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

do Olivia-well, he gets sharp, and no
tees every little thing about her
every look and word, and I know that
she would listen to you, that. you
could persuade
stop! Are you going mad?" ex-
claimed Faradeane, sternly.
BERTHE looked up and saw that the
handsome face had grown white al
most pallid.
what have said?' he exclaimed
penitently. Have l offended you?
I didn't mean to do So What said
is true. You have an influence over
her"
Faradeane rose abruptly and leaned
his elbow upon the mantelshelf and
his head upon his hand, and there
was silence for moment; then he
raised his head. You are talking ar
rant nonsense" he said, not sternly,
but coldly. Miss Vanley thinks no
more, cares no more, is no more in
fiuenced by me than than she is
by her footman. Put such an absurd
idea out of your foolish head. She
does not give a thought to me, whom
she has not seen for more than few
minutes, on as many days. Talk
sense, Cherub, or-or go home to
bed"
BERTHE looked up at him with
firmness which was almost obstinacy.
''You may bully me as much as you
like, Faradeane," he said, and not
without certain quiet dignity, the
dignity of conviction. But you won't
succeed in convincing me that you have
not great influence over her. Why
I watched her-do ever take my eyes
off her?-every time you spoke; and.
whatever she was doing or whoever
she was listening to, she turned 10
you at once. Besides, don't you in
fluence everybody? Haven't you al
ways been able to do anything you
liked with everybody? And Olivia
OH 1 could see tonight that she
thought more of you than anyone
else"
The pale face seemed to grow hard
and set as if with some hidden strug-
gle, some suppressed pain.
'That is enough of this nonsense,
he said. Love works madness in
some mems brains. 1t has worked
madness in yours. l am no more to
Olivia"-he stopped, and swept his
1-.-I -,a.,oc III, Iro11, NTH q oroc+11rn OT
annoyance mean Miss Vanley, than
the beggar at her gates"
BERTHE rose, pale too, and with an
expression of disappointment.
"Then-then you won't do this for
me, Faradeane?"
eff you mean, will l go and ask Miss
Vanley to accept you, go to her ana
propose for you, l certainly will not, "
was the swift, almost stern response.
GO to her yourself! Why do you
think / am made of wood, clay, iron,
that / can bear any better than you
the mockery of her laugh, the scorn
of those eyes"
BERTHE stared at him.
"Why, what will it matter to your
he said innocently. "You won't be
asking her to be your wife"
For the first time Faradeanes face
grew crimson, and his dark, sad eyes
dropped.
"Sit down." he said, pointing to the
chair. your madness is affecting
me. 1t rs catching. Sit down. Ber-
tie dropped meekly into the chair, and
Faradeane paced up and down the
room for moment or two; then he
stopped suddenly and looked down at
the handsome, the girlish face, with
it's trusting patience. "You-you still
persist in this insane idea of yours ?"
he asked, almost harshly.
BERTHE nodded
Eyes, l do. Faradeane, if you knew
how much / rely on you
Faradeane uttered an impatient eX-
clamation.
But do. See here; l have kind
of faith that if you if you would tell
her TOTO accept me, that she'd do
it. Laugh at the idea as much as you
like, but you can't destroy it. It's
there, and l can't get rid of it. Cly-l
mean Faradeane, for Heavens sake
say 'Yes!' "
Faradeane looked down at him with
steady, yet dreamy gaze; then he
seemed to straighten himself, to brace
himself, as it were, and said, slowly:
well, will do it,
BERTHE sprang to his feet, his face
flushed with relief and qualification;
but Faradeane held up his hand.
"Stop! No gratitude! No thanks!
If you knew how 1 hated he stop
ped and bit his lip-"how disliked it.,
you would not say a word"
BERTHE seized his hand.
But I must thank you, old fellow!
The best, the dearest"
when am to do this?7 interrupted
Faradeane in strained, harsh voice.
soon! AS soon as you can to-mor-