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


Do YOU think I'm blind, Yorke? I'm
not clever like some OF your swell
friends, but I'm not fool. I've got
eyes, like other women, and perhaps
they're sharper than some. can
see something is the matter. | saw
it the moment I rode up to you in the
park today. and I've been watching
you all the evening"
You'd make a decent detective,
Fin" he said, trying to speak banter
ingly.
I dare say" she assented, most
women would, especially if they knew
the man they were after as l know
YOU
Yes, we are old friends, Fin" he
said.
That's it," she said, and that's
why l ask you what's the matter
what's happened Some men would
put me off or give me the lie, but you
amt like that. Yorke."
Thanks" and he laughed.
mo, you always go straight, and
that's one of the reasons why Like
you, don't you see2"
q see," he said. And so you
thought l looked this morning as if
I'd got something on my mind?"
Yes; when l came up you were
leaning against the rail, looking at
nothing, as if you were dreaming and;
while you were speaking to Lady
Eleanor"
You don't like me to speak of
her?" she said, with woman's quick
ness. All right; L shan't hurt YOU
by mentioning her name"
Don't be foolish, Fin he said,
coloring at the truth Of her insight.
He did not like to hear her mention
Lady Eleanor's name.
"Oh, I'm not foolish. | was saying
that you looked at her ladyship just
as you looked at me, as if you didn't
see either of us, as if you We're look
Ing right away beyond us; and it's
been the same tonight You haven't
heard half what was going on, but
have just been incoming and dreaming;
and so l ask you, what is it? Wait
minute. If you're going to tell me
it's money matters, you needn't for
shouldn't believe you. If the bailiffs
were in the house, you wouldn't let il
trouble you, you know"
I'm afraid l shouldn't" he ad-
mitted
Very WELL" she said; then it isn't
that-though you are hard up, and
pretty deep in debt, eh, Yorker"
"Of course" he said. Always have
been, and shall be; everybody knows
that
And so you're used to it, and don't
mind it, she went on. 1T isn't that,
then. What is it,"
you don't Ike making a clean
breast of it, she said, slowly, and
you think it like my cheek to ask you.
But | am an old friend, aren't L? I'm
only F'inetta, the girl that dances at
the Diadem, but I've got a feeling that
I'm a better friend to you than many
of your swell ones. | dare say they
think I'm bad lot, and that I've done
you no end of harm. Perhaps | have.
I've let you come here when you liked,
and take me about riding and driving
+, when you ought to have been with
them; but don't know, after all, that
I've hurt you very much. | dare say /
could if I'd like. You'd have given me
things like Charlie Farquhar it I'd
let you; but | didn't. l was a fool,
|
But-but you see | liked you. l didn't
care for the others; they were noth-
ing to me, and it wouldn't have mar,
tered if they'd spent their last shilling
on rings and flowers and things But
with you it was different; | don't know
quite why''-her eyes sunk thought
fully. Perhaps it was because You
always treated me like a lady, and
didn't bother me to run off with you Or
or marry you"
Her voice softened and a dash Of
color came into her olive cheeks.
you'd have made a poor bargain +
! l had and you'd consented, Fin" he
said, gravely,
L dare say she assented. ANY
how, you didn't, and don't mean tc.
Don't deny it. | know how you've a!
ways thought of me. I've been just
Ffnetta of the Diadem, and it's been
pleasant and amusing to take me
about and come and have supper, and
and that's all. She rised her eyes
to his face with a smile-a brave smile
that did not hide her aching heart
from him. And we've been such
very good friends she went on, after
a pause. That | speak out straight
and plain when l see that something
is the matter, and ask you what it is
And if you take my advice you'll tel
me. Who knows?-I might be able r.
help you, if you want any help Dom
laugh. WHAT that story about the
lion and the mouse? I'm only a mouse
I know, and you are no end of lion
but you may find yourself in a net
some day, don't you know"
| Her tone was S1ano,v h11+ thpro was