Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-07-03
Continued.

has lost heavily for three consecutive
nights, SO much so that the runors of
his bad luck have reached the house
in Grosvenor Square, where Lady
Letchford sits unutterably wretchei
and miserable, hearing stories of his
wild life, and helpless to mend it.
But once since she has been in
town, and she arrived three weeks
ago, has he been near her, and then he
stayed a bare quarter of an hour, re-
fused to live in the house, or even to
dine with her, and wore such an ex-
preston on his pale, stern face, that
she did not dare to put one of the
questions or circumstances which
lowered on her lips.
Although he has lost May, although
she as proved false and unworthy, he
cannot forget or forgive his mother
for prophesying her unWorthiness,
cannot endure to meet the proud, sor-
rowful face that reminds him so vivid
~ Of Mays.
"Halloa, Heron says Vane. Gust
got back? Had a good rum"
Heron mods; every eye is fixed on
him eyes, fairly so. I came by the
mall
The duke whistles.
''The mail! BY George, Letchford,
you don't 10 things by halves. You
started yesterday, or was it the day
before-one never knows which was
yesterday; it's morning now, of
course! and here you are back again.
Don't you ever sleep?"
Heron smiles grinly.
mot much" he says. what is
it?"
"Baccarat," says Vane, rising.
Come and take my place. I've had
the most confounded luck"
Heron drops into the chair YEARLY
and takes up the cards, and Vane
signs to a footman to bring more
champagne.
'You missed a good thing last
night, Heron" says the duke. About
the best ball of the season, wasn't it,
Vavasour? Everybody there, and
quite a fight for the best dances.
managed to get one from Miss Vava-
sour, but only by the skin of my
teeth. And I shouldn't be surprised
if 1 get called out by Cornyale."
Heron looks up. The Marquis of
Cornvale is one of the best known,
the most famous, or Infamous, which
you please, men about town.
He was a shining light when Heron
first made his entrance i'll the fa-
shionable world, and had been to the
fore many, many years before that:
in fact, the marqufs's age is one OF
the standing topics of conversation.
''Is Cornvale back?" he asks, with
faint interest.
The duke mods, and glancing at
Vane, who has moved out Of hearing,
lowers his voice.
eyes, and looking younger than
ever, by GEORGE" he says. "They
were saying last night that he was hit
hard by Miss Vavasour | saw him
dance four times with her. Pom my
word, I think it's case"
A slight frown crosses Heron's
brow. He is not himself in love with
Rose, but-but he knows the Mar
outs of Cornvale, and
cit is your DEAL" he says, almost
sharply.
The play goes on until the wintry
sun forces it's way between the chinks
Of the heavy curtains, until the world
awakes to life and activity, until even
Vare gets tired and sleepy.
Haven't you had enough, you fell
lows?" he asks, coming up to the
table.
Heron looks up, his pale face calm
and impressive.
Quite" he says, inclining his
head.
"And so have l." says the duke.
Wonderful bad luck yours is, Letch-
ford!"
Heron smiles indifferently.
at will change some day." he says.
Meanwhile" and he counts out rolls
of notes, for all losses are paid on the
spot at the "Rookery."
A footman brings him his hat and
helps him on with his coat, and Vane
takes his arm.
"You must be awfully tired, old
mani" he says.
Heron shakes his head.
''I ought to be-" he says, 'but / am
not-got forty winks in the carriage"
Vane looks at him, and shakes his
head
Aren't you-look here, Heron,
don't want to be intrusive, you know
but aren't you going it little too
strong, eh?"
Heron looks at him absently.
How DO you mean?" he says.
'What does it matter?"
well, I don't know says Vane,
seriously TT doesn't matter for
some of us, I'll admit; it doesn't, for
instance, much matter for poor
devil like mel haven't much to lose,
and when I've lost it, why, there I am
where l was before. But you-it's a
t1;ffarao+ +bipor with Won Won know