Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-05-07

said laughing, laughing softly, but a
little timidIy, for she had seen him
start and felt the pressure of his
hand. who should it be but my
friend, Miss Lisle.'
Leslie Lisle?" he said.
"Your-your fellow-teacher is called
II didn't say LESLIE but it is
Leslie"
AS she spoke, tail, slim figure in
white dress appeared against the
dark background of the open door
way, and came toward them, then
stopped.
rs that you, Lucy? You are not
alone?"
AS she stopped, her eyes glanced
quickly from one to the other, dilat-
ing as she looked; then her face
grew crimson, and she spoke his
name:
Ralph
'Leslie!" he answered, and made
a movement toward her; then, as if
suddenly remembering the wondering
frightened girl on his arm, stopped.
"You-you know each other?" said
Lucy, at last, in kind of gasp.
Ralph, what does it mean?"
eyes" she said, slowly, distinctly;
sMr. Duncombe and l know each
other. We are very, very old friends. +"
''Friends?'' fell from Lucy's CULVER
ing Inns and spoke dOubtfully in her
wide-open eyes.
Eyes, DEAR" said Leslie, friends
nothing more"
"This-this is a surprise, Les-Miss
Lisle," he said at last, and his voice
sounded almost harsh from his emo
ton. "Where have you been? What
has happened?''
EYES," she said, answering his I'M
spoken question; months ago. l will
tell you ali about it presently. Will
you both go in? You have something
to tell me, I see'' an she smiled. Il
will come directly. I have lost
something"
Lucy took Ralph's hand and held it
up.
ct is found" she said, and pointed
to the ringg solemenly. ut was to
you he gave it, was it not, Leslie?"
and a doubt, terrible fear, pang
almost of jealousy, shook her heart.
Eyes, Lucy" she said in a low
voice, every word thrilling intensely;
that ring was given to me by Mr..
Duncombe 1t was given to me as
a pledge of friendship. 1t was fare
we'll gift, given without requital-a
pledge and token that if ever l need
ed the donors help, had but to send
it as a message to find that help.
Since the day he gave it to me
have never seen Mr.. OuncOmbe; but
| | have never forgotten him, nor
ceased to cherish my ring; and yet
little smile curled her lip-"T have
lost it twice"
II don't understand. All, yes, l
do! l see it ALL" she said, with
little sob. and looking from one to
the other. 81 understand it all. 1t
was very natural" Her voice choked
little. Who could see you, know
you, wltnout loving your"
! Hush, usnl" whispered Leslie in
her ear. "That was so long ago that
he has forgotten it. There is only one
woman in the world he loves, and
she is here." and she drew Lucy's
| face against her bosom with loving
pressure.
We have not shaken hands yet"
she said, with a little laugh; "and we
are keeping you outside in the most
inhospitable fashion. Pray come in;
and she went on, Supper is ready,
and" Her eyes filed.
ct is her father she is thinking of"
she whispered to Ralph, with woman
! Iy instanct She knew that Leslie
would have died rather than weep
for a lost lover before that lover and
| the woman who had won him. 'It is
Of her father The sight of you has
brought it all back to her Oh, how
wonderful it all is. To think that
you"
I'D better co. said Ralph, with a
mans aptitude at doing the wrong
thing.
mo, no; not till she has got over it.
She will be all right in moment.
You don't know how brave she is"
Indeed, almost in a moment Leslie
had dried her tears.
Forgive me- she. murmured peni-
tently How stupid you must think
me! and I am so full Of happiness at
her happiness, too! And it was to
this gentleman, this old friend of
mine you gave the fern-root, and who
drove you and Jenny home in the
rain?"
Eyes. And you are really glad?"
"Gladder than I have ever been in
my life-than 1 have been for, oh, so
long!" she corrected herself. IF |
could have chosen your future for
Won 7 would have chosen lust this