Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-11-05

| WdIhGu UOWdTuS Inc uOuSS.
His lordship the bishop would have
been rather surprised if he could have
seen the bridegroom at that moment,
for Mr. BARLEY Bradstone looked any
thing but happy.
He, too, had lain awake and listened
perforce to the record of the slowly
moving hours, and all night he had
seen the defiant, hooking face of the
woman called Bella, and heard the
scornful tones of her voice.
He had promised to meet her at
-four o'clock, and he lay there and
Icursed himself and her, for he knew
THAT he dared not break the promise.
-Four o'clock! and the wedding was to
take place at two How should he
manage to get away from the party
and keep this appointment? For
hours he tossed to and fro, scheming
and planning, the mocking face of the
woman dancing before him. He must
slip away somehow, if only for half an
hour
Now and again shudder of terror
IRAN through him, and he sat up and
shook as if with some horrible fear.
Then he would fling himself down
again, wiping the perspiration from
his forehead and muttering, mo, I'll
go through with it. It's too late 70
draw back now
When his valet came to him at nine
The found his master looking, as he eX-
lpressed it afterwards, like a man
who had been driking all night" and
hartley Bradstone bore out the re-
Isemhlance by ordering a soda-and-
brandy, which he took with hot and
shaking hand.
Then he went downstairs and drank
a cup of coffee, and made pretence
Iof eating some breakfast; but the face
Iof the woman lowered between him
and the dish the butler handed to
him, and his throat seemed dry and
parched.
After breakfast he went into the
library, and unlocking the safe which
he had so delicately pointed out to
his tool-Mr. Mowle-he got out a
cash-box, and counting out two huli-
dred pounds in notes placed them in
ibis pocketbook. AS he was putting
the cash-box back he pushed some
small, heavy article from shelf and
Ipicking it up, saw that it was a re-
Ivolver.
It was one Of the silver-plated toys
which nearly every man possesses, but
for all it's smallness it was deadly and
dangerous.
He held it in his hot hand, looking
down at it absently for minute or
two; then he tossed it back into the
safe with a suddenness and force that
made the iron side ring again, and
shut the door with clang.
Then he packed and sent off the
bouquets, and taking up his hat
walked into the garden and stood
watching the groom as he rode down
the road towards the Grange.
He stood long time looking in the
direction of the village with a half
fearful, dreading gaze, then turned
and paced about the grounds, but al
ways returned toward the gate and his
nervous watchfulness of the road; and
the face of the woman still danced
mockingly before his eyes.
One o clock struck, and with start
line went back to the house. Luncheon
was laid. He made no pretence Of
eating this time, but tossed off a glass
of brandy-and-water and going up
stairs sent for his valet
The man appeared with the wedding
garments, and dressed his master in
the regulation blue frock-coat and Ii
lac trousers.
For once Barley Bradstone seemed
quite Indifferent to the effect pro
duced by his clothes, and stared at the
glass with lack-lustre eyes.
He scarcely spoke, took the handker-
chief and his various rings and jewel
ry from the man without a word, and
when he had left the room sank into a
chair and let his head droop on his
breast, his eyes fixed with a strange
expression on the carpet.
A quarter Of an hour afterwards the
valet came in again.
The carriage is at the door, sir"
he said.
BARLEY Bradstone looked up with a
start, and the valet, who hated him
as all the servants did glanced at his
white face curiously.
Shall get you anything before you
start, sir?" he said.
Moves was the response. Get
me a glass of champagne. Bring it
here. And"-he hesitated moment
and asked the butler if anyone had
been here this morning Any man
or woman to see me- he added,
with assumed carelessness.
The man came back with the cham
payne.
mo one mas been, sir"
| BartIev Bradstone drank the wine