Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-02-26
Continued.

parted, ana sac IdILeI6O-
you have been very good and
and patient and forbearing, sir, and
am grateful-very grateful.
Don't mention it, Miss Isle" he
said, touched by her loneliness and
sadness. 4 quite Understandable
is-well I can't quite understand
why, his-his grace"
His lordship."
Il cannot explain. But You wall
see him"
Yes, certainly" assented M
.Arnheim.
will you tell him, please''-her
voice broke, and her hands clasped
and unclasped-"will you tell him
that I came here against my will-that
I was obliged to come; and that-that
! wish him to forget everything that
has passed. That neither my father
nor l wish to see him again. That we
wish to pass out of his life as if we
had never seen him-never known
him. Will you tell him this? YOU
you think it strange, unbecOming, that
I should give you this message, Mr..
Arnheim; but''-her voice broke
but perhaps you have daughter Of
your own, and-and thinking of her,
you will not refuse"
She broke down and covered her
face with her hands.
Mr.. Arnheim had a daughter, as it
happened, and he did think of her.
az
Lsle,'' he said, in low voice; but l
understand enough TO convey your
message
Leslie gave him her hand without
another word, and hurried after her
father.
She found him descending the stairs
slowly, and he stopped as she reached
him and nodded at her.
One moment, Leslie he said, in
nervous accents. 4 forgot to ask Mr..
Arnheim if his gallery is insured.
Such works as have left with him
are-are priceless"
Before she could stop him, he had
turned and reascended the stairs and
re-entered the gallery. Leslie FOL
lowed him. The gallery was empty,
but voices were heard behind the par
tition. and Mr.. Arnheim could be heard
exclaiming, in tone of mingled indig-
nation, pity and amusement:
The man is as mad as halter"
Leslie laid her hand upon her
fathers arm.
Come away, DEAR" she implored;
but he shook her hand off and put his
finger to his lips warningly.
Hush! Be silent! I want to
hear what he is saying. These men
never express themselves fully about
the pictures in the presence Of the
artists. Now listen, and you will hear
what he really thinks. Hush, it is
quite fair-quite," and he chuckled
confidently.
Leslie, turned to stone with appre-
hension and dread, stood still and
waited.
Mad as a hatterr" continued Mr..
Arnheim- to some one behind the partl-
ton. The picture he raves about
are simply daubs! The daubs of a
lunatic who has had access to paint
and brushes. Look at this, He called
it a sea-scape! Look at it. Why, a
schooLboy of fourteen would blush to
have painted it! Did you ever see any
thing like it? l never did, and I've
had some queer experiences in the
course of business. If it hadn't been
for that sweet creature, his daughter,
I should have burst out laughing; but
something-dashm me if l know what
kept me quiet Look here; it's a
dashed shame; that's what it is. He
told me to write for the man, and
thought it was all on the square. But
it's my opinion he's got some game
on hand with the daughter. / might
have guessed that, seeing the sort OF
man he is. These swells are all alike.
Yes. it's a dashed shame. She is too
good to be made a fool of and de-
ceived. But did you ever see such an
awful lunatic daub as this-and this
and this?"
The speakers voice rose in the
crescendo as he evidently showed each
of Francis Lisle's pictures.
There was never anything like
'em out of a mad-house!"
The voice ceased for lack OF breath,
and Leslie, horTor-stricken, turned to
her father. He was leaning against
1he wall, his face white, livid, his head
dropped, his eyes staring vacantly.
"Father-father! she said in low
voice
He did not seem to hear her. but his
lips moved and she could hear faint
horrible echo of the words that had
been spoken behind the screen.
Come away, dear" she implored
him. Come away"
He dropped his eyes to her face
and tried to smile. but it was a hide
Gus grimace.
Yes, yes" he said, hoarsely, almost
inarucularly. Let us go home. Let
US