Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-03-02
Continued.


his lips his face had changed, his
hands frightened spasnodically upon
the paper, at which he stared with
fixed and sorrowful regard
Then he laid it down, having assur-
edlv read enough for that day
ITO be married in September, to
him. the scheming seoundreL who
played upon her and betrayed me! On
Stella. Stella! l would rather stand
beside your grave than beside you on
vour wedding day. September, Sep
tember! 1t is soon, too soon! Can
she have forgotten me already, OF
have they succeeded in forcing heF
tn marry him? No matter; she De-
ueyes me false, win do so until the
hour of death. Then, Of a surety, VIII
eyes be opened, Or there is no justice
dnder heaven. September, September
Oh, Stella, Stella!
While the words were on his llps'
and his eyes were covered by MS
hands a footstep rang out on the
oaken threshold of the hut, and, look
ing up, the trapper saw tall, dark
figure standing with its back to the
light, regarding him.
Your business, friend?' he said,
YEARLY.
The man turned his face slightly,
the trapper started, then sprang at
bim-yery much as the wolves
sprang at himself some nights when
be Law beside the stream watching
Tor the beaver-grasped him by the
throat and pinned him against the
wooded wall of the hut
stephen Hargrave! met at last!
Master Louis" said the man, with
. deep, hoarse voice, we've met at
last because I've been seeking ye, fol
lowing in your tracks all these
months. Take your hand from my
throat master, till I've told all I've got
TO tell, then We can put your bowie
knife there instead"
Louis Felton's hand relaxed, and
he pointed to the stool.
Sit there, and say what you've got
to say. Tell me one word that is false
one word that l know to be untrue
and I'll shoot you as l would
dog!"
So they stood and sat, the grim Ste
phen Hargrave telling the story OF
yillany to the victim of it, standing
with his hand upon his gun.
The preparations for the wedding
hurried ON.
The middle of September, which
seemed so happily far off to Stella
when she named the day which was
10 prove the consummation of Sir
Richards good fortune, drew near
with faithful hiGeous haste. Night
after night she woke from terrible,
agonizing dreams, in which she saw
her old lover lying dead at her feet.
in which she felt herself locked in the
cold arms of statue in the shape and
guise of Sir Richard Wiidfang:
dreams that threw their dark shadows
over her waking hours, and made her
cheek paler and her eyes more list
less than ever.
The doctors-the same wise Great
ures who had declared Sir Richard
needed rest-opined that Miss New
ton would be benefited by the we'd
ding trip through Switzerland, and
with wise mods and shakes of the
head said that the sooner she was
married the better.
So the time flew by, and the day be-
fore the wedding fell upon her with a
suddenness which all the month of
preparation had not rendered less
appalling.
Great was the confusion, and in the
midst of it the lawyers arrived to see
the settlement duly signed and exc
cuted
Lord Marmion, the young peer, was
to give his beautiful ward away. anG
he was there with the lawyers, al
smilingly affectionate, but not a littlt
uneasy and anxious at the pallor anC
iniderenceff of the bride So uneasy
and anxious indeed, that when he
came into the drawing room, after
the grand dinner which had beer
given as preparation to the festivi
ties which were to follow on the
happy pairs return, he thought Stell;
as she sat alone and in silence by tina
window through which she had frs
seen Louis FELTON,. and, with a sudden
bluntness which sent the blood to he
pale face, said:
Stella, you won't mind me- Tn
Your guardian, you know, though
am such youngster for that post
Now, tell me the truth"
Certainly, Lord Marmion," sal,
Stella, languidly moving her face, bu
smiling as she looked up at him Will
a smile that was pitiful in its wane
ness. IN
Stella, tell me- would you like thi.
-this-wedding put off?"
A flush and an eager light lit I'M hel