Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-11-17
LOVE THE CONQUERORI
y o . CHARLES GARvIcE 20
b b b
CHARLES GARVICE
Richards soft, Il am fortunate"

The LancerS came to an end, as all
things must, and the crowd divided
off into different directions, and a buzz
of conversation and laughter took the
place of music.
A small ring of admirers pressed,
courtier-lilze, around beautiful Stella,
all anxious to outlive each other and
win a smile or, more precious still, a.
laugh.
The gayety of the scene, the spirit
of the hour dispelled her strange
gloom. The cloud lifted from her brow,
and her lovely face was soon all
smiles.
A wit was at her elbow, retailing
the latest bon mots and on dts. He
was telling her of the ludicrous blum
ders of new belle, the wealthy
heiress of retired army clothier.
Miss Newton enjoyed it, and smiled.
The wit was in the seventh heaven,
and surpassed himself.
Suddenly the laughter died out
from her lips, the smile from her eyes.
Her little band of courtiers were
puzzled, the wit chagrined. What was
the cause? Sir Richard had risen
from his seat and came with self-pos-
session and graceful gait to claim her
for the quadrille.
She rebelled.
rs it so soon?" she exclaimed,
glancing at her program. How long a
list it is. am so hot, too. VIII you ex-
cuse me this?''
Certainly; it is warm and the
Lancefs are hard work." replied Sir
Richard, with the highest-bred cour-
tesy. LET me conduct you to cooler
placer"
He had won after ALL She could not
avoid him.
With something approaching
frown, she placed the tips of her fin
gers upon his arm and Sir Richard led
her away.
The courtiers looked after him with
envy, the wit with something fiercer.
"a case that" he remarked, with
amazement What cool hand he is
Did you ever see one take pos
session as he does? MoDey-every-
thing goes down before him!
shouldn't wonder if she married him!"
and with another shrug the pleasant
gossip went off to find his partner,
and console himself for his interrupt
ed triumph with a quadrille.
Sir Richard, meanwhile, skillfuily
steered Stella Newton through the
crowd and led her to a quiet little
fernery, while it commanded a view
of the glittering ballroom, was calm,
quiet and restful.
ooh, beautiful" she exclaimed,
bending over a forest tangle flag.
Eyes, great contrast is this little
spot; it is like an oasis of quiet III
desert of noise. Will you not be seat
ed?"
mo, thank you," she said, almost
coldly. She did not intend to remain
tete-a-tete with him, and was already
irving to invent a means of escape. Il
like the flowers too WE'LL and she
walked around, looking admiringly at
the tinkling fountain, the fresh, grace
full ferns, and the CLASSY pools OF wa
ter that Law like mirrors between the
beds of rock.
Sir Richard leaned against rustic
table and watched her.
"She is very beautiful tonight, he
smiled. without the money she
would be prize worth having, with
the money she is a prize that must
not at all events be lost"
AS his eye fell ON her with admiring
speculation she turned suddenly and
shrunk almost visibly at its express
sion.
81 think l will go back" she said,
scarcely knowing what she did say.
81 have not seen mamma since we
came in
.swill you not rest while | find Mrs.
Newton?" said Sir Richard, drawing
a chair toward the fountain.
"No. thank you-yes, will then IL
Won please." she answered and sank
into the chair.
Sir Richard murmured something
about the draught, arranged the soft
China crepe around her white shout
ders. and mingled with the throng.
Stella waited until he was lost In
the vortex, and arose quickly.
She would escape him once for all!
A curtain was draped before an en-
trance in one corner of the recess. 1t
might lead her to the ballroom-and
to a distant part of 1t!
Ay, she would venture 1t rather
than wait for Sir Richards return,
and she arose and walked quickly 10
the curtain, drew it aside and passed
through the opening.
The apartment she had entered was
dimly lighted, and was too small
even for an anterOOm.
Disappointed, she was about to re-
turn, when something white ana
cleaning at the farther end caught
hor attention. and she dropped the