Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-02-07

I
ed in the great, eager, happy throng
| of guests, and walked through the de-
! serted avenue with queer, bewilder'
| ed senseof having awakened to new
( life and very bleak and colorless
I one.
He had lived % years in the world
of the few-the rich who not only toll
not nor spin but do not need to re-
member that anybody ever had to toll
or spin to produce that which they
possess. Owens father had not been
toiler or a spinner either. The good
things provided by the gods were TAX
en- by the Cuthberts unquestioningly,
as of right.
Breeding, education, health, brains,
luxury-they all had dropped on the
young mans shoulders so naturally
that he never knew of demands or de-
sires unsatisfied Kept from indo-
lence and its brother, vice, by his in
herent Zest for knowledge and liter
allure, keen on field sports, Owen Cuth-
bert long ago had come to regard life
with unconscious but complete self
satisfaction.
And now, suddenly, all this satisfac-
ton had vanished. His serene con-
seriousness of having everything he
wanted had been dispelled. The
world, that had seemed so kind, had
grown dark and austere
Just few words had done it-a few
words that he had overheard when he
aDprOa Chad n ra+irad oCrpar vhoro bo
had seen the bright hair Of Marjorie
Ellison, his fiancee. He had stepped
softly, meaning to surprise her, when
his feet were arrested by the voice Of
his friend, George Kingdom.
you are sure you can keep 1t from
Cuthbert?"
"Of course / can. Cuthbert is the
most innocent, unsuspecting of NOR
tails and he has perfect confidence in
me-"
You're an angel, Marjorie May
come tomorrow? Will you be alone?"
Yes, tomorrow at g." replied Mar
Jorie, evidently not resenting Mr..
Kingdoms remarks about angels.
Il feel awfuIly mean about deceiv-
ing old Owen in this way" Kingdoms
voice continued, "but after we are
married and he finds that things can't
be helped I'm sure he'll forgive me-"
Marjorie said something in reply,
but the sounds came to Owen Cuth-
bert's ears only in confused noises
through mighty hammering Of blood
at his temples. For one mad instant
he intended to leap at George King
don and revenge himself like primeval
man. The instant passed. Ages of
breeding and repression asserted
themselves. Cuthbert turned softly
and departed as he had come.
"Why-why-whT?" his bewildered,
seething, furious ksrain asked.
Il don't understand it. I'm all con-
fused" Cuthbert groaned. When did
she stop loving me-and why?"
He went home and engaged me-
chanically in the h1m-drum processes
of bathing and shaving.
Lying in deep leather chair he
smoked black cigar after black cigar,
and in the smoke read things until
then unknown to his sense. Bitter
things they were-that George King
don was a better fellow, handsome,
with the glamor of adventure on land
and sea, a man who had done great
things in exploration and science, just
the man to win women.
you have had only the easy
things" muttered he, apostrophixing
himself. Now you've got to pay for
them" He threw away his cigar and
walked to the street
Again he moved with his accus-
toned stride; for a great resolve had
come to him, and he was detected no
more, but only sad, endlessly sad.
and more determined than he ever had
needed to be in all his easy life.
Half an hour later he sat in ais
lawyers office. Anderson" said he,
'T want you to do something very con-
fldential for me. In a manner unnec-
essary to explain. / have become
heavily indebted to George Kingdom.
You must inform him that a patron of
scientific exploration has instructed
you to deposit 100000 to his credit on
the day he is married.
''All right. my boy" said the old
lawyer. Your generosity does you
honor and it couldn't go to a better
man" owen WINGED a bit in spite of
that great resolve of his.
Owen Cuthbert went home and sat
down to write letter. He wrote for
four hours: yet when the missive was
finished at last, 1t was astonishingiy
brief. The waste basket, almost full
of tiny fragments of paper, accounted
mutely for the rest
my dear Marjorie" said the short
note. II have learned, quite by acci-
dent, that your former feelings to-
ward me have changed so completely
that It would mean unhappiness to
you If held you to our engagement.
! will not pretend that this discovery
has not caused me deep grief, nor will
/ pretend that my great love for you
has been lessened in the least. | love