Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-01-23

dear, to hear if this is all real, for at
present I am suspicious that it will all
vanish suddenly, like the unsubstantial
fabric of a dream. That's Shakes
peare, isn't it? Give me the bread,
and now sit down, there, where I can
see your face, and begin-begin, and
don't stop even for breath until you've
told, explained everything"
"No! got a letter-no-a note from
papa. It was written at the office, and
was to the effect that, in consequence
of certain changes, he intended NOV
ing into the country, and that he
wished me to come home-that is, if
I would consent that a certain-certain
subject should be ignored and forgot
/ ten"
Her lips culver, and her eyes flash
| as she speaks, and she breaks off a
piece of bread with sudden fierceness.
"Your letter I never got-and little
wonder. 1t is no doubt lying at some
potsoffice in Clapton, or is buried
under an avalanche of lost letters"
"Then you know nothing?"
Absolutely nothing" says May,
stretching out her hands-they are
small and exquisitely shaped, and
CLEAN Whitley in the light of the wax
candles. Absolutely nothing. | left
home two years ago-you know why
now Carrie, because could not bear
but never mind; left you and papa
orb
North; I left papa in small way Of
business in the indigo line, and you a
rambling, long-legged girl, in washed
out cotton frocks and shabby boots.
came back to-this;" and her hands
are extended again comprehensively.
"Know! I know nothing. did read
that papa had been made a sheriff,
and thought when they came to me at
the station, and told me that the gorg-
eous carriage was for me, that 1t was
the sheriff's carriage, or that papa and
you were on visit here, perhaps. But
alas! am still dreaming? But, there
YOU can't tell me while go on talking.
Begin, child"
GLOW strange you must feel! NO
wonder you stared and seemed sur
prised. Why, May, if it had been me,
| should have shrieked-positively
have shrieked."
"I do not doubt it. but don't shrek
now, dear, or we shall bring those two
monsters upon us. And now, how has
it all been brought about? Has papa
discovered the philosophers stone, or
struck gold mine in the back garden
of Woodbine Villa? Poor old Wood
bine Villa!"
"Hush! Don't speak so loud, dear.
Papa-papa doesn't like anything
about the villa, and-and all that-to
be known"
May stares, and the lips curl then;
she leans back in her chair and laughs
long and merrily, but with touch of
scorn running like chord through
it.
"Poor papa! The old days are to
be forgotten, wiped out. see-done
away with like the old hats and the
coats we used to wear-how baggy
and greasy at the seams they were!
All to be forgotten, and we are to
make believe that we don't know
where Highbury is, and that we always
had a carriage with a coat of arms,
and two big footmen to catch flies in
the passage-hall, I mean. Pardon!
Carrie, you will have to draw up a list
of forbidden words and phrases, and
must get them off by heart; pass
iage, 'parlor,' fwash-house,' for in
stance, or I shall be calling these
Ipalatial apartments 'palatial apart
ments' hits it, Carrie-by those vulgar
names. But go onto begin from the
beginning, what has worked this
miracle?"
That's what l don't understand
clearly. All know is that about six
months after you had gone as a
teacher"
Assistant at Mrs. Browns semi
nary for young ladies, Clapton," said
May, with aggravating distinctness.
eyes, dear?"
about six months after you had
gone, papa used to come home look
| ing pale and anxious, and as II he were
worried about something. It was
quite different look to that which
he had when-when-"
'Yes-yes," says May, in a low
voice; "I know when you mean; and
this was quite different?"
"Quite. 1t looked just as if he were
expecting some bad news, and would
sit for hours staring at the fire and
saying nothing"
poor Carrie!"
'It was dali, May, and grew fright
ened, and there was nobody to speak
to. You had gone abroad, and Sgd
ney-"
"Hush," says May, her face CULVER
ing. "Well?"
"Well, one day he came home, oh!
quite late in the afternoon, and walked