Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-02-12
Continued.

face.
Read that, and believe!" she said.
Leslie took the note and looked at
If. The lines swan before her eyes;
but she saw a word here and there,
and the date; and, with a low cry,
which broke from her Notwithstanding
all her efforts to suppress it, she held
the note from her.
Finetta took it and restored 1t to
her pocket, then stood and looked
down at the motionless figure IN 81
lence for a moment or two.
You believe me now?" she said in
q low harsh voice. You see I'm tell
ing YOU the truth and not a pack OF
lies. And now, what are you going
TO do? Wait a moment. Let's see
how the land lies! Here am l,
who've-who've cared for him for
years-who would have been his wife
if-if he hadn't happened to have seen
YOU; and-mind I'm just as fit to be
his wife as you are! Why, come to
that. he'd tire of you ever so mucn
sooner than he would of me, because
YOU haven't any money and l have,
and can go on earning enough to keep
him amused. Don't you see, we've
been fond of each other for ever so
long. Why there's been scarcely
day for months past that we haven't
been together! And even If he's
smitten by you he doesn't throw me
over, you see. He sends me his por-
trait and a sweetheart's note with it
YES. and just after he's left you, too!
Now. that's how l stand. And now,
where are you? You've only known
him for a few days; you don't care
for him half-half? no. not one-tenth
as much as 1 do. That's only natural.
And it's only natural and right you
should give him up! Think it over.
After all. Miss Lisle," she went on,
with a kind of sullen responsiveness,
hes behaved very badly to yor"-he
has indeed. He never meant to throw
me quite over. He'd have come back
to me sooner or later!"
Leslie half rose from the rock, and
put out her hand as if to put the words
the insinuation-from her; then
sunk back and covered her face with
her hands.
"He'de have come back to me, and
then you'd have been great deal
worse off than you are now"
Leslie did not move, and Finetta,
watching her closely, allowed a minute
to pass in silence that her words might
sink in
Come now, Miss Lisle, there's no
occasion for you and me to quarrel!
Why when you think of it, you and
me have saved each others lives,
haven't we? And we ought-We
really ought to act square and straight
by each other! I'm the one that has
been badly treated, because he loved
ME first. and would have married me,
but for you. Just think of that. From
what I've seen of you I should say
that you were a kind-hearted lady, and
one that wouldn't injure a fellow
creature, leave alone a fenow-woman.
| should say you were too proud to
rob poor girl of the man she's
loved"
Leslie sprung up painting, and for
moent was breathless.
The shame. the humiliation, was
driving her mad
Un. be silent, be silent! Let me
think" she breathed Every word
YOU speak stabs mel" She put
her hand to her bosom with a passion
ate gesture that moved Flnetta. 1T
is all so sudden that-that l can not
realize it: can scarcely believe! Oh,
do not speak, l believe all you say;
YOU have shown me the noae, the por-
,-ait is his. and I can not but believe!
And | trusted him! ah-how l trusted
him!" Her voice broke for moment
and her eyes swan with tears, but she
dashed them away with her hand and
hurried on. with every now and then
a break between the words. But
what you say is true. He-he belongs
to you more than to me! He has
wronged US both; but he has wronged
YOU the more cruelty, and''-she stop
ped and put her hand to her throat as
if she were suffocating-"a Il
give him back to you. Yes, I give
him back to you!"
The blood rushed to Finetta's face,
then left it pale to the lips.
"You-yOu throw him up?" she
said. as if she could scarcely believe
her ears.
Leslie raised her head and looked
At her steadily, with look that would
have melted the heart of any one but
a rival.
He belongs to you, not to me- she
said in a low voice, as if every word
cost her heart a pang. Il will
never see him again if can help it
Do not let him know-do not tell him
that I have seen you. II have lo7ed
him, and would spare him the shame
- There was silence for a second
Finetta gazing at the ground with SCI
face and hidden eyes. Tiff he
should ever know that we met ant
At ~.0f