Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-03-26
Continued.

Ouy oCdIC S4J hA4Op' G~AN
answered, stretching out her hands.
HE is doing this thing secretly. He
is keeping it from his friends-from
the duke, from-from me, from all
of us"
Then he is half ashamed of it," he
suggested.
Perhaps so" she perhaps
so. But if he has made up his mind
TO do it he will go through with it,
despite all arguments and attempts
to dissuade him. Yorke''-she used
his Christian name unconsciously-
.'YOrke is one of the sweetest-tem-
pered men; you can lead him with a
silllen thread until he has resolved
TO do anything, then She turned
to him and looked at him beseeching
Iy. Can you help me-us; his
friends, l mean, generally? He is so
popular, so much liked! 1t would be
a shame and a pity that such an one
should be wrecked and ruined. In
such a case a man should be saved in
spite of himself Can nothing be
done? I have sent for you because
you have always helped me, have
always been so kind" She stopped,
and turned her face away.
Ralph Duncombe regarded her with
grave surprise.
I am very sorry" he said slowly,
rs a lawyer speaks to a client to
whom he has been listening patiently.
But ! do not see how you can act in
this matter. You might try persua-
sion"
She shook her head. ooh, you do
not know Lord Auchester!" she said.
I can scarcely see what else you
can do. He is of age and his own
master. And the lady is of age,
presume. You could scarcely bring
pressure upon herr"
Lady Eleanor sunk her head again,
this time scornfully.
1T is scarcely to be expected that
she would be induced to release him.
In these cases the girl is generally
low-bred schemer, or some simple
girl who believes that she and the
man she is running are in love. Oh,
no, nothing can be done with her! Be
sides, I know She was going to
say, I know one who has tried and
failed" but stopped suddenly.
Well, then" said Ralph Duncombe,
4 fear that I can suggest nothing,
After all, if Lord Auchester is re-
solved upon committing social sui
eide"
"Oh, it is TERRIBLE" she exclaimed,
in a low agitated voice; "and l
thought you would be able to help
ME"
i am very sorry for being so use
less" he put in.
i thought that perhaps those bills
YOU hold for me-that they would
give you such a power over him;
and she colored and cast her eyes
down
There is no longer arrest for debt
Lady Eleanor" he said. They say
there is no longer imprisonment for
debt! but that is not true. They inn
prison still, but they call it for con-
tempt of court All it is a pity we
are not living in the Dark Ages. We
CDalU nave set ul dLlDtAS4A Ia LII ~
Auchester, seized him bodily, and
cast him into a dungeon below the
mOat until he had come to his senses.
But there is an absurd prejudice
AGAINST that kind of thing nowadays"
She drew a long breath, and taking
her silence as an acceptation Of the
fact that he would be Of no use to
her, he reached for his hat and pre-
pared to go.
q suppose it is the usual thing" he
said, sympathetically Some girl of
the lower middle class has attracted
him. and she and her parents have
succeeded in obtaining a promise OF
marriage from him. 1t is not an
uncommon case
Lady Eleanor had sunk into her
chair again, and answered languidly,
for the excitement was beginning to
tell upon her:
Il do not know the details of the
affair 1t is very probable. The
girls name is Leslie Lisle-"
What"
The exclamation burst from him
with tie suddenness Of a gun-shot.
Lady Eleanor looked up; but he had
turned and stood at a little distance
with his back to the window, and
though as pale as usual, his face was
set and calm.
beg you pardon I did not quite
catch the name" he said. He spoke
very slowly, enunciating each word
distinctly, as if he were uncertain of
his voice 4 did not quite catch the
name"
leslie Isle" said Lady Eleanor.
He met her at a place called Port
maris. You remember that I men
toned it to you when you we're here
some weeks ago"
'Yes-I-remember," he said, in
lust the same slow, mechanical voice.