Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-12-25
BY CANDLE LIGHT
Intricacies of the Law Do Not
Interfere With Judge in Own
Heart Problem.
BY GRACE KERRIGAN.

the memory of Phil Gaines spoil your
whole life?"
Judge Carter in love with me? Oh,
no, mother! He is too wrapped up in
the intricacies of the law to bother
with heart problem"
You'll find out for yourself soon.
Don't blind your eyes to a catch like
that because of a school boy"
4 wish that you would let me love
Phil without worrying over it,
You are twenty-five, Anne, and you
have discarded enough men because
of your foolish infatuation of Phil
Gaines. He is married now and out of
the question"
81 grant you that" laughed the girl,
"but his marriage hasn't killed my
love for him. Why, he is as much
part of my life now as he was year
ago when the postman brought his
daily thought of me-"
you are too clever and wholesome
to cling to the memory of a man who
was not true"
Remember, dear that he asked me
to marry him and I refused.
"Of course you refused when the
night before he had been VIGOROUSLY
drunk at the Peyton's dinner dance"
Not VIGOROUSLY, mother, for l took
him away before any one knew, and If
1 had loved him, as you think, well
enough to spoil my life because of his
memory, I would have married him
even if he had been a confirmed
drunkard. That is a woman's way"
Not a woman with your pride,
Anne! What do you mean by not low
ing him as I think you do? Are there
more ways than one?"
Yes, there are more ways than
one"
Anne picked up little silver frame
on her desk. It held the picture of
big, stalwart fellow with eyes that
laughed and Knocked and yet were
tender.
IF you would put that picture away
and pack all his gifts, you would be
much more likely to forget You cod
die his memory. He isn't the boy you
remember. He is a man now. l have
heard that he is coming here on his
honeymoon 7 hope he does, to disil-
fusion you
why do you insist upon marriage
for me?"
Because want you to be happy.
Marry Judge Carter! He is the young
est man on the bench, good looking
and comes of a fine family. You will
never do better"
HE isn't in love with me and don't
intend to go campaigning for hus-
band" Anne looked at her mother and
smiled. Every family needs one old
maid to help mother the nephews and
nieces and pay the wild boys out OF
debt So since I am the only hope of
our relatives let me be dear old
spinster. In my rare laces and pearls,
I will be a romantic figure as I sit by
the fire, seeing in the rosy flames the
bridge of dreams, spanning the river
of youth, that leads into my garden
of remembered things"
Don't talk like that, Anne. 1t
makes my heart ache. Be happy! You
are beautiful and gifted. Anticipate
happiness and make the harp of life
respond to your wooing touch. For
get Phil"
eff 1 only could forget!"
When her mother left her, Anne
held the picture in her two hands,
staring down in the eyes that laughed
and Knocked and yet were tender, Il
wonder how we'll you love her, this
woman who has taken my place." she
unused. 'T wonder what she does to
comfort you when the blue devils get
you, Phil. You know when they came
you always wired me to write quick
". Now you don't need me any more.
I think that is what hurts most of all.
You don't need me any more. For
ten years, we have told each other all
our little hopes and plans. You were
just my other self. Giving you up
was like kissing the cross Of my life's
rosary. You meant youth to me. l
am glad that | could help you over the
hard years when you first went to that
little western town, dear, foolish, low
able Phil"
She set the silver frame back in
recess of her desk and rang for her
maid.
"My new blue charmeuse and the
turquoise, please, Elsie"
as it another party?" asked Elsie,
who adored her pretty mistress and
took a personal pride in her popu-
larity.
"a quiet little dinner with Judge
Carter and the opera afterward. A bit
of rouge for my cheeks, Elsie, for II
Trovatore always takes my own
color"
you are not sad?" questioned the
little maid. Surely, with such beauty
and the love of many-it is enough to
make you very happy"
Yes" said Anne, cit is enough"
A little later as they made their way
through the crowded dining room to
the table that had been reserved for
them, Anne was unconscious of the
looks of admirations from every side,
but Judge Carter saw and thrilled
with pride of her.