Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-06-05
By Charles Garvice

10 Tie uuSL, HIS CuOuSduuS nave I1hOA
unto themselves wings and flown, not
slowly, but swiftly, in a few weeks;
and he lies upstairs, in the gaudy,
luxurious bed-chamber, with not
enough to bury him.
Already thick veil of disgrace
and dishonor, of bankruptcy and ruin
seems to be falling On the handsome
house in which he so delighted.
Servants are muttering and conject-
uring in the kitchen, staring and lis
tening in the hall, shaking their heads
and winking knowingly in the stables.
And among it all, scarcely compre-
hending, scarcely grasping it yet, sits
May, looking with fixed gaze on the
little man who sits brooding opposite
her.
."Do you mean" she says, at last,
''that-that my father is ruined?"
II am afraid SO, Miss Dalton" he
answers, and his voice quivers. 1T
would be cruel to deceive you. had
hoped, when I came down, that this
place and something substantial
would have been settled upon you or
your sister, but-but it is not. 1t
was strange piece of neglect on his
part. Very strange, such sclnd
business man as he was! But there
is nothing settled. You-you will for
give me, miss. but I ask it out Of the
deepest respect. I've been with your
father, man and boy, for forty years
forty ears!" and the honest eyes fill
with tears right out now; 'but is
what he said to me just before he left
this room true-are you engaged to
marry Sir Heron Letchford?
shouldn't doubt it, know. but his
mind seemed quite unhinged. Was it
true? do hope"
May turns her face away.
''It is quite true" she says.
THANK Heaven!" he says, arising
and sitting down again agitatedly.
Miss Dalton, II never was so thank
full for anything in my life! Then all
this doesn't matter, doesn't really
matter. know Sir Heron Letchford
everybody knows him, of course. He
is one of the richest men in the
county-the richest! Ani-and-ex-
cuse me Miss Dalton;" and he fairly
breaks down.
For the first time Mays face softens
and the tears spring into her eyes.
Who, looking at the pale-eyed little
man, would have given him credit for
so large a heart?
IN 10 oA% cSEor axYcS
going up to him and touching his arm.
81 know how good a friend my father
had in you. Will you be mine, Mr..
Boxall? I am quite helpless and
alone" she Pushes, reproachfully, as
she thinks of Heron, and corrects her
self, CT mean that there is only my
sister. My brother you know my
brother?'
Mr.. Boxa1l shakes his head sadly.
81 am afraid Mr.. Dalton, junior,
wouldn't be of much USE"
"He has gone abroad" she says,
hastily. "You must not misjudge
him, Mr.. Boxall. But-but my sister.
l am thinking of her. Where can
send her? She cannot remain here"
Mono, certainly not, miss. IT,
and he looks at her eagerly-"if you
wouldn't think it presuming, and If
there is no one else who has proper
right-though think no one else-my
wife would be proud, greatly proud to
have Miss Carrie and yourself under
her humble roof as honored guests"
Mays tears fall. Before she can
reply the door opens.
"Mrs. Turner is away in Scotland,
miss. She was called away the day
before yesterday" says the footman.
"That's the lady you sent for?" says
Mr.. Boxall.
Eyes" says May, sadly.
Heron?" he asks, respectfully. eff
not, I think"
May looks down.
NO." she says, quietly, "no; he will
be here soon, no doubt No, will not
send for him"
CHAPTER XXI.
In silence Sir Heron and the beauty
make their way back to the Void; a
silence that is more terrible than the
most passionate outburst could be.
Notwithstanding the success of her
sl1illful maneuver, Notwithstanding
mingles With the beanty's malicious
satisfaction vague feeling of alarm;
that indefinite sense of insecurity
which, for instance, the most adroit
and accomplished lion tanner must
feel even while the savage beasts he
has cowed into quietude are crouch
ing beneath his heel. They may spring
up at any moment and rend their tor
mentor.
At present, however, Sir Heron does
not turn and rend her, but walks on,
with firm step and bent head, in 81
1ence.
They reach the Void at last, after
what seems to both of them a long,
weary march, and abating not jot of