Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-01-15

benent.
And yet at times, when he was free
from pain. and he looked up at Leslie
as she stood beside his chair, he felt
doubtful and uncertain of his esti-
mate of her.
"She has the eyes of an angel" he
muttered, when they Were together
one morning, the second after Yorks
departure for London. zone would say
they were the clear windows of a
soul as pure as a child's."
His muttering was almost audible,
and Leslie, awakened by it from
dream, bent down to him, and asked:
What did you say, Mr.. Temple?"
Il was saying and thinking that you
are very good-natured to keep a crusty,
irritable invalid company on such a
delightful morning"
Did you say all that?" she re-
sponded, with soft laugh.
well, if I didn't say it, I thought
it," he replied. "You must find it
dull work; but you are used to sacri-
ficing yourself for others, are you
not?" and he glanced at the painter,
who was at work at little distance
on the beach.
1t is not much sacrifice to stay
with one those likes she said half
absently.
The duke looked up at her sharply,
and yet with a touch Of color in his
face.
THANK you! l take it that You
rather like me than otherwise, Miss
Leslie?"
q should be very ungrateful if l
did not" she said; and mentally add
ed; "And how could help liking you?
you are his friendr
q see,'' he said. "Well, it is very
kind of you to keep me company. /
should have missed my cOus1f--the
duke-very much if you had not been
here. 1 am afraid mine is dull society
after his, and that you miss the pleas
ant drives and Sails
"They were yer pleasant-yes, "
admitted, a little confusedly.
How hard it was she should be
obliged to deceive this kind-hearted
friend of York's! And she longed for
the time when he and her father
should know her and Yorke's blissful
secret-when all concealment should
be at an end, and her great happiness
proclaimed! And yet it was sweet,
this secret of theirs. 1t seemed to
make their love more precious and
sacred.
eyes," said the duke, "Yorke is
capital company. He is a great
favorite wherever he goes.
Yes" she murmured.
He's so lighthearted," went on the
duke; "and light hearted people are
extremely rare nowadays. But, after
all, it isn't very much to his credit. /
mean that it is easy to be joyous when
you are young, in perfect health, and
are"-he paused a second "a
duke"
'Are dukes so much happier than
other people?" she said, with faint
smile.
NO." he said, laconically. Most of
those I know are very much less
happy than the rest of mankind. But
it is different with the Duke Of Roth
bury. He is, as I say, young and in
splendid health" His lip curved, and
he sighed cynically. But if he weren't,
he would still be very popular, and al
" Ays welcome everywhere
"Why?" said Leslie, looking at him
with her guileless eyes.
He met their glance for moment.
hen lowered his keen suspicious
ones.
is it acting?" he asked himself;
and he gnawed at his lip.
"Why? Because he is a duke. If he
we're old and ugly and-and twisted as
[ am, he would still be run after by
all sorts and conditions OF men-and
he added, but in lower
voice, as if he were half ashamed of
his cynicism.
Leslie understood and her face
flushed for a moment; but it was not
with guilt, but the indignation of a
gravity.
That's what I meant" he assented,
cycling her attentively. There isn't
a woman in the world whose heart
doesn't leap at the thought of becom-
ing a duchess"
ct is not true!" she said, her eyes
flashing down at him with purest in
dignation. ct is But you are only
speaking in jest, Mr.. Temple" and
she smiled at the warmth she had
been hurried into.
He looked at her.
q am not testing" he said, "but
stating the solemn, shameful fact
"Ah, you do not know women at
an!' she said. NO" with a shake of
her head, as he opened his lips. 'You
may know a great many, and they
may be very great ladies, and few
of them may be as worldly as you say
they are, but not many. l will not
l.