Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-03-20
CHAPTER x.

Through the fish, the entrees, the
game, the sweets, Sir Heron eats his
way in something approaching abso-
lutte silence. Once only he smiles,
and that is when he extracts particu-
larly tempting and indigestible bonbon
from the dainty Sevres dish, and gives
it across the table to Carrie.
Sweets to the sweet" he says, and
his face softens for the moment.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Dalton talks as only
a seif-made man can talk, and Lady
Letchford sits watching him from un-
der her dropping eyelids, and mentally
bewailing the hard fate which compels
ner to listen to him.
At last she looks at Rose Vavasour,
arises, and the ladies file out Even
then it is Vane, not Sir Heron, who
opens the door for them.
The butler causes fresh glasses to
be brought, disappears for moment
or two, and then returns, carrying
bottle in his arms as carefully and ten
derby as if it were newborn child.
Bring your chair nearer the fire,
Mr.. Dalton says Sir Heron, musing.
"Will you take port or claret? The
claret is at your end
"Port-port, Sir Heron" replies Mr..
Dalton, nodding his head. I'm too
old-fashioned to turn to claret I'VE
crank port all my life, and have
acquired too confirmed taste to de-
sert it."
Considering, that until his great
good fortune, mis- acquaintance with
the noble wine had been limited to
"old and fruity at 36s. per doz., this is,
indeed, a noble resolution.
"Try this. Simpson can give us
something drier if you prefer"
Mr.. Dalton holds up his glass, takes
a sip, and shakes his head in the ap-
proved fashion.
Couldn't improve on this, Sir
Heron. l call it perfect"
Then Simpson, having waited for
his decision, glides silently from the
room, and the three gentlemen are left
to amuse themselvs until the coffee
comes.
Sir Heron turns to the fire and
stretches out his legs, and Vane as
sured by the expression on his cousins
face that he, Vane, will have to do the
talking, sets to work bravely. For ten
minutes Sir Heron sits and listens to
Mr.. Dalton's opinions on politics, agri-
culture, commerce; and when the
latter subject comes uppermost, Mr..
Dalton has a great deal to say.
I'm a man of commerce, myself,
Mr.. Vavasour," he says; II owe a great
deal to commerce, sir, and I'm not
ashamed to admit it. But I'm no rad
ical and revolutionist; l know what is
due to the aristocracy of the country,
and I'm ready to pay it. / respect
birth and blood, Mr. Vavasour, and
bewlieve I'm stating a fact when l
state that the name of Dalton is not
one of Yesterday
Fine old name" murmurs Vane,
sitting a yawn.
Like some other names, it's been
down in the dust for a time," says the
owner of the name, "but it's to have a
turn now, hope; of course, can't ex-
pect to do much for it myself, but al
ways impress it upon my children-my
daughters-that they won't forget
they came of a good old stock, though
their father was in trade"
"Quite right" says Vane, glancing
sideways at Sir Heron, who moves his
legs instantly. "Quite right, Mr.. Dali
ton; and if may be permitted to say
SO, your charming daughters are not
likely to do so.'
Mono, they're good girls-good
girls, both of 'em-May Is little fond
Of her own way, and what you might
call uppish, but she's young; and, as
you sporting gentlemen says, we must