Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-01-09
Continued.

would not remain silent, chatting with
or rather to- Mrs. Davenant in "a strain
Of easy cheerfulness, his eyes WANDER
ing to the pale face just showing ADORE
Che pile of furs.
Their hoofs ringing on the road
which few hours Of early frost haG
made hard the horses, the finest pair
i'm the country for Stephen was crit
cal in such matters and liked che best
Span the distance, and again, almost
punctual to the minute, the village OF
Netferton, to which Stephen had sent
the cllange of horses, was reached.
SlQnamers stepped down from the
box, agd was seen to enter the inn
yard.
'@rhe horses ought to be out and
waiting" said Stephen, with little faaa-
patience.
A momeht or two passed, and then
Summers came to the carriage door.
Stephen Jumped out.
"What is fit2 Why do you not put
the horses to?@--for the others had
been taken out and were standing in
the stable.
Summers, for the first time in his
life, changed color &nd hesitated.
There has been some mistake, sir. .
''Mistake!"
"The horses are not here"
Stephen glared at him.
81 can't understand it, sir. I gave
your orders most infinitely, but George
has taken the horses on to Clumley."
Stephen bit his lip and glanced at
the carriage.
''Put the others back" he said, "aRd
tell Masters to drive for his life"
Summers hesitated and went to the
eoachman, coming back in a moment
with an uneasy countenance.
f'Fm--I'm afraid they won't reach
Clumley in time, SIR he said. MAS.
tiers says that it is impossible. Cal.
culating on fresh horses, he has forced
them a bit on the road, and they are
used up. If you will look at them,
sir"
Stephen uttered an oath, and his
face twitched.
The coachman cam up, troubled but
respectful. 1t was no fault of his.
81 thought should get the change
here, sir. couldn't do it, unless the
horses had a quarter Of an hour and
a wipe down, and then"
He paused and shook his head.
Stephen controlled himself though
his face was white.
IA quarter of an hour" he said
eve will wait so long and not a mo-
ment longer. Then drive as if your
life depended on it. Do not spare the
horses
Then he went to the carriage and
forced smile.
"a little delay" he said cheerfully.
would you like to get out for quar-
ter of an hour, darling?"
Una shook her head.
81 do not care; but Mrs. Davenant
looked at her and spoke out
Eyes, Stephen" she said. my dear,
you are half frozen"
Stephen went to the window of the
inn and looked into the room, then
went back
COUlO, AO 0d1u hNAC ~ ~ PA~SNe
ant fire. A rest and the warmth will
do you good. Come" and, wrapping
a huge fur round her, he took her on
his arm and entered the inn.
Mrs Davenant followed into the
room. A fire was burning in the old
chair near to the welcome blaze and
led Una to it. White and Indifferent
che OF Ao,,o
''It is only for few minutes, darling,
then we shall be off. Come, drink
some Of this and he held a glass of
not spirit and water to her hand.
Una shook her head
Thanks. I could not" she said sim
ply.
Stephen motioned to his mother.
''See that she takes some," he said,
in a low voice. II will go and look
after the horses and he turned. AS
he did so the door opened, and lady
entered.
For a moment, in the dim light of the
low room, Stephen did not recognize
her, then a chill fell on him as if a
cold hand had laid on his heart. He
staggered back, and then she raised
her veil and looked at him.
Not a word passed. Face to face,
eye to eye, they stood. A moment
passed. Una had not looked round,
only Mrs. Davenant stood speeches.
and trembling. Then, as if with an
effort, Stephen regained possession of
his qualzing soul, and stole nearer to
her.
Laura" he whispered, glancing be-
hind him. 'You here? You want
me? Well, let us come outside"
A smile, calm and scornful, flashed
from her dark face.
''You cannot pass" she said
A wild devil leaped, full grown, into
his bosom, and he raised his hand to
strike her, but the next instant he was
grasped by the shoulder and flung
ct IL n - L.