Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-08-27
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
Little dreaming of the scene that
was being enacted by Olivia and Bart
ley Bradstone, Bertie started on his
way home. He meant to walk to Car
field, and to think of Olivia every inch
of the way. He had always loved
her as a boy, and when they were
playmates; but now he found his love
of that absorbing kind which masters
a mans whole being and dominates
his life.
Garfield was no great distance for a
young man in frst-rate condition, and
he set out at a steady pace, thinking
of Olivia at very step. Dearly as he
loved her-perhaps because he loved
her so dearIy-he could not summon
up courage to tell her so. They had
been playmates together; it had been
oily and BERTHE for as long back
as he could remember, and yet-yet
he had not the courage to go to her
and say, OLIVIA, be my wife!"
Il am a coward, that's what it ISL
he murmured, ruefully. Nov, if it
was Faradeane instead of me
He pulled up short. Strangely
enough, the comparison had occurred
to him at the very moment he was
passing the top of the lane in which
The Dell stood.
After a moments hesitation he
turned into it, and opened the gate.
AS he did so he saw, or fancied he
saw, the figure Of a man cross the
path and disappear in the shrubs that
grew on each side.
Us that you, Faradeane?" he said.
who's there ~
No response came, and deciding
that it was a trick of his imagination.
aided by lights and shadows, he went
up to the door.
1t was ajar, which seemed strange
to BERTHE, and pushing it open he en-
tered, and opened the door of the sit
ting-room.
Faradeane was sitting beside the
table; he had thrown off his dress
coat, and was leaning On the table
with his head resting upon his arms.
"Faradeane, old fellow!" said B3r-
tie. softly.
He started, and sprang to his feet,
with a look, not of apprehension, but
as if he had suddenly awakened from
some painful reverie, and Bertie felt
a pang shoot through him at the pal
lor and the wanness of the hano some
face.
well, Cherub," he said. rs it
you?"
Eyes. l startled you. I'm awfully
sorry. We're you asleep, old MANI"
Faradeane smiled.
mo, only thinking. Well, have you
come from the Grange? Sit down. >
BERTHE sank into the chair with a
sigh.
Eyes. I've just come from the
Grange. I'm sorry you didn't join US.
I left them all talking Of your wonder
full performance"
Faradeane made little gesture OF
depreciation, as much as to say that
he had already received more than
his due in that way, and, placing a
cigar-box on the table, lit his pipe.
1T was kind of you to look in,
Cherub," he said; "and l am very
glad to see you. Make yourself COM
Portable, and accept my gratitude-and
some whiskey-and water"
"As to gratitude-well, to ten you
the truth-but 1 say, old fellow, l
thought 1 saw you in the garden in
the front as I came in just now"
Faradeane shook his head as he
held the match to his pipe.
NO, of course not, because you were
sitting here; but could have declared
that l saw the figure OF man cross
in front of the window"
Faradeane dropped the match, and
strobe to the door, then stopped short.
'.My man. my gardener, groom,
valet. factotum," he said. HE was
looking round for the night, daresay.
And he sank down into a chair oppo-
site Bertie's. @And now what was
this truth you were going to tel me,
Cherub?"
BERTHE cofored, and shifted in his
seat nervously.