Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-10-08
CHAPTER XIX.

deane, decided to strike while the
iron was hot. He had got the net
round Olivia; he resolved to draw it
tight. From that evening he kept a
close guard on himself, and his man
ner changed-for the better. In fact,
| to the casual observer he would have
passed as remarkably good-tempered
man. He was polite to the servants,
deferential to the squire, attentive to
Miss Amelia and to Olivia was de-
voted and reverential.
Not only the Grange people, but
outsiders noticed the change.
"Bradstone has improved since his
engagement" said Lord Garfield.
But daily intercourse with Olivia
Vanley would tame a savage and edu-
cate a bear
He watched olivia as cat does a
mouse, and she was quite afraid of ex-
pressing a desire for anything lest ne
should rush off and procure it for
her.
To Harold Faradeane, too, his man
ner was quite friendly; and he had
plenty of opportunity for showing It,
for Faradeane came often to the
Grange now.
Sometimes he would walk in after
breakfast, sometimes before they had
finished. In the latter case he would
sit and talk with the squire until the
meal was over; then go round his
stables with him or ride over to some
farm on the estate And Olivia
noticed that whenever Harold Fara-
deane came her fathers face Bright
ened and lost something of its anx-
ious look. In fact, the old man had
conceived a great liking for the hand
some, grave-faced owner Of The Dell,
a liking that grew day by day into &
warm friendship.
To Olivia, Faradeane's bearing was
one of quiet, respectful courtesy. At
first the color had risen to her face
and her heart had leapt at his ap-
prevail; but, though his appearance al
ways sent thrill through her, she
learned to master her emotions and
greeted him as calmly as he greeted
her.
Sometimes he would be persuaded
to walk over and dine with them, and
on those occasions she put on one Of
her best 'frocks and was more than
usually careful with the thick coils
of hair which nestled like crown on
her shapely head. Often she stood be-
fore the glass when her maid had left
her and looked at herself with a
strange, absent air; seeing not the re-
Election OF her own face, but his, as
she recalled it on the day he had bent
over her and taken her in his arms.
Then she would sigh heavily-and
ali! so wistfully and wearily-and go
down to the drawing-room to see his
tall, patrician figure and handsome
face beside the plebeian one of Bart
ley Bradstons, her future husband.
All through the dinner BARLEY Brad
stone would covertly watch the two,
even while he was apparently ell
gagged with his plate or in talk with
the squire; but his sharp, suspicious
eyes never detected the slightest hint
of any understanding between her
and Faradeane. Always pleasant and
courteous, sometimes witty and anus
ing, Faradeane never singled her out
for any special attention of any kind;
and BARLEY Bradstone guessed moth
ing of the scene in the woods, had no
! Of hn 1ixrio TTyhf nh
every word of Faradeane's, every
smile of his, produced.
The days sped on without anything
of consequence occurring until Bart
ley Bradstone struck.
One evening, just after the post
had come in, Olivia went into the
study to get a fresh supply OF note pa
per and found the squire pacing up
and down, with an ashen face and
tightly drawn lips In his trembling
hand was an open letter, which, at
her entrance, he crushed up and
thrust into his pocket.
"Papa!" she said in low, anxious
voice, and going up to him instantly,
what is the matter?"
Nothing, nothing, dear!" he said,
and his voice sounded harsh and
strained. THAT is, have had
| troublesome letter"
LET me see it, DEAR" she said, put
| ting her arms round his neck.
mo, mol" he replied, hurriedly. 1T
it is nothing you would understand;
only a business matter"
But let me see it, DEAR" she plead
ed. st may be able to help you; at
any rate, I can share the trouble with
/ you," she added, sweetly.
But he shook his head.
l "No no. Won could not help me