Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-04-23

in them. A charming, an irresistible
picure, and one that appealed to this
man with the storm-beaten heart ach-
ing in his bosom.
She glanced up at him, saw the
haggard face, the dark rings around
the eyes, that indescribable look
which pain and despair and utter
abandonment produce as plainly as
the die stamps the hallmark on the
piece of silver and her heart yearned
for him, for his love-yearned for
the right to comfort and soothe him.
All! if he would only have it so-if
he would only let her, how happy she
would make him! All this, and much
more, she felt; but she looked quite
placid and serene-like a dainty lily
unstirred by the wind-and said IN
her soft voice.
1--WE were thinking of advertising
for you, Yorke. Have you been away?"
He might have answered: Eyes, I
have been in the Valley Of Sorrow
and Tribulation, on the Desert of
Dead Love and Vain Hope" but in
stead he replied:
No; just here in London; but
have been busy"
BUSY! That sounds so strange,
and so comic, coming from you!"
"And yet it is true" he said. 81
have been busy thinking" If there
was a touch of bitterness in his voice
she did not notice it. "And that's
hard work for me-it's so new, you
see."
There as silence for a moment. He
held the string with which he had
been tying up the books in his hands,
and fidgeted with it restlessly.
Lady Eleanor dropped into small
talk. Had he been to the Chrys-
anthemum Show at the Temple?
Had he noticed that the Duchess of
Orloffe was not going to give her
autumn ball? Did he
He broke in suddenly as If he had
not been listening, his voice hoarse
and thick.
Eleanor, why did you do it?"
'Why did do what, Yorker" she
said.
"Why did you fling so much money
away upon worthless scamp" His
face went white, then red.
"Who told you?" she breathed.
'They told me down at the court
where 1 had gone to be disgraced,' he
said, "and you saved me! How can
l thank you, Eleanor? How can |?
And you would have done it in secret,
would have kept it from me?"
Eyes, oh, yes!" she murmured, her
head dropping "Dont-dont say
anything about it. 1t was nothing
-nothing!" She looked up at him
eagerly, pleadingly "Yorke, you will
not think badly of me because l did
it? Why shouldn't !? I am rich
you don't know how rich-and what
better could l do with the stupid
money than give it to "a friend who
needed it more-ten thousand times
more-than / do or ever shall? Don't
be angry with me, Yorke!"
Angry" The blood flew to his
face and his eyes flashed. He drew
nearer to the chair in which she sat,
he knelt on one knee beside her.
Eleanor, l am utterly worthless
you know that quite we'll. l was not
worth the saving, but as you have
saved me, will you accept me? Flea
nor, will you be my wife,"
Her face went white with the
ecstasy which shot through her heart.
All, for how long had she thirsted,
hungered for these words from his
lips! And they had come at last!
"Will you be my wife, Eleanor?
will try to make you happy. l will
do my best, Heaven helping, to be a
good husband to you! Stop, dear!
If you act wisely you will send me
about my business! There are fifty
a hundred better men who love you;
you could scarcely have a worse than
l, but if you will say yes l will try
and be less unworthy of you. All my
life l will never forget all that l owe
you-never forget that you saved me
from ruin and disgrace. Now, dear,
L
She put out her hand to him with
out a word; then, as he took it, her
passion burst through the bonds in
which she thought to bind it, and
she swayed forward and dropped up
on his breast.
sYorke, Yorke, you know"-came
through her parted lips-"you know |
love you-have always loved you!
my poor Eleanor" he said, almost
indeed quite pityingly. Such a had,
worthless lot as l ami"
mo. no." she painted. mo, no;
the best, the highest to me! And
and if you were not, tit would be
all the same. Oh, Yorke, be good,
be kind to me, for you are all the
world to mel"
"By the way, Eleanor, how did you
hear ] was in such a mess-how did