Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-07-21

he to have my cottage opened BY
any one in my absence
Lucille turned her face to hin
haughtily.
"rhe cottage is mine" she said
IF 1 open it and enter it, it is fol
| his sake, to prove at once that he
knows nothing of the robbery"
AS she spoke she threw the door
open and crossed the threshold, and
te two other ladies followed her; the
marquis, with an affected delicacy, re
NAMED standing on the step.
AS she saw the confusion thai
reigned in the once neat and pretty
room, a vague chill smote upon Lu
| Giles heart, and she stood looking
around her, pale and troubled for the
| first time.
HE is not here whispered Ma
RE Werner, at her elbow. Lucille,
don't like the looks of it."
| Lucille turned her head and looked
at her vaguely.
What is it you do not like the looks
Of? He will be here presently. We
will wait. Hope will meet him and
send him to u.s."
Yes assented Marie. OF
course
Then she began to take up the
| things on the table in an apparently
careless fashion, and suddenly she
uttered an exclamation, and made as
If to conceal something in her hand
What is it?" asked Lucille.
ooh, nothing nothing" replied Ma
RE, with affected embarrassment.
What have you got in your hand?'
demanded Lucille.
Marie opened it slowly, and lying in
the palm was a piece of pink ribbon
Poor Susie was fond of little rib.
bon, and pink was her favorite color
Lucille recognized it at once and
stared at it with vacant eyes.
Mrs Dalton looked grim and stern
the marquis at his post outside
watched Lucille's face covertly.
Where did you find that?" asked
Lucille, slowly.
RE. Tit is Susie's ribbon!''
Lucille sank into chair and avert
ed her face from the rest, and her
eyes sought the floor.
AS she sat, those watching her saw
a strange expression creep into her
face, look Of dread, of horror, of
agony beyond description. The col
or left her cheeks, her lips even, and
her eyes seemed fixed in fascinated
glare.
Mrs. Dalton hurried to her side.
"My dear Miss Darracourt! The
excitement has been too much you
you ah!" she broke off with fright
ened cry, for following Lucille's eyes
she saw what it was that had robbed
her face of its color.
1t was the silver vase.
"My lord, my lord!'' she cried, agi-
tatedly, and the marquis, exchanging
J a. glance with Marie, hurried inside.
ooh, my lord, look!" exclaimed Mrs.
Dalton, and she pointed to the vase.
He stopped and picked it up, and
held it with a grave, panied look up
on his face, his eyes watching Luz
Giles face.
ooh, Lucille, Lucille!' murmured
Marie Werner, clasping her hands.
What is to be done?"
Lucille sat as if carved in stone, her
eyes fixed ON the vase, her lips apart,
her breath coming in short pants.
"It is the Queen Anne vase" said
the marquis, solemnly; II could
swear to every figure upon it. Miss
Darracourt, IL am most deeply
grieved."
What is to be done?" repeated Ma
RE. ooh, Lord Merle, this-this is
my fault" and she covered her face
with her handkerchief. Tiff
hadn't told Susie, she would not have
known the secret
Lucille arose, supporting herself by
the back of the chair.
Are you talking of Harry Herne?"
she asked, dully-"of Harry Herne?"
The marquis glanced at her and
then at the vase.
Dear Miss Darracourt, come away,
pray come away" murmured Mrs.
Dalton
Lucille turned her eyes upon her.
Come away? Why? How-how did
that vase get here?''
The two conspirators held their
tongues. They were at a critical
point in their little comedy and pre-
ferred to let others take the stage.
Let what might happen now, they
thought their plot could not fail.
Lucille rose trembling.
Where is Harry?'' she said, pant
ing, send for him at once. At once!
do you hear? He will explain it all. /
want him here at once
They looked from one to the other;
then the marquis at a glance from
Marie, set down the vase upon the
table
He went towards the door, and was