Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-11-20
CUPID Wins AGAIN
Aunt FideIity's UItimatum Not
0beyed by Little
Love God.
BY SUSANNA GLENN.

Miss Fidelity's voice sounded I'M
usually sharp.
Il did not suppose you saw u.s. an
swerd Mary Ellen with laugh,
though she felt her courage ooz-
ing rapidly at sight of her aunt's
austere look.
Well it SO happens that saw you.
And the sight was one that would
have made your father weep for
shame!"
Mary Ellen closed her lips in a
determined line and remained ST.
lent.
You must take 1t from your moth
er; she was always Fostering about be-
ing friends with Putnams."
Il have been told, Aunt Fidelity,
that the loneliness here killed her,
and--I can believe it,"
There is no call for anyone who
is interested in her work to be lone
some. And l would rather be lone
some than associate with those dis
honest Putnams!"
Are you prepared to prove such an
assertion?" The girls voice shook
with feeling. "Those are strong words,
Aunt Fidelity"
What do you call it but dishonest
when people move a line fence, hire
help away from a neighbor, steal the
hens eggs, and empty out the sap
buckets in sugar time? You'll do we'll
to leave that young Putnam alone. |
hope there will not be occasion to say
anything more about It,"
And now" continued Miss Fidel-
ity Green, after waiting in vain for
some response from her indignant
niece, they have raised my bid for
the CASTER Woods that they know
we've been trying for years to buy"
But what do you want with that
great tract Of woods, Aunt Fidelity? 1t
was different when father was here to
look after It,"
That woods was never worth what
it is now. and | guess / can look after
it as we'll as any man! I'm going
down in the morning and raise my bid
but the Putnams shall never beat
mel"
During the hour of Miss Fidelity's
absence, Mary Ellen sped up the lane
to the old Eastwood tree with
hastily scrawled letter which she
concealed in the pocket-like hole in it's
huge side.
Next day she escaped Miss Green's
eye long enough to secure the an
swer she knew she would find. 1t
said
Dearest: Meet me tonight at
nine by the old Eastwood in the lane.
B."
Mary Ellen watched the paper turn
to ashes in the kitchen stove with
wildly beating heart. For her resO-
luton was taken-she would meet her
lover.
What are you burning up?" ques-
toned Miss Fidelity suspiciously.
Some old papers," answered the
girl laconically.
Pretty particular to see the last
of them, seems to me- shrewdly
II was thinking" said Mary Ellen,
about the different kinds of wood in
the big tract" And she put the stove
lid back in place emphatically.
At exactly eight that evening Miss
Fidelity wound the kitchen clock, put
old Rover in the woodhouse, and lock
ed the kitchen door Mary Ellen's
heart sank as she observed that she
slipped the key into the pocket Of her
dress.
Arrived in her room, the girl moved
about softly preparing for bed. Her
belief that she was being watched was
verified when her aunt presently look
ed in with some unwonted question
concerning the chickens. But Mary
Ellen was covered snugly in bed, and
Miss. Fidelity went away, evidently
satisfied with her experiment.
During the space when the, old
clock was slowly striking nine,
white-faced girl dropped softly from
her window to the grass not far be-
meath and stole stealthily away in the
shadow.
Could she ever brave the mysteries
Of the gloomy lane? What if Aunt
Fidelity should discover her absence?
What if Ben should be detained? Sup
pose she had read the note wrongly"
Mary Ellen, l was afraid you
wouldn't dare comet"
Ben, l don't know how l dared to!
But she made me SO angry with the
things she said that couldn't help
IT."
"Tell me, Mary Ellen" The young
maa wrapped her in a warm coat he
had provided, and walked slowly be-
side her over the crisp, dead grass.
There isn't anything want TO tell
you, Ben; it is all so unkind. And now
that the CASTER Woods deal has come
up, again, she is worse than ever. She
VOWS she will own them at any
cost"
And father is just as determined,
Mary Ellen
= am scared to death to think
came, Ben. What If she discovers my
empty room?"
Ben Putnam stopped resolutely
hnro Mary lillian both