Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-02-14

talk TO any old fogy. rather than come
to her. he would have broken away
from the bore who buttonholed lin.
and flown to her side; but he did not
guess what was passing in her mind.
and it seemed to him that she was
avoiding him, as it appeared to her
that he was keeping away from her.
To those two longing, wretched
hearts the music made horrible dis
cord, the room seemed sitting the
light bewilde-ing.
Cyril would not dance again, but
wandered round the eoge of the waltz
ers. looking at Norah as the guards
man deity steered her through the
maze, and at last he found himself
outside the marquee. Two or tn zee
men were walking up and down snlok-
ing cigarettes in the darkness, which,
in comparison with the brilliance with
in, seemed Cimmerian, and Cyril, in
no mood for company, kept away fro. i
them and lit cigarette himself. Pres.
emily they halted near him. but hi
seeing him, and he heard one of them
say:
Yes, it looks like it, Confound the
fellow! 1t seems as il none of us ne.l
any chance against him,
No, not to be wondered at when
you come to think of it. He's better
looking than any of us-yourself in,
cluded, Charlie. Women admire that
kind Of man; dark, mysterious, roman
tic"
More like confounded foreigner
than an Englishman,' grumbled The
young fellow who had just spok.-a
the son of neighboring peer, and IRE
OF Norah's most devoted slaves.
Got the best of the running, you
see, Charlie; sees her every day; and
then he's one of the clever chars,
don't you know. Can talk and all that
sort of thing. Yes, he's got all tie
odds in his favor, and I'm afraid hen
carry off the prize. At any rate, he's
making all the running tonight"
Yes. sticks to her like a shadow"
grumhed Lord Charles II heard her
promise him another dance after sup
per. and I'll be bound he takes her In .
Cyril listened half-absently. 1t
never occurred to him that they
were talking of Norah and GuiIford
Berton. until suddenly he heard her
name.
eyes, Charlie, my boy said his
friend, you may look upon yourself
as gone coon. The divine Norah
has slipped through your fingers. Ac-
cept my sympathy and another ci-
garette. Mr.. 'Guilford Berton will be
the happy mani"
Cyril started, and his face Grim
soned, and then went white. These
men had put into words the doubts
and the dread that were haunting him
and driving him half-mad
He flung his cigarette away, and
was turning to go into the ballroom
again, scarcely knowing why when h.
heard stifled sob near him in the
darkness, and, peering into it caught
the glimmer of woman's dress few
yards from him. M
He went up to it. his own misery
moving him to compassion, and put
out his hand.
Is anything the matter?' he asked
in a low voice. Who is it?''
The sob was repeated, and voice
said.
mo, go away!1
Why, Becca, is that your" he said
gently What is the matter?r and he
took her by the am. and tried to turn
her face toward a streak of light that
came from the marquee.
Becca struggled feebly then gave in
and stood with dropping head, but
evidently battling with her emotion
She, too. had heard the conversation
which had so stirred Cyril, and like a
flash of lightning it had opened her
eyes and confirmed her suspicious
She knew now for certain the reason
why Guilford Berton had avoided her
OF late. 1t was not her he cared for,
but Lady Norah,
With. her hand pressed to her heav-
ing bosom and her lips set tight. she
struggled to keep down the bitter
tears
Come, Becca" said Cyril, compas
sionately enough, but with trace of
impotence in his voice, for he was
dying to return to the ballroom to find
Nd,ah, and have it cut, Tell me
what's the natter"
No, MOI" she painted sI-I can't.
It's nothing,"
Young ladies don't cry about moth
ing, not generally said Cyril Come
what is It? Can do anything cor
your
mo, no. she said, his sympathy
starting her into tears again.
You can't do anything. no one, can:
I'm so un-un unhappy" she added
with smothered sob.
My poor child. So are most of Us,
But perhaps can help you to get rid
of yoi- unhappiness. Tell me what
il is"
Il can't, It's no use asking me
sir" she said Whispering. ST.