Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-04-19
Continued.

small door in the wall, and passed a
narrow courtyard, half paved, half
lawn, and entered the house.
Presently, as If his mind was made
up, he assembled the stairs, and push
ing open door, entered a small dainti-
ly furnished room.
A lady, young, and OF that style of
beauty which is termed blonde, was
lying back on a satin-covered couch,
with yellow-covered French novel in
her hand. She was not reading, for
her eyes were closed, but she opened
them as he entered.
This was Laura, Lady Vaux. He
came straight up to her, and looked
down at her with smile.
Asleep" he said.
Pretty nearly" she answered, in.
dolently, and hiding yawn with a
small hand glittering with rings; land
quite bored to death waiting for you.
well?"
"Well?" he repeated. half sarcasti.
cally.
Have you been-have you seen
herr"
II have both been and seen," he re.
Piled.
Really" she said, turning more
fully to him, ami looking at him with
curious interest. You really have
seen her, them"
That's not very extraordinary"
We'll, and what Is the result? Did
she answer my imaginary description
of her? All! OF course I was right.
can sec her so plainly. A common look
ing girl, with highly-colored clothes,
with grin of delighted admiration at
all the splendors of her own home ?
My poor Philip! was she very awftil?''
Very" be said, with curve of the
lip. which was scarcely smile.
Really repeated Lady vaux, "and
to think that you should be supplant-
ed by such child of the pavement.
wish you had let me have gone with
you. | should have enjoyed II IN
spite of the serious results of the old
mans will. What did she say Did
she grin. or giggle, or what?"
Neither" he said at last, and with
touch of impotence. Il almost
wish" he continued, going to the win
dow and looking out thoughtfully.
that you had gone with me. Your
surprise, at least, would have been
worth SEEING"
Surprise? What do you mean?"
Simply that Leola Dale, mistress
of Lorme Abbey. Is exactly the copo-
site OF your imaginary picture. She is
not commonplace, she is not vulgar;
on the contrary. she is patrcian in
every look and movement. She is
do not aggerate-almost perfectly
beautiful, and of the two 1t was |
who was the most embarrassed,
though | would not plead guilty of
showing It."
What" exclaimed Lady vaux,
raising herself on her elbow, staring.
"Well-bred. beautiful, self-possessed-
Il wanted to go with you"
Yes, yes" he said. knitting his
browsi but | wanted to see for N.Y.
self first. 1t was important that I
alone, should be the first person to
welcome her. She will never forget
the day, and shall be prominent
feature In it. The effect, to my mind.
would have been lessened If you had
gone with me. You would have been
the prominent feature"
Thanks" murmured Lady yaux.
And now-well? What will you do.
Beautiful, well-bred as she is, does
not make II better for you. She has
robbed you of Lorme Abbey, has she
not?"
He took few PAGES up and down
the room.
Yes" he said. "the old man would
have left all to me; was the only
friend, the only man who had any In
fiuence with him; but for the sudden
freak which made him leave 1t to this
girl"
DO You think he had seen her?'
No." he said, shaking his head, mo.
am convinced that it was nothing
but whim. sudden fancy"
"A within that cost you, my poor
Philip. one of the largest estates and
fortunes In England"
His face flushed. and his brows low.
cred over his eyes-they were keen
and sharp as steel now.
"All is not lost yet" he said quietly.
between his compressed lips; Il do
not despair
You mean," she asked softly, and
with great interest. you mean that
you will try and get her to marry you?
Not an easy task-I don't mean to be
rude--at the best OF times. for heir
esses, even when they are common
pace and iliterate, have wills of their
own. and opportunities of gratifying
them; but when they are beautiful.
high-bred, and charming the difii-
culties are multiplied tenfold. Who
knows she continued, "she may have
lover In the background already"
He looked thoughtfully beyond the
couch and its occupant, as II he were
considering her proposition, then he
said. suddenly: