Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-09-18

81 am so sorry! He will think 1 was
staring at him. And so I was-and
that will seem, so cruel to him, poor
! fellow!"
What is cruel? Which poor fell
! low" demanded Lisle.
Some one who has just got out or
the fly, dear-a cripple, poor fellow.
and he saw me watching him." and
she sighed again.
''Eh?" said Lisle, as if he were try
/; ing to remember something. "Ah, yes!
l remember. Mrs. Whiting told me
that he was expected some time to-
day. They had telegram saying he
was coming"
"He? Who?" said Leslie, going
back to the window.
',Who?" repeated Lisle, as if he
were heartily sorry he had continued
the subject. 'Why, this young man.
Dear me, forgot his name and title %
Title? Poor fellow! Is he noble
man, papa? That makes it seem so
much worse. doesn't it?"
Upon my word, my DEAR do not
wish to appear dense, but haven't the
least idea of what you are talking
about, and-he went on more quickly,
as if he feared she was going to ex,
plain-"it doesn't matter. Pray sing
something, and-and do not let us
worry about things which do not con.
Germ u.s."
Leslie began to sing without another
word.
CHAPTER II.
The crippled young man with the as
sistance of his companion, made his
way into the sitting-room of Marine
Villa. An invalid's chair was landed
from the top of the fly and carried in,
and he sank into it with faint sigh
Leave me, Grey" he said when
Lord Auchester comes let him come to
me at once; and, Grey, be good enough
to remember what I told you
Eyes, your grace" said the man.
Then as his master lifted the soft
brown eyes with gentle reproach, ne
added, correcting himself:
Eyes, sir
"That is better. Thanks"
The valet unlocked a morocco travel
| ing-case and took out vial and medi-
cine glass.
"The medicine, your gra-sir, |
mean"
"Ah, yes; 1 forgot. Thank you.
Thanks Let me know when his lord
ship arrives. No, l want nothing
more"
The valet went out shutting the door
softly after him, and his master loaned
his head upon his hand and closed his
eyes.
Fate had dealt very strangely with
this young man. With one hand it had
| showered upon him most of the gifts
which the sons of men set high store
by. 1t had made him a duke, given
him palaces, lands, money in such
abundance as to be almost a burden:
and with the other hand, as if in scorn-
full derision of the thing called man,
Fate had struck him one of those
blows under which humanity is
crushed and broken. A nurse had let
him, when child, slip from her arms,
and the great Duke of Rothbury was
doomed to go through life a stun,eu
and crooked-back object, with the
grim figure of Pain always standing by
his side; with the bitter knowledge
that not all his wealth could prevent
the people he met in the street regard
ing him with curious and plying
glances; with the bitter sense that the
poorest laborer on his estate enjoyed a
better lot than his, and was more to be
envied than himself.
He sat perfectly motionless for some
minutes, then he opened his eyes and
started slightly. Leslie had just be-
gun to sing.
He wheeled his chair to the window
and let it open gently, and keeping be-
hind the curtains, listened with EVIL
dent pleasure.
The sound was still floating across to
him when a young man came march
ing up the street.
Youth is glorious thing under any
circumstances, but when 1t is com,
bined with perfect health, good tenn
per, handsome face, and stalwart
form it is god-like in it's force and in
fiuence.
The little narrow street OF Port
maris seemed somehow to grow
brighter and wider as the young man
strobe up it, his weu.knit form sway
ing a lit to the right and left, his
well-shaped head perfectly poised, his
bright eyes glancing here and there
with intelligent interest, the pleasure
loving lips whistling softly from sheer
lightheartedness.
He stopped as he came opposite Sea
View and listened to Leslie's song,
holding his head approvingly; then
he caught sight Of the Marine Villa
or the opposite house, and walked
straight into the little hall.