Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-02-19
MI Les|ie'S LII
NJ Loyalty ; :;:;::


SLIOuS DIS Gel Ld1uI -CO4u AAC1 LhoI oAAO
was indeed saying goodbye and not
adieu.
She wandered along the quay, and
stood looking sadly at the break-Water
against which she had sat when Ralph
Duncombe had declared his love and
given her his ring-on which Yarke
had been lying the night she had gone
for a sail Was it only few weeks
or years ago that all this had hap
pened to her?
There were some children on the
uuay-the childrenw no had learned
to love her-and among them the mite
she had held in her arms the morning
Yorke had asked her to be his wife.
They clustered around her as usual,
and she had hard work to keep the
tears from her eyes. They were in
her voice as she kissed them.
200, coming back soon, Mitm
Lethlie?" Iisped Trothy, her favorite
and Leslie murmured that she would
be back soon.
When she got back to Sea View, she
found her father ready to start and in
an impatient anxiety to do so.
1--WE are going to London on import
ant business, Mrs. Merrick-most i'm
portant business. I-er-anticipate
a change in our circumstances
great change. The world has at last
awakened to the fact that my pictures
are not-er-without merritt" he
laughed with a kind of bombastic
modesty. ooh, yes! we shall come
back to the old friends, Mrs. Mer-
rick. We shall not forget Sea View,
and if l am not mistaken, the world OF
art will not forget it. Some day,
possibly, Sea View will become eel
ebrated as the temporary residence of
one of England's first artists-eh
Leslie?" and he smiled at her with a
childish conceit
Mrs. Merrick, not understanding in
the least, smiled and cOurtesied.
I'm sure we're very sorry to lose
you sir, and Miss Leslie, especially.
don't know what Portmaris will be
without her-that I don't. We shall
be quite dull now for a bit, for Mr..
Temple, the invalid gentleman, has
gone off today. You Will be sure
and send me your address,"
Yes, yes" said Francis Lisle. "And
-er-if We hear Of any one wanting
clean and comfortable seaside lodg-
ings, we shall certainly remember to
recommend you, Mrs. Merrick."
He went off in the broken-down fly
like a prince, with the canvass piled
around him, and oblivious OF every
thing but them.
During the journey up to town he
spoke very little, but sat in his corner
looking out of the window, a smile Of
dissatisfaction every now and then
passing over his thin, worn face.
81 shouldn't be surprised, Leslie
he said once, "if this should be the last
time we travel third-class. shall
ask, and no doubt obtain, fair price
for my pictures, and we shall al last
at last-be rich enough TO afford a lit
tie luxury. They say that everything
comes to him who can wait; and l
think I have waited long enough
long enough"
Leslies face flushed, and her con-
science tortured her; but she could
not summon up courage to tell him
the truth.
They reached the town late in the
summer evening; and Leslie, calling
a cab, told the man to drive to house
in Torrington Square at which they
had stayed on previous visits to Lon
don.
Torrington Square is quiet, Sc
cluded spot in the great metropolis.
1t is central, and yet retired. Nearly
every house is let in apartments, and
the square is the favorite residence of
the journalists and artists who pay
occasional visits to London.
The landlady of NO. % received
Leslie and her father as if they were
old friends instead of transient lodg-
ers. and she expressed her concern at
the appearance of Mr.. Lisle.
He don't look well, Miss Lisle,' she
said in a stage-whisper, as they went
IN Will II6lI UdSSdSS oSSu III IhC
country, too. Oh, often says there's
no place like London for health; and
you, too, begging your pardon, Miss,
don't look too rosy. What you want
is Frightening up, and there's no place
like London for Frightening up; that
I will say"
Leslie smiled sadly. She knew that
she was pale and wan; but it hurt her
to hear that her father was not look
ing well.
She got him to bed early, but direct
" after breakfast he was all anxiety
to go down TO the picture dealer who
had brought him up to town.
Can l not go alone, dear, while
you rest?" she said; but ne secuted
the suggestion.
mo, no; will go. Women are all
very we'll, but a man is needed for
business of this kind. Get some of my
best pictures together, and we will go
in a cab.''