Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-04-24
CHAPTER XIV.

Carrie utters an exclamation of sur
prise.
"Oh, May, how kind, how really
kind and thoughtful. She has come
to tell you how glad she is
A sudden smile, not Of mirth, but
incredulity, sweeps over Mays face,
and she laughs quiet laugh which IS
rather one of mild bravado than joy.
clay not that f1attering JUNCTION to
your SOUL Carrie, as Shakespeare
says" she whispers. eff I know her
ladyship, she has not come over to
pay me an early visit of congratula
ton, but to proclaim state OF war.
Hush! Do not say anything. I hear
papa-and-' and Sir Heron and
Mr.. Dalton enter the room, the latter
gentleman flushed and looking slightly
crestfallen, but not dissatisfied; the
former with an eager, expectant look
in his eyes which dies out as Mays
dress whisks through the opposite
door.
She pauseS a moment in the hall to
well to gain her fighting breath
for, Ike a warhorse, she scents the
battle from afar; then, with a face as
composed as she can keep, she opens
the drawing groom door.
Enclosed in furs, with that hideous
kind of bonnet which old ladies of hel
class specially affect-Lady Letchford
rises from her chair and confronts
her For a moment the hard, stern ex-
preston in the cold gray eyes melts;
it is impossible even for this naughty
mother who has come ito save her
son" to look upon the girl unmoved
by her pure, fresh beauty and youth
full, natural grace,
For a moment, for one little mo-
ment, she f1inches, and wishes that
Rose Vavasour had not put the idea or
personal encounter into her head.
Then she thinks of Heron-thinks or
all she has come to fight for, and
hardend herself.
With little icy smile that is meant
to be conciliatory, she holds out two
fingers of her thickly gloved hand.
"Good-morning, my DEAR" she says,
her voice closely resembling that of
the wolf when he accosts Red Riding
Hood. "It is scarcely necessary to
ask whether you are better this morn
ing? You look the personification OF
health"
Il am quite well, thank you," says
May; then they seat themselves OPP
posite to one another, and May wisely
waits for her opponent to open fire.
Il was SO sorry that you were un-
well last night" says my lady, land
am very glad to find that it was only a
passing weakness. But and she
lowers her voice-"but it was not to
speak solely Of that that brought me to
you so early this morning, Miss Dali
ton. Indeed, l ought to apologize for
intruding at such an unusual hour
Il am very glad to see you, Lady
Letchford," says May, in appalling un,
truthfulness.
Lady Letchford smiles grimly. Il
am afraid you will not feel so pleased
when you have heard the object of my
VISIT" she says.
May raises her eyes, and looks her
OII Ill CllS 1dCS WIFI d grave COu,
posture that is not without effect.
II have come, my dear young lady,
continued her ladyship, Ito have few
quiet words with you respecting some,
thing which occurred between you and
him last night"
She pauses, and May again looks up
in silence.
'Of course, you did not expect him
to conceal the matter from me?" says
her ladyship, sharply.
But even this does not break the
patient self-restraint of the fair op,
pOnent.
81 am glad to be able to say that
my son, Sir Heron, came straight to
me with the confession of what l
must call his strange folly"
Silence still.