Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-10-27
Continued.


..Weu. nv lord" she said, with a
knocking smile; "gloating over your
possessions, your lands and oxen,
our menseryants and maidservants
THAT a sudden transformation 1t is.
isn't it? Loi stroke of the magl-
clans wand and down sinks the Mar
ouis of Merle to the deepest dun
eeons of everlasting despair, and up
rises the humble Harry Herne! Fun
nv. isn't it? And such is life."
Harry regarded the smiling. mock
ing face with mingled amazement
and repugnance. Could this GIRL
with the daring eyes and reckless
laugh, be the same who only Jew
weeks ago had kneat at his bedside
and swore that she loved him, VINO
had almost actually tricked MIN into
making her his wifee
tAYou are as grave SIS judge, my
ford" she went on. What is ene
matter9 You ought to be throwing
I'D your hat and shoUting-Io trl-
umpne!' tead of that you look as
glum as if you had lost saarauisate
instead OF winning it. Look at me
how cheerful | am, and should thlnk
! nave cause to be down in the mouth,
But there. | have had some amuse-
ment, it's true. Do you know what
7 have been doing, my lord? nave
been making a clean breast or It TO
Lucille, and IL you had seen MRS.
Dalton and Lady Fsrnley's faces, ana
heard their ordinations OF horror,
you wouldn't wonder at my amuse-
ment. Yes, Harry beg your par
don. nv lord-I've explained the
whole thing. Really. when one comes
TO look back upon it calmly, It was
too good a plot to be spoiled by the
foolbardiness of the marquls-the
late marquis, | mean. What should
We call him MIR. Merle"
She laughed and leaned her ell
bows on the balustrade quite close
to him, utterly regardless OF bis
grave, condemning face.
eyes. it was neat, and ! invented
it all. I did it all, really, for don't
think the marquis would have had
pluck enough to hide the vase In
your room, and I'm sure he would
have broken down in the manage
ment of Susiei Tell her I forgive
her for splitting to you; it was just
what she would do, of course"
"And you did all this-and would
have" he stopped: he could not
frame the words.
Married you! Certes! Mind, 1nad
no idea of 1t until I overheard the
old man tell Sinclair that you were
the marquis. l merely plotted be-
forehand to get you out of the way
and marry Lucille to the marquis"
eWhy?' he demanded, sternly.
She shrugged her shoulders.
Because 1 like plotting, and be-
cause I should have him under my
thumb. But enough of all this; Lu-
ellie will give you all the particu-
lars. And now about myself vii.
you mary me, my lord?' and she
dropped him a curtesy.
He looked at her, scarcely believ-
ing his senses.
mo? 1 fancied not, but | thought
l ought to give you the chance. You
can't marry Lucille, you know
His face paled to whiteness, and
his eyes flashed.
"Oh, womani woman!" he cried.
"Have you no pity? Is it not enough
that you have wrecked both our lives,
that you must come and gloat over
your work?" and he covered his face
wI.h his hands.
She regarded him in silence for a
moment with strange look on her
face.
"You really love her so much?''
she said, in a low voice. "Strangel
What is this thing, love? Thank
Heaven, | know nothing about it!
What fools it makes of you, men and
women alike! If you hadn't loved
her SO well, you would not have run
away; all my plotting would have
been--puff! and you and she would
have been man and wife. And now
well, goodbye. Lucille and the two
old women have just sent me off with
something as nearly like curse as
ladies permit themselves, and you, |
suppose, will follow suit Goodbye.
I am going to begin the world afresh.
Heigh hol what will become of Ma
RE Werner, l wonder?" and with a
laugh that had a false ling In 1t, not
withstanding her bravado, she turn
ed away.
"Stop," he said. go to Mr.. Head;
revision shall be made ~ he could
cay no more.
Really" she said, looking at him.
"You will give me flesh start!
Harryl'-she stopped and stole clos
er to him, and her voice dropped
"Harry-my lord-it is just as well
] did not marry you and-been mis-
erablel"
It was the last word he ever heard
$780,. ~ yuhou bo looEpd around