Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-05-07

There is something you have
thought OFF, he said.
YES, there is something" she ad-
mitted
NO, dear; it is no secret. Besides,
if it were, we must not keep secrets
from each other. Wait moment.
DO you know anything he asked
Lucy.
mo-" she replied in an awed Whls-
per. ''She has told me nothing OF
the past-nothing. We love each other
like sisters. and l think there is no
one in the world half so good and
sweet as Leslie; but should not dare
yes. that is the word-to ask her
confidence"
Leslie came back into the room.
She had a small package in her
hands, hich she laid on the table be-
fore Ralph Duncombe.
81 am going to ask you to do some
thing for me-" she said, with smile
that fiickered sadly, as if it were very
near tears. 81 want you to give this
to the person to whom it is adj
dressed"
"The Duke of Rothbury," he said!
aloud.
'You may open it," said Leslie in
low voice. at is Of very great value,
believe. If it had not been, should
have sent it by post"
Ralph opened the package and
stared, amazed.
''It is of great value" he said, grave
ly. "And l am to give it to the Duke
of Rothbury?"
eyes," said Leslie, her lips CULVER
ing.
He gave you this?" he said.
Eyes. But-but do not ask me any
questions, please"
at is not necessary" he said. 'You
have suffered, and at his hands"
"No-no!"
But it is yes-yes!" he said, with
restrained passion.
Great Heavens! what a mistake
Lady Eleanor had made! 1t was
not Lord Auchester, then, but the
Duke of Rothbury, Leslie had been
going to marry.
81 will give it to him." he said,
sternly.
"Give it to him, but that is ALL she
said, meaningly. "There is nothing to
be said or done"
"You mean that Tiff he has wrong
ed you, you have forgiven him?" he
said.
Long, long ago!' she breathed.
"You may say that tiff there should
be occasion, but no more
at shall be as you wish. Your word
is law to me-"
81 knew that you would do it for
me-"
Then, as if she wished the subject
to be ended, she began to talk of his
and Lucy's strangely made asquaint
ance, and their future.
st is the greatest pity in the world
that you should have happened to be
D sing that day Lucy was frightened
by the wild horseman, for the govern
ment will lose one of it's best teach
ers.
"And 1 shall gain one of the best of
wives"
They talked for half and hour, and
Leslie seemed as light-hearted as
they; but presently she stole out of
the room, with Goodnight"
do you understand ito" whispered
Lucy, as he took her in his arms to
say farewell. Does it mean that
Leslie might have been a duchess?"
Eyes, l think So" he said. Il don't
were cropping in the dark, with just
a glimmer of light But, anyhow, |
know am sure that the fault, if |
there was any, was his, and I wish
that she left me free to tell him so
and exact reparation.'
"Ah, but that is just what you must
not do" said Lucy, shrewdly. ct is |
Just what Leslie does not want. You |
are to give him back the diamonds, !
and say nothing excepting that she
forgives him"
Poor Leslie! How she must have
suffered"
Eyes; you can see that by her face |
even now, and it is ever so much |
happier and brighter than when l
saw it first oh, Ralph, 1 wish she |
were as happy as we are!"
When he reached White Place he |
found Lady Eleanor pacing up and |
down the room with an open letter |
in her hand, and she turned to greet |
him with smile on her flushed face. |
''You have good news" he said.
eyes, 1 have heard from Lord |
Auchester; he is coming back day af |
ter tomorrow-he and the Duke"
''The Duke of Rothbury?" he said.
I'm glad of that, Lady Eleanor, for
l wish to see him. And, Lady Flea
nor, I have something to tell you
something you will be glad to hear.
There has been a strange and awk-
ward mistake It. was not Lord |