Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-04-12

am too bewildered to realize it yet. It
seems to me as If 1t would all melt
and fade away like a vision
The Abbey is too substantial, has
stood too long for that" said the old
man, with chuclle
AS they passed out into the hall
again, where man was waiting to
conduct her upstairs, Leola saw a
gentleman slowly ascending the steps.
He was young, handsome, admirably
dressed, and evidently self-possessed,
for he paused a moment at the door,
and looked around with a glance that
might have been described as keen
and searching but for its air of non
chalant languor, which was either
for 80 years. By state statues, cities
real or admirably feigned, and at last,
| fixing his eyes on Leola, he came
straight toward her, hat in hand, and
bowling, said:
Dare I hope that l am the first
neighbor to welcome Miss Dale to
her homer"
He glanced from Leola as he spoke
to Mr.. Ford, who said, quickly:
Miss Dale, this is Mr.. Philip Dyce,
a great friend of your uncle's, Sir Col
frey" he added, in lower key, whose
house We passed on the road, you re-
member"
"Oh, yes!" said Leola, offering her
hand at once with simple frankness;
1T was very pretty house among
! old oaks; there was a rustic lodge"
THAT is it." said Mr.. Dyce, bowling
over her hand, 80 that l am a near
neighbor my sister," he went on,
still looking at Leola fixedly with the
gray eyes, which were too well under
training to reveal their keenness,
my sister, Lady Vaux, who is Staying
with me, would have come over to
welcome you, but she has unfortunate
ly gone to London to keep a long
standing engagement; she will do her
self the pleasure Of calling tomorrow,
If you will not be too tired"
THANK you, very much!" said
Leola; 81 am sure l shall not be
| tired"
AT any rate you are now" he said,
in the same well-bred, composed, and
almost measured accents, "and / will
not intrude any longer; but l was
anxious to pay my respects without
| delay"
1T was very kind" said Leola, who
| felt, she knew not why, that while
the gray eyes were fixed On her face
i CHI 10
| she turned to Mrs. Wetherell and in
troduced her, and Mr.. Dyce, having
bowed to that lady, shook hands with
| Mr.. Ford, and with well-bred COM
posture and ease took his departure.
Mr. Ford looked after him for mo-
ment in silence, then said:
| You are likely to see great deal
of Mr.. Dyce, Miss Leola-that is, if
you desire to do SO. He was great
| friend of your uncle's, | might almost
say his only intimate friend. He was
with him when he died, and it is
thought by some, by many, that
He broke off suddenly, and Leola,
who had been listening with the deep
est interest, for at present she was
entirely and utterly ignorant of every
thing pertaining to that great and
powerful Sir Godfrey Lorme who had
made her great and powerful, and she
was naturally and almost painfully
eager to hear anything concerning
| him.
| "Yes-go on" she said.
'Pll tell you another time If you will
allow me; there is great deal to be
told, Miss Leola, at more convenient
season; for Mr.. Dyce, as usual, is right
you must be tired"
| Leola turned away with smile.
VERY WE'LL" she said. do not for
get that am very anxious to hear
81 have ordered dinner In an hours
time" said Mrs. Wetherell, as they
| turned up the stairs; II thought you
would like to see as much as yolr could
afterward."
| With the air of one perfectly ia
miliar with the road, he passed quick
ly, but not hurriedly, down the avenue,
until he had reached the lodge.
1t was, as Leola had said, a pretty
place, and it was not until one was
quite close to it that it assumed a
somewhat gloomy, secretive aspect.
which was caused by the shadow OF
some tall, somber frs, from which the
house took its name.
1 To he Continued.