Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-03-05

Lady Eleanor was il the carriage,
and she was looking, as Finetta was
al the stalwart young man in front OF
the jewelers. window; and her face
was quite as pale as F1netta's. Should
she open the window and call to him?
She lOnged to do so; and yet, some
thing-some vague presentlment-
kept her from doing so. She watched
him, her heart beating with love, I'M
til the block had melted away and the
carriage had moved on; then she
pulled the check-string, and when the
footman got down, said:
Drive to Oxford street, and then
come back here, please"
Meanwhile, all unconscious that
these two women were watching him.
Yorke went into the shop.
Il want to look at some rings" he
said to the man, who bowed to him
with an air of respectful recognition.
1t happened to be the same man who
had served him the other day.
Fancy rings, my lord?"
No, no." said Yorke, trying to
speak in the ordinary and casual way,
and feeling very much as he had felt
while procuring the license-"er-wed-
ding and keeper-rings."
Certainly, my lord" said the man,
without the faintest change of coun-
tenance; and he placed a couple Of
trays on the counter. What size my
lord?"
Yorke looked up with start of per
plexity.
"Size?" he repeated, vaguely, as he
mentally called himself an idiot for
not having measured Leslie's finger.
ooh, a small size. I don't quite
know Yes, quite a small size.
Here, I'll take two or three. They're
all alike, SUPPOSE
Some heavier than the others, my
lord"
AN right; give me the heaviest,
and the keeper-isn't that what it's
called?"
Eyes my lord; it keeps the we'd
QlllS-IlUS III It's JldCC, yOC CSS'
81 see," said Yorke. well, I'll
have one or two of these, the smaller
ones; put this one in; and he picked
out one set with pearls and turquoises
I'll send back those I don't keep"
He tried to slip them on his little
finger, but they would not go further
than the first joint, and he laid them
down with a smile. In few hours,
perhaps. he would be placing them on
his darling's fnger-his wife's,
The shopman put the rings in box
and Yorke slowed them away careful
ly, very carefully, in an inner pocket,
and went out, still dreaming Of the
hour when he should stand before the
altar Of the quiet little church in st.
James,
Two or three minutes afterward the
dainty brougham pulled up at the
shop door, and Finetta entered.
She was as we'll known to the jew
eler as was Lord Auchester, and, if
possible, he made her more respect
full and elaborate bow; she was
good customer, and, like most people
in her position, she liked a great show
of respect. So he leaned forward and
placed a chair for her, and with an
other bow asked what he could have
the honor of doing for her.
Finetta's large, dark eyes wandered
over the counter with a feigned indif-
ference and listlessness. Il only want
small present" she said.
Eyes, madame. For a gentleman?"
and he made. for a tray of silver
cigarette-cases and similar articles.
Finetta looked at them, but kept the
corners of her eyes fixed on the tray
which had been on the glass counter
when she entered.
what pretty rings" she said, taxi
ing up a jeweled keeper. "They al
most tempt me to get married."
The man smiled sympathetical1y.
Il suppose the bridegroom always
chooses the rings?" she said with
seeming carelessness. "Now wonder
which of these most men would
choose?''
Some one, some another, madame"
he replied. THE gentleman who has
just gone out chose one like this"
Finetta's face was pale already, but
it seemed to blanch. and the ring fell
from her hand and rolled a1ong rRe
counter.
Lord Auchester was buying a we'd
ding-ring and keeper" she said.
AS the words left her lips lady
entered the shop, and she heard them
as plainly as if they had been adj
dressed to her And they took an in
Simultaneous and extraordinary effect
She let the door slip from her hand,
and put it to her heart, and stood gaz-
ing, with a strange expression in her
eyes, from Finetta to the man.
1t was a dramatic moment. The
two women, silent and motionless,
regarding each other with a world of
meaning in their eyes, Finetta still
eyeing Lady Eleanor: