Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-11-17
to tempt hard-riding gentlemen into

IL.
There are no neighbors; really it is
quite desert of place" she said,
half in complaint, half in tone or
satisfaction, for she remembered that
| no neighbors are better than bad ones
bad ones in her definition meaning in
eligibles in the shape of poor second
sons, who might run away with her
daughters heart and spoil her chance
of marrying a lord or duke.
1T is rather dull" said Stella,
glancing around the country, "but 1t
| is very beautiful mamma. | have never
see any place like better than the
Vale"
"They tell me Dovewell is mag
nificent place." said Mrs. Newton,
softly.
Stella flushed.
sIt may be, and yet might not like
it so WE'LL The Vale is SO snug and
comfortable. | hope We shall always
spend Christmas here
The ladies had been for ride, the
day being beautifully fine. the roads
hard and frosty, and the air bracing,
and the carriage entered the Vale
gates as Stella made the remark.
"Yes," said Mrs. Newton, Il sup
pose our visitors will arrive tomor-
row. How many will there be?'
Stella counted upon her fingers.
There's Margaret, one; Charlie
Venner, two; Uncle AdolphLs, three;
,i,,r nd
old Mrs. Docket, eight. Quite fam
lily party
eyes," said Mrs. Newton, with
rather dissatisfied sigh. ut was
your fathers wish that they should
all dine here on Christmas day, and
suppose they must
II am glad to see them, Tor my
part said Stella, cordially. Il think
it is only right that a family should
gather together once a year; it is SO
nice to see the same faces, to hear
the same good wishes and to listen
to the same dear old songs. Mamma,
like Christmas; think people are
all the kinder and better for 1t, and II
it were not for the cold and the snow,
and the poor people VINO feel them so
bitterly, should say that it was the
happiest time of the year"
The carriage ascended the road
which winds around the park and
leads to the house.
Yes said Mrs. Newton, with a
stifed yawn-sEe was not Interested
In family parties, or the condition OF
the poor.
At this point of the drive glimpse
"a very faint one only-couId be OBJ
tanned of the hut. Stella caught #.
and said, taoughtful8y:
II wonder no one comes to claim
that pretty old place-it is just the
sort of house I should like for my
own. Fancy a fire cleaning through
the windows, Bright faces and happy
voices laughing around the ivy and
the laurels. Have they never found out
to whom it belongs?"
Never, that 1 know Of" answered
Mrs. Newton "It is in c1iancery, or
some legal difficulty, I think, but l
know nothing. about it, or anyone else
1 wish we could have bought it; it is
a great nuisance stuck there at the
end of the park, and in such a dis
graceful state of ill repair. l should
have thought dear Lord Hawthorne
could have ordered it to De pulled
down. It is on his MANOR
ooh, not for the worlds said Stella
with a smile. ct is the foundation
for all my castles in the air; do you
know mamma, l love the Odd place,
and can't help thinking, notwith-
standing it has so little romance, that
there is some strange interest at
taching to it. 7 would not have it
pulled down for worlds!"
"You are a strange girl, Stella,
said Mrs. Newton, peevishly. Il don t
know where you get your whfms and
fancies from-not from me, TIA sure,
for l was always a sensible woman.
I'm glad we are home again, for I'm
frozen"
And with little illtempered shfver
the wealthy Mrs. Newton descended
by the help of the footman and
climbed the stone steps haughtfly.
Stella leapes from the carriage, and
followed her mamma with spring
that was almost leap.
Today she felt, now that she was
miles away from Richard Wffdfang,
free, buoyant and happy.
She entered the drawing-room, sing
ing as blithely as bird escaped from
it's cage.
Her mother could not understand
her, and after staring at her minute
went off haughtily to her own room.
1t was beautiful day; she felt full OF
energy and high spirits. Why should
she not go for walk?
Luncheon was on the table, it was
true, and that, like all other meals
over which Mrs. Newton presided,
must he gone through with all proper