Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-04-16
Continued.

ROOM a summons TO appear IN
debtors court! his name in the news
papers as a ruined man! 1t was all
bad enough. but he scarcely felt it.
He had endured the maximum of suf-
fering when ne had become con-
WINGED that Leslie had Tilted him, and
this-well, this was, so to speak, al
most a relief and a diversion. And
yet the disgrace!
He passed a very bad half hour in
the dressing-room-a half hour In
which there rose the specter of an i'll
spent past, in which follies marched
in ghostly procession before him; and
all, as they promenaded by, whispered,
hoarsely, Ruin" And yet through
it all he saw more plainly than any
thing else the sweet face of Leslie, the
only woman he had ever loved-the
woman who had seemed to him an
angel of truth and constancy, but who
had deserted him the moment she
had heard that he was not duke.
Fleming, meanwhile, had put on his
hat and sailed into the street. He
had left his beloved master utterly
reckless and Indifferent, and there
fore it rested with him, the devoted
servant, to display all the more
energy. That he should sit still and
see Lord YOrke drift into utter ruin
and destruction was simply impos-
tble.
1ethings got to be done, he
salu to himself, "and I've got to do
it. He isn't going to appear at any
court; not if I know it! What. my
guv'nor, the cousin of a duke, to
come up before a beak-some mis-
cradle city alderman" Fleming's
ideas of the city law courts were, like
his masters, hazy. Certainly not
not if l have to move heaven and
earth! Now, if the duke was at
home I could see Mr.. Grey, and we
could arrange this little matter be-
tween us; but as he isn't, why, the
thing to do is to go to the next per-
son, and that is, naturally, Lady Flea
nor Dallas. 1t isn't likely that she'd
see Lord Yorke in such a hole as this
without helping him out; and she's
rich, and richer than ever lately. I'll
try her!"
He called a hanson and had him
self driven to Kensington Palace Gar
dens.
Anyhow her ladyship can only re-
fuse to see me-" he said to himself.
But l don't thin she will" and 'he
winked the other eye"
Oh! my friends, do you think our
servants are deaf, and dumb, and
blind? They know all our little
secrets and our little difficulties; all
our little entanglements. There is
scarcely a letter We receive that, I'M
less we lock it up securely, they do
not read. No friend ever visit us but
they know all about him and his, and
whom his daughter is engaged to, or
why the engagement is broken off.
Therefore let us be grateful to
kind providence for the servants who
are also devoted and trusty friends,
such as was Fleming.
When Fleming reached Kensington
Palace Gardens he was told by one
of the footmen that Lady Eleanor was
engaged.
You've come with message from
Lord Auchester, Mr.. Fleming.
suppose?" said the fOotman.
Fleming was an upper servant
and was always addressed by those
beneath him as Mr." and he was
very much respected on his own &C
count as one who had saved money
and was in good society
We'll, no, I haven't" said Fleming,
gravely, and a little pompously. I've
come on business of my own"
The fOOtman took his name into the
boudoir where Lady Eleanor was sit
ting 10 other than Mr.. Ralph Dun
combe
1T is Lord Auchester's valet" she
said
q 10 not wish him to see me, Lady
Eleanor"
No. no; oh, no! understand" she
said, nervously.
And yet I should like to know
what he has to say"
Lady Eleanor pointed to a large
sour-fold Japanese screen which cut
off one of the corners of the room.
He will not be here many min
utes,' she said.
Ralph Duncombe went behind the
screen. and Lady Eleanor rang the
bell and told the footman she would
see Fleming.
He came in, looking rather nervous
and embarrassed, for it was q bold
thing he was going to do, and he
knew that Lady Eleanor could look
md speak haughtily and sternly when
she was displeased.
you want To see me, Fleming?
she said, graciously enough. rs It
a message LON ford Auchester?"
No. my lady" he said, and like a
man OF the world he went straight to
the point. NO, my lady, his lord