Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-05-21
CHAPTER xxx.

not come in by the usual train, she
gave you up. Why didn't you wire?"
q forgot it," he replied, absently.
What is the use of having a special
wire if you don't use it? Have you
had your dinner?"
YES" he replied, though he had
eaten nothing since the morning. =
you are not looking very well,
Yorke. You seem tired and tagged.
A change is what you want"
We'll, I shall get it directly" he
said. Which way has Eleanor gone?
I'll see if can find her"
"She said something about going to
the village. But I don't expect she
will get beyond the grounds. Have
some coffee or something"
He mixed brandy and soda,
more to please her than himself, and
then went out.
He found his pipe and tobacco
pouch, but his matchbox was absent.
He hunted in the corners and crevices
of his pockets for match, but sue
Cessfully, and he was about to give
up the idea of smoke, when he
came upon the school and school
house. He stopped and looked at it
absenly He had been so absorbed
in gloomy reverie as he passed it on
his way from White Place that he
had not noticed it.
He stood by the little white gate
in the closest hedge for a moment
or two TO see if any one was about
of whom he might ask a light; then,
as no one appeared, he pushed open
the gate, walked up the narrow, weed
less path, and knocked at the door.
A neat-a remarkably neat-little
house-maid answered his knock, and
in severe accents said:
Round to the back door, my man."
Yorke had his coat collar turned
up and his short pipe in his mouth,
and the little maid had taken him for
"a tramp or peddler.
''Well, what is it?" asked the girl.
"Oh, I only want a light for my
pipe Will you be good enough to
give me one?"
ooh, beg your pardon, sir, but we
have so many strange kind of peo-
pie come knocking"
THAT you do well to be CAREFUL he
said.
She brought him box of matches,
and he thanked her, raising his hat,
and was turning to go out of the gar
den, when she said:
Wouldn't you like to wait till the
rain is over?'"
Thank you; I'll stand here under
the hedge"
He finished his pipe, and was re-
filing it--had his hand upon the to-
bacco pouch-when suddenly he heard
a voice singing. The perspiration
broke out upon his forehead, and the
hand that held the pipe shook, for at
that moment the last words of the
song died away with a peculiar little
thrill, a soft little sigh which he re-
membered in Leslie's voice-and in
hers alone-most distinctly. 1T is
stole across the small square of grass
and up to the window, and looked in.
1t was Leslie!
"Leslie."
Leslie! oh, Leslie!"
She seemed to struggle against the
potent influence he exerted; then
she came nearer
ooh, my darling-my darling! is it
really you? You shrink from me,
Leslie? Oh, my dearest, to shrink
from met"
'Why-why have you Gomez" she
breathed.
"Why have you hidden from me?
Why did you do it, Leslie? Oh, God!
if you knew what have suffered"
observation-disclosures All, no, it is
/"
Leslie, Leslie!" he cried, striving
hard to speak calmly and slowly,
'listen to me. I'll try and explain
III try and tell you how this cruel
thing has been brought about. 1t will
be hard work. The words sound like
tumble in my ears, and it is all
can do to keep myself from taking
you in my arms All, don't shrink;
don't be frightened 1 will leave you
easily proved he muttered; and he
to be the judge when-when you have
heard all. Leslie, that woman,
Finetta-Leslie, Leslie, she lied! She
told you she was to be my wife. 1t
was not true, then or ever. AS
Heaven is my witness, there was not
even love between US, on my side.
had parted from her two days be-
fore"
"Oh, hush! I remember every
word-every word! 1t is burned in
to my heart"
1T was false! 1 can understand all
she would say. She is an actress
would have deceived a woman of
the world, mulch more easily one all
innocence and purity like yourself,
dearest"
"You-you forget the portrait You