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

IS dN4ully 4dlS'
Faradeane waved his pipe.
ut is never too late to receive a
| friend, Cherub. Day and night are
all one to a man who takes no interest
in either. You have come to talk to
me-to ask me something. Isn't it
so?'
BERTHE nodded.
.'You always seem to know" he
said, with quiet admiration. Il did
come to talk to you, to ask you to do
me a great favor. q
Consider it granted, even to the
half of my kingdom" responded Fara-
deane. What is it?"
BERTHE was silent for moment;
then. blushing like the rose, and with
| downcast eyes, he said:
''What-what do you think of her
now-of Olivia, Faradeane?"
Faradeane was sitting with his arms
folded at the back of his head, his
eyes fixed in dreamy patience and
kindness upon the fair girlish face;
but at this abrupt questioning his ey-
preston changed and his arms
dropped.
what do I think of Miss Vanley?"
he said in slow, constrained voice.
eyes, old fellow. You can't tell how
anxious I am to get your opinion
You see, you are the dearest friend
I've got, you always were my friend
and all that, and II naturally"
Faradeane nodded, and seemingly
intent upon his pipe, which had sud
denly got stopped up apparently, said:
81 think she is very beautiful girl,
Cherub, and something very great
| deal better than beautiful.
81 knew you'd say so, but wanted
to hear you say it," exclaimed Ber-
tie, with suppressed fervor. Il knew
you admired her"
Faradeane raised his head sharply.
''You knew that I admired her!
How should you know that? Have [
shown it in any word or look?
''No, no; don't be angry, my dear
fellow" responded BERTHE, quickly.
mo, no; but felt somehow that you
did"
"Oh!'
"And I'm certain she admires you.
I'm sure, if you'd seen her face as she
sat tonight while you were reciting,
! and at dinner-time too, with her eyes
fixed upon you
Faradeane's pipe seemed to trouble
him again.
ooh, could see that she was inn
mensely taken with you; and who
wouldn't be? Don't smile like that,
old man, l mean all | say; and it was
! because l am so sure that-that- she
she likes you and looks up to you,
that l came in here to you tonight.
The idea only struck me as | was pass
! ing the top of the lane"
"Oh," said Faradeane, quietly; "and
what was the idea, Cherub?"
BERTHE fidgeted in his chair, and
sighed.
| Look here, ely"
Faradeane raised his head with a
warning glance, and BERTHE, coloring
| crimson, stumbled on:
Il beg your pardon; Faradeane, l
mean. It's just this: I'm half beside
myself tonight. Being with her all
! this evening has set me all a-quiver,
and-and the sight Of that fellow
Bradstone has upset me SO terribly
| that-that must-I must know my
fate. l can't go on any longer! I've
! got a dread upon me that If | don't
speak out now, at once, and tell how
| | love her, and-and ask her to be
my wife, that THAT this FELLOW will
get before me, and"
He stopped and wiped his brow with
hand that quivered.
Faradeane looked at him with his
dark, sad eyes.
"And you came to ask my advice?
You shall have it. Obey the impulse,
BERTHE; go in and tell her you love
her, as you suggest"
He paused stopped by look In Ber-
ties eyes.
"WeIl?"
"I-I-that isn't what ! wanted,
said the Cherub.
mo? What do you want, then?"
IL want you to do it for me, =
said BERTHE in low voice.
! For a moment Faradeane sat mo&nn-
less and speechless; then he laughed.
1t was a strange laugh, fuller of pain
than of mirth, almost laugh OF bit
| terness.
"You-want-me to tell herr" he
| said, slowly.
EYES," said BERTHE, in his eagerness
leaning forward with clasped hands.
That's what 1 want. Try as | will, |
can't find the pluck. You'll think I'm
coward, 1 know. l can't help it.
If you only felt as l do! l tell you,
old feAow, that when think Of going
to her, and saying-what l should
have to say-I-I-my voice leaves
| me- Won don't know what she is.