Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-08-23
= oornr,ond of LARGE schoo.

was In command OF ldISe SSAoV-
in the coasting trade. Then one day,
six months before. it was announced
that Captain Ben Perry had fallen heir
to the little house next door to Mill |
cent Elliott's and was expected home. ,
He did come there to live. and Mil
licent met him on the street the next
DIV. ana because her heart was beat, |
ing so trippingIy she ignored his at
tempt at greeting and passed him
swiftly by with uplifted chin.
How he spent his time Little River
conjectured whenever il met at post !
Office. sewing society or mothers
meeting. His whole careless mode OF
housekeeping furnished gossip for nine
times nine days
Just as Miss Millicent was conclud
ing her solitary dinner she saw ner
neighbor emerge from his shadowy
porch and stride down the overGrown
path to the gate. A moment later ne
was swinging down the road toward
the hotel.
AS if giving way to long repressea
impulse. Millicent left the house and
stole down through her little orchard
to come out at last at the farthest
corner of Captain Perry's domain
Here was q break in the fence, and
she slipped through and plunged into
a thicket of raspberry bushes. When
she came forth she was scratched ana
bleeding and her neatly arranged hair
hung in ripping disorder over her
ears.
.'Of all the shiftless'- gasped MILL
cent as she found her way up to the
back door of the house. 1t was neater
than she mad hoped to find it, ana
when she had lifted the door latcn
and found herself in the Kitchen of
the house she exclaimed with wonder
at its shipshape appearance. TIE
stove was brightly polished and every
pot and pan hung upon its appointed
hook. 1t was all as snug as the galley
| of ship.
The sitting room was cool and coy,
with a smell of fragrant tobacco
| There were large comfortable chairs
| and piles of newspapers and books.
| On the mantelpiece large clock tick
| ed loudly, and Millicent fancied that
| it's round face watched her curiously.
She opened another door and stood
petrified with astonishment. Here was
| the little bedroom of the master of
| the house, and on the immaculate cover
of his dressing table was an old fash
toned photograph of Millicent herself.
After her first gasp of surprise she
stood there motionless, her heart
throbbing heavily, her eyes shining
strangely.
All at once there was the clang of
the closing gate and firm steps on the
J path Captain Ben was returning
Millicent gazed wildly around and
opened the door which she thought led
into the kitchen to find herself at the
foot of the back stairs. At the sound
of steps on the porch she drew the
door close and stood painting with
! fright
The front door opened and closed,
and Captain Ben came into the sitting
raom whistling cheorily Millicent
heard him slap a bundle of papers
down on the table and later the
scratch of match and the smell of to-
bacco. If he would only seek his
front porch. as was his custom. and
thus permit her to escape by the back
way, but he did not. He settled him.
self in creaking chair. and Millicent
heard the rustic of bis newspaper.
| She glanced up the dark stairway
Once up there she might conceal her
self until Captain Ben went out again.
when she might escape to her own do
| main
She leaned forward and cautiously
removed her little slippers; then, feel
ing like a thief, she crept softly up
the stairs to the upper floor. which
was quite bare of furniture She
heard Captain Ben arise and walk
around the room. He even went into
the unused east wing and tried door
there. Then be paused in the lower
hall, as if bordering whether to go up
stairs.
Did he suspect her presence there or
the presence of an interloper on his
premises? Had she left any telltale
evidence of her visit below?
At last he went back into the sitting
AOOAls anu sic uSdIU I'LL WulSL1uS
softly.
1t was sitting hot upstairs, where
the sun had poured all day through
the unshuttered windows. and MILL
cent felt quite faint as she sat on the
top step and leaned her head against
the wall. while the thunder rolled and |
the lightning flashed sharply. Then
came the rain in silver javelins that
ratified on the roof of the east wing |
and drummed tune against the win |
dow panes.
When the rain was over and the sun |
peeped palely forth Captain Ben's |
voice came up the stairs with startling |
suddenness.
why don't you come down. Mile" |
he asked quietly.
So he had known she was there all /
the time. Now he was aware that she
had entered his house and pryed into
bis rooms just as common gossip
might have donei
"Millie." he repeated softly, II have
waited a long time for you. Won't |