Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-09-25

ing house two years before this, had
been pleasant and kind to him, as she
was to everybody, but had meant moth
ing more than kindness, and was
surprised and panied when he asked
her to be his wife, and declined to
take a refusal.
Since that time he had cropped Tp
at intervals, like tax collector, and
seemed as if Leslie could never con-
vince him that there was no hope for
him. His persistence distressed her
very much, but she did not know
what she could do. He was the sort
of man who, having set his heart upon
thing, would work with logged
earnestness until he had got it, and
could not be made to understand that
women's hearts are not to be won,
like a town, by a siege, however long
and stringent it may be.
She went to the break-water and sat
down in her favorite spot and got oUt
her handkerchief, and two minutes
afterward there was patter, patter
on the stones behind her and small
black and tan leaped on her lap with
a zap.
1t was a lovely afternoon, there
was no one on the beach excepting
herself, and all was silent save for
the drowsy cav of the gulls and the
heavy boom of the tide as it drew out,
for the sea was seldom quite calm at
Portmaris, and on the least windy
day there was generally a ground
swell on.
Leslie sat and worked and thought
thought mostly of Ralph Duncombe,
her persistent sutton; but once or
twice the remembrance of the de-
formed cripple who had come to
lodge at Marine Villa crossed her
mind, and she was thinking of him
pityingly when the sound of footsteps
crunching firmly and uncompromising>
ly over the pebbles made her heart
start and caused the terrier to leap up
with the fury of his kind.
Leslie's brows came together as she
looked up. A middle-sized man with
broad shoulders and a rather clumsy
but sturdy gait, was coming down the
beach. He was not good looking. He
had big head and red hair, large
mouth and square face, his feet and
hands were also large, and there was
in his air and manner something
which indicated aggressiveness and
obstinacy.
Sharp men who had seen him as a
boy had said: "That chap w. get on
and unlike most prophets, they had
been correct. Ralph Duncombe had
"got on" He had starte1 as an
errand boy in a city Office, and had
risen step by step until he had become
partner.
Rawlins & Co. had always been we'll
thought of in the city, but Rawlins &
Duncombe had soon become respected
and eminent.
His square, resolute face flushed as
he saw her, but the hand with which
rock.
"Good-morning, Miss Leslie"
Leslie held out one hand while she
held the furiously struggling Dick
with the other.
He took her hand in his huge fist
and dropped heavily on the single
beside her.
"I didn't know you had dog!"
81 haven't. He doesn't really be,
long to me, though he pretends he
does He is an abandoned little
animal of Mrs. Merrick's, our land.
lady; but he will follow me about and
make a nuisance of himself. Be quiet,
Dick, or shall send you home
I'm not surprised I can sym
pathize with Dick
Leslie colored and took up her work,
leaving Duck to wander gingerly
around the visitor and smell him in
quisitively.
you got my letter, Miss Leslie?"
NO." she said. 81 am very sorry,
but papa lost it."
ct doesn't matter" he said. 4
only said that I was coming, and
here I ann
"T-I WI go and tell papa. Come
and have lunch?"
mo. Don't get up. I've had my
lunch, and can go and. see Mr.. Lisle
presently, if" He paused. Miss
Leslie, l suppose you know why have
come down here"
Leslie bent her head over her work
She could guess. Such a man as
Ralph Duncombe was not likely to
come down to such a place as Port
maris at the obedience of a mere
whim
1--WE come down because l said |
would come about this time. I'm a
man who, when he sets his heart
upon anything, doesn't change or give
it up because he doesn't happen to
get it all at once. I've set my heart
upon making you my wife, Miss
LESLIE"