Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-10-30
Continued.

It is too late now. Even if I hadn't
told her, Grey, or the woman of the
house here, or some one else would
have done so tomorrow morning
"It is too late" l suppose, broke
in Yorke, moodily.
quite too late" retorts the duke,
decisively. 'To tell the truth now
would make a sensation and fuss
which would be undesirable" He
put his hand to his head as he spoke
and moaned family as if in pain
"Give me that's mall vial off the table,
will you, please?" he said.
| One of his periodical attacks Of
nervous neuralgia was coming on and
at such times he was wont to grow If
1itable, cynical, bitter.
Yorke poured out some of the medi-
cine and gave it him.
Thanks. Yes, it would make
hiIeous fuss. We should have it in
the papers headed "A Ducal Hoax or
something Of that KIND But l don't
want to for3e you into anything
against your will / can leave here
the first thing tomrrow. certainly
should go if you departed from our
arrangement. I came down here for
rest and quiet, and 1 should get none
if it were known who | am. Yes,
we'd better both go tomorrow.
mo, no. said Yorke. after all,
as you say, it does not matter. Besides
besides, l shouldn't like to defraud
her of the little bit Of pleasure III
planned for her; I rancy she doesn't
get too much of it,
Il dare say not. Very well, then;
you'll stay till after tomorrow? For
goodness sake try to look a little
less funereal! You had no objection
to assuming the title till you met this
girl. What difference does she make?
You think she will make love to you,
ieh? | should have thought from what
I know of you, Yorke, that you would
have no very great objection to that"
Yorke swung around almost angrl-
ly.
Look here, Dolph," he said, grimly,
you are altogether mistaken about
her. | tell you that She does not
care, and will not care, whether you
or | be the duke: she is not that kind
Of a girl at all"
pain intense enough to turn saint
cynical. He sneered.
81 know them all, root and branch,
he said his thin voice rendered shr1ll
and cutting by his agony. I tell
YOU that she will make love to you;
that, thinking you are the duke, she
will try to marry you, as she would
try to marry me if she knew the
truth"
mo" said Yorke, shortly, almost
fercely. Il say that she would not
care
"You seem to have learned her ma
ture very quickly" retorted the duke
with another sheer. L tell you that
she will turn out like the rest. You
deny it, doubt it. Very we'll; play
the part you have assumed, and If |
am wrong will admit that | have
done her an injustice"
''You do her cruel injustice,
said Yorke, in a low voice.
very well, then sneered the
duke. "Try her-try her, and then
own that / was right. All, you are
afraid? You know in your heart that
she would not stand the test! Your
innocent, high-minded girl would
prove like the rest. Come, you are
beaten. Better spare her disappoint-
ment Of setting her cap at a false
duke; better go tomorrow, my dear
Yorke."
Yorke swung around, his face pale,
an angry light in his eyes.
mo, I'll stay he said!
CHAPTER VIII.
When Leslie wakes next morning
she wonders what it is sends a thrill
of happiness through her; then as with
dazed eyes she looks through the
sunny window, she remembers the
proposed expedition to st. Martin.
But she remembers also that the COM
panion of last evening is a duke, and
her spirits drop suddenly.
Tt is difficult to persuade her father
to join in the mildest excursions.
It will be very difficult indeed to in
duce him to accept an invitation with
the duke. Some women would have
experienced an added Joy at the
thought that they had been honored
with civility from a person of such
high rank, burt the fact FATHERS les
sens Leslie's pleasure Yorke did her
Justice; she is not elated nor awed by
the ducal title.
When she comes down to break
fast she finds her father pacing in
front of his picture, his thin hands
clasped behind his back, his head
bent, and as she kisses him he signs,
rather querulously
Give got a headache" he replies.
lido not feel up to work. and I am