Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-07-23
O l. | Y / a
OF IT WAS FOR HER SAKE
c
Continued.
By CHARLES CARVICE

always tries to make out as 1t was
nothing at all; and look at his fore
head" and he pointed to the scar.
Olivia raised her eyes to it, and met
his grave, sad, hslf-smiling gaze, be-
meath which her own dropped instant
ly.
81 am afraid you won't succeed in
persuading me that am even a sec
ond-rate hero, Afford" he said.
COW is Bessie this morning?"
Afford told him that she was much
better, and Mr.. Faradeane turned as
if to go, when a sudden impulse seized
Olivia, and, falteringly, she said:
Il am so sorry for what occurred
yesterday at The picnic, Mr.. Fara-
deane."
He stopped and looked at her absent
ly for a moment, as if the incident
had escaped his memory; then he
said:
pray don't give it a moments re-
greet. Mr.. Bradstone's indignation
was very natural. Trespassers are
a nuisance at any time; but at
picnic they are intolerable. I have
written to Mr.. Bradstone apologizing
for my intrusion, and assuring him
that it shan't occur again. l hope
you had pleasant day"
Very" said Olivia; and he turned
to go again when she said, My father
called on you this morning. He was
sorry to find you were out"
He looked down at The path in
grave silence for a moment; then he
said, as he raised his eyes to hers:
''Will you please thank Mr.. Vanley
for his courtesy. l live a very soil
tary and secluded life, Miss Vanley."
Does that mean that you decline
his acquaintance" asked Olivia, in
her straightforward way.
His brow .furrowed with a wistful,
troubled frown.
q am afraid it does" he said. 81
am what is called recluse, a mis-
anthrope-"
What is called" said Olivia, quiet
Iy; "a misanthrope who stops run
away ponies, and takes the trouble to
inquire daily after a sick girl! Isn't
that little inconsistent"
He smiled.
You are rather hard upon me- he
said in low voice. He paused. 81
am sorry did not see Mr.. Vanley
this morning; but consider; what
sympathy, what friendship could exist
between Harold Faradeane of The
Dell and the Squire of Hardwood? ?"
Olivia flushed.
DO you think my father values a
man by the size of the house he in
habits, Mr.. Faradeane?"
Il think him high-minded English
gentleman" he responded, with grave
earnestness, but between a man in
his position and a man in mine there
is a vast difference"
Olivia bit her lip, and turned aside
with slight bow.
"Will you give these TO Bessie,
Alford?" she said, as if she had fin
ished with Mr.. Faradeane.
He stood with his dark, sad eyes
fixed on the ground; then he ap-
preached her.
q have offended you," in a low,
almost an appealing voice.
Olivia turned to him with lowered
lids.
"Oh, no."
Your words say No. but your
tone says Yes he said.
Olivia tried to laugh.
may be rather displeased at having
ones overtures of friendship declined,
however politely" she said.
He dug a stone out of the path with
his stick; then he looked up at her.
You have put the case candidly;
but think, Miss Vanley; your father
knows nothing of me. He has paid
me the attention of a call, because I
was so fortunate as to be of slight
service to one of his servants. Am
to take advantage of such an acct
dent? He knows nothing of me, re-
member"
My father is perfectly free to
choose his friends" she retorted. "He
would have called on you, even if
this accident of Bessie's had not oc-
Cured"
He struck the pebble he had dug
out, and sighed.
DO not tempt me-" he murmured
in so low a voice that Olivia did not
hear him.
What did you say?" she asked.
He fixed his dark eyes on hers.
Miss Vanley." he said, the lines of
his forehead deepening, as if he were
going through a mental struggle. &
came to this place resolved to isolate
myself, separate myself, from the So
eiety of my fellow-men. My reasons
are of no consequence in the argu-
ment. 1 came here to bury myself
Chance, accident, Providence, as some
would call it, has thrown me into in
tercourse with my neighbors.