Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-10-20

the real lOrd-there!" and he point
ed to Harry.
1T is a madman's raving!" sal
the marquis, wetting his parched
lips.
"Raving, is it? It's the truth! His
mother was married at st. Angelo.
Paris! There is the copy of the GER
tifcate; there in Paris is the entry.
The real marquis is Harry Herne:
and, gasping, he sank into a chair,
glazing at Marie Werner.
Mr.. Head took the certificate
from his nerveless fingers and read
lit swiftly.
as this true?" he said in grave
voice to the marquis. Il have long
suspected some mystery"
"True!" and the marquis laughed.
1Does it sound true? Take him to
Iunatic asylum"
Marie Werner glided forward. her
face was white as death, but there
was a smile upon her lips.
at lis true!" she said, and her
voice fell upon the storm like lie
clear notes of a bell. 1T is true,
and he knows it. / learned the Sc
cret and"-she shrugged her Sou
ders-" should have taken the whole
world into my confidence tomorrow
after twelve o'clock. | should nave
been the Marchioness of Merle then!
"But your folly has spoiled both
pretty plots, marquis-Mr. Merle,
should say. Take my advice and &C
cept the situation-as I do" and she
smiled. "My lord" and she turned
| to Harry, you have had narrow
escape; and yet, 1 don't know, think
| I should have made you as good
wife as most. But its no use cry
| ing over split milk! You had be
| ter remember that. You can take the
mans title away from him; it is
yours; but you can't take his wife!'
and she smiled sardonically.
Harry sank into chair, great
drops standing upon his brow.
"Are you fiend?" he gasped. This
is all your work."
She smiled.
mo, not a fend; only a woman
full of ambition, my lord. My work?
YOU mean Lucille's marriage? es.
You see, 1 wanted her out of the
way!"
Heaven forgive you'll" broke from
him; Il cannot"
wait until you are asked, my lord, :
she said. And yet, I don't know
why you shouldn't forgive me when
you know what 4 am going to do!'
and she moved to the door.
Harry sprang up.
Where are you going?-what arr
you going to do?"
She put his hand from her.
II am going to Lucille" she SAID,
E'Not to make reparation-I leave that
for fools; but I am going to put you
straight in her eyes-to show her
that you couldn't have done anything
else but marry me under the circum
stances. | was making you-wasn |
II"
She laughed.
"Good-day, gentlemen. Mr.. Merle,
you have spoiled both our fortunes,
and l can't forgive you! A forged
check!-it was the work of an idiot !.
and, with the first touch of passion,
she shot furious glance at him and
went out.
/ They heard her ascending the stairs
with light careless step Bad to
the core, she had one redeemlng quail
| ity which most villains, male and fe-
male, lack-cOuTage!
Mr. Head went UP to Harry and
| laid his hand on his shoulder.
"This is strange and sudden news.
my lord" he said, solemnly. Il have
long had my doubts that there was
some mystery in the life Of the late
marquis; but you will admit that ii
was not my place"
Harry shook his head YEARLY.
what is to be done?' he said
thoarsely.
Mr.. Head looked at the marquis.
II do not imagine that the claim
will be contested, he said, signif-
cantly- Il would suggest oompro-
mise"
The marquis laughed sardonically
and threw himself back in his chair
COMPROMISED" ne said with a
sheer. II shall contest this claim to
the last farthing! l will never give
up, never!"
Mr.. Head approached the table and
bent over him.
For your own sake remain quiet
he said. do not anger him; he mas
been cruelty used. Look back, sir
upon the years he has borne the
shadow of disgrace and obloquy. AS
to the claim, if this be genuine
and I see that you know it is-li
can easily be proved-you are lost!'
The detective, who had been per
= u -