Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-01-19
Continued.


hand so soon. My darling, expected
this, but not so soon. He asked you
to marry him! What did you say?"
Il said,'' replied Stella, then hest
tated and looked at him shyly. What
ought to say?"
THAT you would rather go down
to your grave" said Louis, solemnly.
Stella started, and looked at him
earnestly.
do you think he is so very bad a
man, them" she said, in whisper.
eff know anything of the human
face and the story it tells, am GER
tain that Sir Richard Wildfang's
heart is as black as his eyes. But
remember | am his successful rival,
and therefore not impartial. Tell
me, what did you say?"
Il said no." replied Stella, gently.
my own, brave girl" murmured
Louis. mo, plainly, straightfor-
wardly, unconditionally?"
Stella flushed and turned pale, and
half started with vague alarm.
No." she hesitated; then, in a
low, hurried voice, she added, turning
ing to him and touching his arm with
gentle, imploring appeal for him to
make all allowance: mo. l did not
Do not look so grave. Remember how
clever, how acute, how willy he is.
Louis, he is a man of the world, vers-
ed in chicanery and all the arts
which conquer the weak; and well,
am only a weak girl when l am
away from you. He talked as Me.
phistopheles might have talked; SO
quietly, so sanity, so dangerously
softly, that felt like bird under the
spell of snake. I fought hard and
long, but l gained only half vic
tory"
Louis turned and caught her arm.
What" he said, his face turning
pale with passionate alarm. You
you did not tell him you might marry
him?''
Eyes, On condition, which can
never occur. Louis, 1 promised to
marry -if-if-oh, / cannot say
it."
Tell me quickly, my darling, you
are torturing me- exclaimed Louis,
hoarsely.
eff you proved false or-or dishon-
orable!'' faltered Stella.
my own brave, clever grill" he
exclaimed. taking both her hands and
breathing a profound sigh of relief.
81 see-to get rid of him you prom
ised to perform an impossibility, for
it is impossibility for you to marry
him, if another impossibility-fo it
is an impossibility for me to prove
false-came to pass! Clever, beauti-
full Stella. Oh, foolish, wicked Sir
Richard, why did he not get you to
make some other condition? Say
when the night changed to day, the
moon became green cheese, Or the
Thames caught fire. All these might
happen before that one event upon
which his hope hinges can come to
pass. False to you, Stella, my star.
nv angel. Not in life or DEATH
He bent over her hands and kissed
them till they tingled, Stella looking
down upon him with happy smile
which shone through living tears.
'You forgive me then?' she said.
Forgive you? I know not how to-
express my awe at your genius.
knew you were an angel at heart as
well as in face, but l did not think
you were a diplomat! Poor Sir Rich
ard! Dislike him as l do, fell In
clined to pity him! For it is dread
full thing to have lost you, and If his
hope of gaining you rests upon my in
fidelity, then he has sold himself to
despair! Dry your eyes my darl-
ing. Sir Richard has outwitted him.
self and love has conquered"
eyes," said Stella, with happier
smile. "But how did he come to-
to know that you"
Loved you? Why, all the world
might see it if it only looked" he
responded. But there is no occa-
sion for alarm. Sir Richard will keep
his own counsel, be assured. He Will
not disclose our secret to Mrs. New
ton for a very good reason. Any
definite action of her part might com.
pei us to action on ours"
Stella looked alarmed.
What do you mean?" he asked.
81 mean,'' he replied, that not all
the world shall part us, and that you
are mine in spite of everything"
1t was lovers speech and meant
nothing sinister, but Stella was re-
minded of it afterward, and reading 1t
in distorted light of twisted circum-
stances, judged him by it.
"But," he resumed, quickly, an
xious to change the subject, which he
saw distressed her, II must relate my
experiences. You do not ask me
whv went to town, sweetest?'
Because you pleased; that is SUI
6cient reason for man. replied
stella with a naive smile.
mo. did not please he said I
went because l was compelled.
went on business.
"Business?" said Stella, with all a
IN, bor 1ovor'c CON-