Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-01-15

duke OF MOI. he SILT
Yes, it would make a difference, y
she said in a low voice. Il would
rather not make the acquaintance OF a
duke, or any one else so far above
me in rank; and there are hundreds
of women who feel the same"
obi" he said, curtly; 81 never
was fortunate enough to meet any
Seeing that that is your feeling, it
was very kind of you to honor me
/ mean my cousin he corrected him
self, sharply-"with your friendship,
Miss Leslie;" and he smiled.
"An actress!" he muttered; and
yet I'll give her a word Of warning
though she doesn't deserve it."
did the duke happen to say when
he was coming back, Miss Leslie?'
NO. she said. HE said that he
might be two or three days"
shouldn't be surprised if Port
maris never saw him again.
He saw Leslie start slightly; then a
faint smile flickered over her face-a
smile of perfect faith. Yorke not
words to her: Il shall count every
moment while l am away from you
dearest-every moment till l am back
with you
my cousin is rather cratic" said
the duke casually, and indifferently.
He is very nice fellow-good-
natured and the rest of it; but-well,
a little tickle; at least, that's the char
acter the ladies give him"
''Fickle?" she said, smiling still.
Yes" he said, languidly. What's
that song in the Grand Duchesse? "A
butterfly fits from flower to flower
One couldn't blame the butterfly, you
know 1t is its nature, to- as Doc
tor Watts says. And, like the but
terfy, Yorke is what is called very
susceptible. He is always falling in
love-"
She moved slightly, and the smile
died away from her lips; but the clear
gray eyes met his steadily, unfinch-
ingly.
And, fortunately, falling out of it
who was in the habit of proposing to
some woman every day; and if she &C
copied him, he rode off and she saw
him, he asked her to be a sister or an
aunt or something of that kind to
him, and rode off just as easily
81 thought you were a friend Of the
Duke of Rothbury, Mr.. Temple she
said in low voice.
The duke flushed.
Eth? Oh, I seel You think it very
base of me to speak i'll of him behind
his back?"
"That is what I meant" she as
scented, gravely.
"Oh but the world wouldn't consider
that I had spoken at all i'll of him.
"The world" she said. How
wicked, heartless it must be, this
world of yours, Mr.. Temple!"
1T isl he said, curtly; cas- heart
less as a flint"
COR. as the Duke of Rothbury, if he
were what you have painted him. she
said, very softly.
"You don't believe me, then?" he
asked, looking up at her from under
his bent brOws.
"Not the very least" she said,
actually smiling.
'You forget / have known him all
his life, and that you have only known
him for five minutes"
She still smiled.
But in five minutes one may learn
- She stopped, and her face flushed,
and the tears rose to her eyes. mo,
| don't believe it," she said, her voice
tremulous. "There may be some men
who are false and heartless as you
say, but not the Duke of Rothbury!"
Don't be so sure of that, Miss
Leslie" he said, with touch of warn
ing in his voice. HE rs a good fell
low, a charming companion but
He was stopped by the expression Of
acute pain which shone in her eyes.
ooh, please let us talk of something
eIse!" she said, quickly. 'See, here is
the postman"
Il hope he has brought my medi- |
cine" said the duke.
But the postman, tuggtng at his cap,
handed a small parcel to Leslie.
For me?" she SAID, with surprise
why, what can it be? Are you sure
it is for me, and not for papa? 1t is
like one of the boxes they sent the
colors in"
"a sample of a new scent or pearl
powder" said the duke, leaning back
languidly.
'Why should they send it to me?"
she said laughingly
She tore off the outer wrapper as
she spoke, and with the pleasant ex-
element which is always produced by
the receipt of a parcel whose contents
are unknown, she opened the little
wooden box.
The duke heard an exclamation
cry of amazement, Of admiration, of
deIight-and looked up sharply.