Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-07-26

| fesE said Leola, absently, and
having received the parting touches
to her toilet, went down stairs.
Mrs. Wetherell was seated at the
breakfast table, and looked up as
Leola entered, with a smile that was
graver than usual, and rather
troubled, but Leola kissed her, and
took her seat, noticing nothing.
There were some letters, principal
ly invitations, which Leola opened
and put aside, scarcely read. Mrs.
Wetherell unfolded the paper and
looked at it, but glanced over her
spectacles at Leola with a hesitating
expression, which was something like
Leola's own. At last she said:
Which is the Marsdens' cottage,
my dear?"
The Marsdens'?" said Leola, with
start "oh. let me think-the last
one in the lane. why?"
Il want to call there this morning"
said Mrs. Wetherell.
is old Marsden ill?" asked Leola.
I'll go with you. wonder Cyril
mean Mr.. Kingsley'-she corrected
herself with burning blush-"did
not tell me-"
Mrs. Wetherell did not notice the
blush or the correction; she seemed
as much absorbed in her way as
Leola.
mo, Marsden is not ILL.," she said;
"and l think I'll go alone, my DEAR
she added, quietly.
Very well,'' said Leola, with a
sense of relief-might she not, if she
went out, miss Cyril?
Breakfast proceeded; neither made
very hearty meal. Mrs. Wetherell
seemed very thoughtful, and Leola
had risen and walked to the window,
when a footman opened the door and
announced Lady Vaux
Her ladyship, clad in sable-the
mornings were chilly-came forward
with outstretched hands and a beam
ing smile.
my dear Leola," she murmured, in
her soft, even voice, so like her
brothers that it always Jared upon
Leola, you are down, then! l
dreaded hearing that you were still in
bed. 1t is the middle of the night to
most people"
mot to me-" said Leola.
mo, | know, DEAR" murmured
Lady Vaux; you are one of those
decidedly strong women who like
early rising-you go in for a cold
bath every morning-ohl it makes me
Sunderland enjoy getting your feet
wet. But there, could not contain
myself an hour directly l heard the
news
"Yes?" said Leola, interrogatively.
"Will you have cup of coffee,
Lady Vaux?" asked Mrs. wetherell,
and as she brought it to her ladyship.
she whispered.
mot know" echoed Lady vaux,
aloud, and with arched and elevated
eyebrows; why, my maid brought me
the news the first thing this morn
ing, and by this time the village is
ringing with it,
Leola, who was standing at the win
dow patting the head of huge mas
tiff which she had let in from the ter
race, looked up inquiringly.
News! what news?" she asked,
calmly.
do you really mean to say you
haven't heard?" said Lady vaux, with
her dainty Sevres cup half lifted to
her lips.
Il have heard no news this morn
ing" said Leola, with a smile. What
news could affect her whose life had
gracefully, you are the dearest and
coolest of creatures imaginablel What
passed into Cyrirs keeping?
Really" saiu her ladyship, putting
her cup down and swinging round
is the use of maid if she does not
bring one all the gossip of the placer"
'But l don't care for gossip" said
Leola.
MY dear" said Lady vaux, with a
little shake Of the head, I'VE all care
for gossip-we are born so, all Of us,
and we can never be altered or i'm
proved in that respect. The best and
worst of us love little scandal, and
especially when scandal is SO scarce
and rare"
| And what is this-scandal?" said
Leola, almost contemptuously.
We'll, my dear Leola, it is not very
much, I'll admit. and it may not be
true- hope it isn't. They say
that that red-haired girl-what is her
name?-Poily, yes, Polly Marsden, has
eloped,"
Polly Marsden has eloped.' said
Lady vaux, and she set down her COT
fee-cup and stretched out her prim-
rosegloved hands.
| Leola looked round at her with
mild, grave eyes; she scarcely
realized the just significance of the
information.
Isn't 'eloped' rather too--too
sweeping word?" said Mrs. wetner-
ell. in her mild, deprecating way.
WELL" said Lady vaux, struggling