Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-07-21
IN AboEU UUKININ SESSION OF 1909
Lucille turned to him almost fierce

What do you know?" she de
manded. why do you stand gaping
there?-why do you not speak,
The man opened his mouth like a
fish, and pointed at Mrs. Dalton.
81 don't know nothin'. Miss; but
seed that lady at Silverdale station
this morning
Mrs. Dalton was almost guilty of a
scream.
you saw me, my good mani" she
exclaimed.
Eyes, | did, he repeated, logged
ly. Leastways, if it waren't you
and how could it a. been if you be
standing here?-it was your ghoset,
ma'am. 1 seed you with your bon
net and shawl on, as plain as could
be, and L swear to it if I hadn't
watched you get into the London
| train
Mrs. Dalton turned pale and
| glanced at Lucille.
"My bonnet and cloak-and they
are gone from my wardrobe! The
person who stole them was at Silver
dale station-not I, my good man."
"Ah! Then who stole them?'
"Susiei" she repeated. s'She has
gone off disguised in them. She was
here last night-she knew the word
oh, Lucille, it is DREADFUL"
Lucille stood with white face and
dull eyes fixed vacantly before her;
then suddenly there flashed upon her
memory the word that Harry Herne
had uttered when he heard her foot
| step that night. He had spoken
Susie's name, he had mistaken her
for Susie, had expected Susie!
| 1t struck her like fash of light
ming, and turned her for a second in
to stone. All else she could have
met with loving, faithful loyalty and
| incredulity, but that simple little fact
| went straight home to her heart and
burnt there.
"Take care" said the marquis,
warningly; "she will faint" and he
sprang toward her. but, as if with an
effort, she recovered herself and put
UP her hand to keep him back.
| LET us go-home," she said,
| hoarsely, and with voice so broken
with anguish and despair that it rang
in the ears of the listeners like a
knell. LET us-go home
In silence they returned to the
Court and Mrs. Dalton led Lucille to
| her room.
The marquis remained on the ter
race beside Marie Werner.
"Shall l go now" he asked in a
| whisper.
mo" she replied wait. She will
send for you presently"
do you think 500" he said, doubt
fully.
81 am sure of it," she responded,
confidently. Are you satisfied, my
lord?" she asked, flashing her eyes
| upon him.
more than satisfied" he replied.
"You have succeeded beyond my
hopes, my dreams. 1t is wonderful!
That key-only womaen like your
self could have thought of that"
Marie Werner drew away from him.
| the window she said. II will go
up now, and tell them that you are
SO enraged that Harry Herne should
| deceive her that you mean to set the
police on his track. That will make
her send for you sharp enough and,
with a sheer curling her thin lips, she
went into the house.
The marquis paced to and fro with
his soft, stealthy step.
What was the price he would have
to pay this she-fend who had con-
cocted the plot and carried it out?
While he was bordering over this
important question, Marie Werner re-
turned to him.
"She has sent me for you," she said
"You will find her in the small draw
ing-room. Be careful"
He nodded and went in, and a SER
ing-room.
Lucille had sent for him, to do or
say she scarcely knew what.
With leaden feet she dragged her.
self to the drawingroom and stood
leaning against the window, her face
utterly expressionless and set like
marble statue.
AS the marquis entered she
moved so that the light fell behind
her, and pointed to a chair.
But he came and stood beside, and
took her hand his face grave and SYM
pathetic.
You sent for me-" he murmured,
with tender respect.
Yes" she said, and her voice
sounded dry and harsh. I'll wished
to see YOU
1t almost seemed as if she could get
no further, and he waited for mo-
ment or two, his eyes cast down.
To see you,' she repeated, warily.
i wanted to ask you what you meant
to do, Lord Merle?"