Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-03-27

the chain to which is suspended the
locket of the unknown Sydney" A
bitter feeling of disappointment arises
and wars with his admiration The
girl whom he thought so fresh and in
nocent is living a life of deceit and
concealment; for it is evident he
augues, that her father knows nothing
of the man-her lover-whose portrait
she carries about with her. He can
scarcely bring himself to speak to her,
and yet-and yet how beautiful she
looks, as, apparently unconscious of
his gaze, she stands beside him. And
then the vulgar, self-suficient father,
boasting of the fortune with which he
means to buy husband for her. A
strong wave of disgust rushes over
him, and he turns away, resolved to
shun the girl who alone, of all the
many beautiful and charming women
with whom he has come in contact,
has power to move and tempt him.
All unconscious of the conflicting emo
tons which agitate her companion,
May still examines the pictures, one
by one, interested and absorbed. An
exclamation from Carrie, who has
been wandering around the room, fit
ting from picture to picture, in an
ecstasy of delight, arouses both of
them.
"Oh, Sir Heron, do tell me what this
isl" and she points to an ancient piece
of armor that stands on a heavy
bracket between two pictures of cru
saders.
"That," says Sir Heron, coming to
her, "that is an old breastplate, Car
RE, which was worn by the gentleman
on the right, Sir Richard Letchford,
when he went on the crusade"
"And that hole in it?"
'Is the hole which Saladin's battle
ak made, and through which Sir Rich
ards lifeblood streamed."
''How awful it looks, doesn't it.,
May? And what are all those figures
on it?"
"Those are the crest and motto OF
which Sir Richard was so proud that
he liked to wear them where every
body could see them. Let me get it
down for you-shall II"
"Oh, do. But won't it be too heavy,
and give you too much trouble?"
Sir Heron smiles, and dragging an
antique chair forward, stands upon it,
and lifts the breastplate from it's
bracket. 1t is covered with dust,
which flies into his eyes and literally
powders his coat and waistcoat.
cit is time it came down. Take
care, Miss Dalton!" for May is close
underneath, and the dust is descending
in full shower.
s'Let me take it" but he will not let
her touch it until he has set it down on
the floor and busted it with his pocket
handkerchief, which instantly assumes
an Ethiopian hue.
Carrie goes down flop beside it, re-
CARELESS of her new dress, and touches
the great clean hole with shrinking
finger and a shudder of mysterious de-
light.
sWhat a strong man Saladin must
have beehive read about him, Sir
Heron, in the history of England-to
cut right through this thick steel. And
how strong Sir Richard must have
been to wear this heavy thing around
him.
eyes, they were giants in those days,
Carrie says Sir Heron.
81 believe it would fit you"
perhaps you would like me to put
it on
The bright flash of longing in Car
ries eyes is answer enough, and with
a good humor which would have sur
prised his mother, he takes up the
breastplate and slips it over his head.
"There should be a buckle some
where" he says, as Carrie clasps her
hands and moves around him admir-
ingly.
"Here it is" says May.
Laughingly, May fumbles at the
clumsy steel strap, SO absorbed in her
task that she is quite unconscious that
he has her arm around the breastplate,
and that her warm hand is close
against Sir Herons heart. But he Is
not, and as he stands quite still, look
ing down at the bent head upon which
the light falls softly, turning the rich
brown hair into red gold, every touch
of her little hand thrills through him,
and he envies the hard steel which can
bear her white arm around it and still
remain cold.
"That is IT." she says, looking up
with a smile of triumph.
And as he looks up, that smile
changes swiftly and instantly into one
Of amusement, mingled with admira-
ton. Amusement at the incongruity
of a steel breastplate in connection
with a modern dress-coat, admiration
of the stalwart figure which it in
Closes
81 should make an excellent Guy for
the fifth, Carrie. But as it is not the
fifth of November, | think I will not
take it off. I'm afraid I must trouble