
travel aud foreign lands, and as one
who could not be made too much Of.
And then, when the fish has come
and gone, Rose begins to talk. She
does not ask questions, she puts him
to no trouble. she talks TO alnuse.
Now, it is difficult thing to with
stand beautiful woman when she is
silent, but beautiful woman who is
clever to boot, and who exerts her
cleverness on your behalf, is simply
For some time Heron sits and lis
tens with an absent, Wearled express
sion; but gradually, as the dinner
dinner carefully chosen
with a view to his taste, accompanied
by rare vintages--his pathy yields and
melts beneath the sunny warmth of
her beauty and the irresistible charm
of her manner.
Lady I.etchford, watching her close
ly. is too clever to spoil the effect by
joining in the conversation, and mere
Iy throws in word here and there.
Gradually, but surely, the charm
begins to work; the exquisitely fur
nished, yet homely room, the beautiful
woman exerting herself, and yet con-
cealing all evidence of effort, begin to
tell; and not once or twice, but often
the stern lips relax into smile, the
cloud of WEAKNESS lifts from his
brow, his lips grow softer and his
voice ess harsh.
For the moment he amost forgets
those dark, loving eyes, with the visit
full tenderness and half hidden pas
sion.
Not ill she has won a smile from
him does Rose Vavasour arise; and
as he opens the door for them, she
looks over her shoulder and chances
up into his face.
Don't be long, will you? l am 60
ing to Lady Merivale's."
He inclines his head, then says,
suddenly:
Don't go tonight"
mo! Why not?" she asks, with a
smile. well will think of it,
He goes back to his chair, and the
butler brings in a bottle of the old
Letchford port, and uncorks it care
fully.
What is this?" asks Heron.
"The '4S, Sir Heron; I think you
will find il in good condition. There
is the Lafitte in town, if you would
like it."
mo" says Heron, leave the port"
And he throws himself back in an
Meanwhile the two women sit over
the fire, Lady Letchford anxious and