Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-02-19
Continued.

wants to see me in London at once
at once do you hear? Why do you
stare at me like that? There is no
time to lose. We must go up to Lon
don at once-at once. Run up and
pack our things"
She rose and staggered to her feet.
mo. no. 1t is" She paused and
clutched his arm, laughing hysteri-
cally Don't believe it, papa. 1t is
not true. l can explain"
Explain? Not true? What are you
talking about, Leslie? tell you it is
from one of the first dealers in Lon
don. Fame-fame has come to me
at last! Get ready at once. We will
90 by the first train we can CATCH
CHAPTER XIII.
Leslie's heart seemed to stand still
as she listened to her fathers excited
words. What should she do? She
asked herself Should she tell him that
she had deceived him-that the mes
sage from the picture dealer was
mere subterfuge, a trick to get him
and her up to town?
But she could not tell him this
without explaining fully-without dis
closing the whole story of her love for
Yorke and the deceit he had practiced
on her-and she shrunk from the or
deal as one shrinks from fife.
She stood pale and trembling, her
hands writhing together, her brain
swimming, watching her father as he
hurried to and fro picking up some
article and putting it down again in
another place, under the impression
that he was packing.
ooh, papa!" she faltered out at last,
don't go-do not go-oh I implore
you not to go!"
Francis Lisle stopped in his furried
idgeting about the room and stared
at her with impatient annoyance.
MY dear Leslie, have you taken
leave of your senses?" he exclaimed
You look half distraught."
Il AMI am! Oh, if you only
knew" she almost sobbed.
Knew what?" he demanded, ir-
ritably. What it is you are talking
about? Any one would think we were
SOILS lO-lO AIlOLl ctllcS 4uDICdd VI
only to London And not go: Good
heavens, why should we not go? I
tell you this is one Of the first dealers
in London, and-and it is the great
opening l have been waiting for-ex-
pecting all my life
1t was uncomfortable. She went to
him and put her arm around his neck
and let her head fall on his shoulder.
"Oh, papa, papa! do not be too con-
fident-too hopeful. You-you may be
disappointed. Life is full of disap-
pointments-" Her voice broke.
You may be sorry that you have gone
up. Write-let me write to this
dealer"
He put her from him almost
roughly.
You are talking nonsense" he said
sheer nonsense! Why should this
dealer write to me and ask me to come
up at once-at once, mind-unless he
had some important commission for
me?"
She knew why, but she could not
answer; she dared not. She dreaded
the effect of the shock which the dis
closure, this disappointment, would
cause him. He was trembling with
excitement as it was, and the reaction
would be more than he could endure.
THERE" he said, with an attempt
at soothing her. 81 can understand
you being upset and unnerved. 1t is
only natural. I-even lam a little
-er-furried. But do calm yourself
and get ready. We shall go up by
the evening train. Take all our
clothes, for we may be up some time.
| can't tell what this dealer may want,
or-or where ne may send me. There.
20 collect yourself and get ready.
Wait, Give me a little brandy
and water The suddenness of
this-this change in our fortunes
has agitated me-"
tie brandy and water. The sudden
ness of this-this change in our
fortunes has agitated me-"
She got him some weak brandy and
water, and she noticed. as he drank it,
how his hand shook.
Then she stole up to her own room
nd began to pack mechanically, like
one in a dream.
Gradually she began to realize that,
after all, it was better perhaps that
they should leave Portmarls. Yorke-
the more passing of his name across
her mind caused her a pang-might
come down after her when he found
that she had not gone to London and
sent him her address. and she felt
that a meeting with him would nearly
kill her. At all costs that must be
avoided. In her heart she breathed
only one prayer-that while life lasted
she might be spared the agony of see
ing his face, hearing his voice again.
She finished her preparations for
herself and her father, and went down
stairs and helped him pack the absurd
and worthless canvasses; then she
went out to say goodbye to the old
place