Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-04-21
CHAPTER III.

ing through the latticed windows, and
most men would have thrown them
open, and allowed the fresh, pure air
and sunlight to flood in unimpelled;
but Lord Merle went to the window
and drew down the blinds, as If the
sunlight was something to be shut
out. This made the room, which was
rather dark and dingy, assume dis
NAL aspect; and as he stood, with one
hand resting upon the table, his
thin figure, dressed in it's dark-coIored
morning clothes, which seemed to
hank loosely upon him, there was
something so suggestive of funeral,
that anyone looking at him would
! have been justified in inquiring for
the whereabouts of the corpse.
If there had been dash of color in
Lord Merles face it might have
claimed to be handsome, but it was
so cold, Notwithstanding that he had
| just risen, that it looked like the
] plaster masks which the antique act
ors wore when they played tragedy
| in the theater at Athens.
| For minute or two he stood like
a statue, looking down at his writing
materials, his long, white fingers
pressed against the edge of the table,
his thin lips compressed into a
straight line.
Then he took up a letter which lay
open before him, and read it slowly,
thinking between the lines. AS he
refolded it and dropped it on the
table, servant in dark livery
knocked at the door and Said:
"Mr. Stake, my lord
Good morning, my lord"
Good morning. returned his lord
ship. BE seated, Mr.. Stake. You
received my telegram, see?"
Game down by the night mali. my
lord.'
This is bad news said the mar
quis
lawfully bad, my lord! Couldn't be
worse, in fact
81 suppose not. Is there any way of
meeting this demand?"
II don't see any, my lord. You
see, we didn't think this mortgage
would be called in, or we wouldn't
have advised you to speculate with
the money raised on it,
And this mortgage is called in at
six months hence. Can no money be
raised?"
Every acre you've got, every barn
is mortgaged up to the chimney pots
my lord
I'm word, Mr.. Stake, you have
come to repeat what your letter told
me: that am ruined. Have you any
advice to offer?"
There's a way out of the fire, my
lord! Marry Miss Darracourt!"
Il intend TOT he said.
''Then-then, why did you send for
me?"
Because I wanted some more /,
money!
More money!" echoed Mr.. Stake.
Eyes. And as did not desire to put
down on paper the security | in
tended offering, / sent for you. IL,
must have two thousand pounds. Mr.. :.
Stake. For that sum will give you
bill for three thousand, due at six
months from now"
Three thousand murmured Mr..
Stake. +
at is a good interest, and should !.
satisfy even you, I think" said his
lordship, with the suggestion of a
sheer. |
TITS good interest enough, my lord;
but the security-the security" said
Mr.. Stake.
"The security is there" he said, !,
pointing his finger at the Court. in E
six months Darraoourt will be )
mine.''
"You shall have the money my :
lord. l wouldn't do it for any other
man, but by Heaven. l think you'll :
do what you say
i think So too said the marquis
At breakfast time, while Marie
Werner chartered to Mr.. Head in her :,
light, open-hearted fashion, which
made people who had heard :
her say what a frank, pleasant girl
she was to be sure, Lucille thought !.
of the promise she had made to Harry
Herne.
Thought of it and said nothing.
And yet it would seem to have been =
so easy to remark in a casual way r
that she was going round the stables =
after breakfast with Harry Herne! !
And when Marie turned to her with
a sudden sprightliness and exclaimed: ;.
What are you going to do with :
yourself this morning, Lucille?" Luz !
ellie almost blushed as she hesitated
and answered evasively:
Wander about and try to realize :
that | am-myself!' !
I'll come with you and-help you, :
dear