Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-03-19
Continued.

The words-the cruel words-had
slipped out, in the torrent of his in
dignation, before he scarcely knew or
realized their cruel significance.
The duke sunk back and put his
hand to his eyes, as if Yorl1e had dealt
him a physical blow.
Forgive me, Dolph," he said, in a
low voice. Il did not mean"
The duke dropped his hands from
before his face.
Let that pass" he said in low
voice. You did not mean It. 1t is
the first unkind word you have ever
But no matter Yorke, you have
forced my hand, and to show you that
you have wrOnged me I must tel
you all. Yorke'-he paused, and his
eyes dropped, then he raised them and
looked steadily into YOrke's-'T loved
her!"
You"
The duke plucked at the table-rug
for a moment in silence, then he went
on:
eyes. I should not have told you
l could never have confessed it even
to myself but for what you said. II
is the truth. loved her, What!"--
and he leaned forward, his thin,
wasted face flushed and his lips
uuivering-"do you think that it is
given to you only to appreciate such
beauty and grace and sweetness as
Leslie Isles? You remind me that
I am crushed, twisted, deformed.'
"Dolph!"
But do you think because 1 am
what | am outwardly that | have no
heart? God, who sees below the
surface. knows that there beats in my
bosom a heart as tender, as hungry
for love, as quick to love, as yours.
All. and quicker, hungrier! And l
loved her-lOved her with love as
strong and passionate as yours"
And you did not guess It? Well,
that is not surprising, for l have
striven hard to hide it from even my
self. I knew that it was madness to
hope that l might win her love And
I knew that if I had offered myself
in my right colors she would have
accepted lie, DGuls tNloGCN' NCACA ny -
mockery as of man as l am.
"And-and''- stopped and SEEM
ed struggling with something AMI
was tempted-yes, l was tempted-the
morning she came to me and told
me that she knew was tempted to
tell her that she might still be a
duchess-that l loved her and would
marry her.
"sit-sit down." said the duke,
hoarsely; and Yor1e sunk down again.
But l resisted the temptation. /
left her without a word, without
look or sign by which she could
know the truth. l had to bear it. 1t
is a burden which brushes, which tor
lures me. Even since l left the
cursed place the temptation has as
sailed me at intervals, and once or
twice I have almost decided to write
to go down to her and offer her that
upon which she had set her womans
heart-the ducal coronet-for which
even Leslie will sell herself.'
Now you know the whole truth. If
YOU have to suffer. so also have /.
And my lot will be worse than yours.
'Yours"-he looked at him, not en-
viously, but with sad admiration
you will get over this-will forget
her"
NO, no."
Yes; there are other women whose
ready" He paused. Yes, as one
ready. He paused. Yes, as one
nail drives out another, so one love
may drive out, wipe out all remem-
brance of another. And so it will be
with you. But L" He dropped
back, and covered his face with his
hands. For me there is no such
hope. The door of love, the gate OF
the earthly paradise, is shut against
me. and will be shut while live. To
me the F'ates say, mOckingly: Rank,
wealth, station we give you; but the
love of woman, that supreme gift OF
the gods to man, thou shalt never
know!'"
There was silence for a moment.
Then he raised himself on his elbow.
"Yorke, you must bear your burden.
Forget her. 1t will be hard-don't
know how hard!-to forget Leslie.
Those sweet gray eyes, with their
melting tenderness, that low, musical
voice, But you must forget her.
AS I said, there are others. There is
one-Eleanor!"
Yorke sprung TO his feet.
Forget her? Leslie Lisle! What
are you talking about? We must be
mad-both of US. You to talk as you
have done. and I to listen. She's
true as steel! shall find a tele-
gram waiting for me at the club, and
all will turn out right"
Go and see!" he said, quickly. II
you do not find a message from her,
what Will you dog"
Though my body is twisted, my
brain is straighter and more acute