Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-09-17

am. l can scarcely ToallAe II.
thought she might not consent right
away, that she might say she'd think
it over"
There was no occasion for her to do
that" said Faradeane, grimly.
BERTHE looked up sharply.
you mean that there was-soma-
one else?" he said, with the acuteness
of man whose nerves are on the rack.
Faradeane nodded.
There is! Who-whO is it,"
MIR. BARLEY Bradstone.'
BERTHE groaHed.
THAT fellow! Merciful Heaven!
Bradstone! Oh, Faradeane!"
You are surprised?'
Eyes; surprised is not the word.
Why-why, 1 never thought that she
would accept him. 1 knew he was pur-
suing her, but l never thought-if l
had any fear at all, and it only came
to me while was waiting here, it was
that it was you she might care for
Faradeane's face went white.
ut is you who are mad5" he said,
sternly.
Forgive me-" pleaded BERTHE, wip-
ing the perspiration from his forehead.
But I've seen her with both you and
him; and I've heard her speak to him,
seen her look at him as if she dis
liked him, while to you she was all
smiles"
Faradeane sprang to his feet.
THAT will dol" he said in a low,
harsh voice. You are scarcely &C
countabIe for your words today, Ber-
tie; but don't you see, great heavens,
man, how you are giving her away?
Is Miss Vanley the kind of woman to
engage herself to one man while she
is in love-Bah! pull yourself to-
g9ther, and face the inevitable like a
man." and he paced to and fro i'm
patiently.
BERTHE hid his face in his hands,
then he looked up.
"Faradeane, I'm sorry, / should not
have said what I did, and yet I could
have borne it better Tiff it had been
you instead of him. You are-well,
you are yourself, and are worthy of
her.
Faradeane stopped and put up his
hand with bitter laugh.
Worthy! I?' he said in an under
tone.
Eyes" said BERTHE, stubbornly. "Tn
all this-this mystery that hangs about
YOU I know how worthy you are;
could have borne it, could have looked
forward to the time when I could have
cared for her as a sister, and-but this
man! Why, Faradeane, has she ever
looked at him or spoken to him at all
pleasantly? Hasn't she snubbed him
and treated him in such a way as
would have made you and me go and
cut our throats?"
That's some women's way" said
Faradeane, grimly; ''to treat man
like dog and then-marry him"
But not hers!" responded BERTHE,
with earnest conviction. "You don't
know Olivia as we'll as do" Fara-
deane smiled sadly. "She has none
Of these unwomanly meannesses. No,
there is some other reason"
Faradeane stopped short and looked
at him.
DO you mean to say that it is be-
cause the man is Sich?'
BERTHE shook his head.
Heaven knows that can't be the
reason. The squire is rich nam
the estate"
Besides" said Faradeane, more to
himself than BERTHE, that would be a
reason for accepting you"
BERTHE coIored and shook his head.
mo, it wouldn't. Everybody knows
how poor we Carfelds are. My father
has been retrenching for years"
Faradeane shrugged his shoulders.
eve might talk till the moon turned
black" he said, "and still be far
enough away from her motives. The
question is, what will you do?"
What can I do?" replied BERTHE.
There is only one thing left for me
to do: to get away from here as soon
as possible; and to fight out the battle
as best l can. 1 shall start at once"
where to?"
"To-to the devill' responded Ber-
tie, desperately.
Faradeane laid a strong hand on
each of his shoulders, and looked him
full in the face with steadfast gaze.
mo, not in that direction, Cherub,"
he said. There is no forgetfulness to
be found in that gentleman's company.
That way, indeed, madness lies. Be
man, dear boy. Other men have suf-
fered-'" He paused. well, yes,
some of us have suffered worse pangs
than are torturing you this minute,
and we have gone whitheB you said.
Some of us have come back with much
difficulty; others have remained, and
gone down to the unfathomable pit.