Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-11-27
CHAPTER lx.-lcontInued.l

'eTen years ago." abstractedly.
'TWhat lot Of things may happen in
ten years! Deaths, births, marriages,
he went on; the snuffing out Of king
doms and republics; wars, panics.
famine; honor to some and dishonor
20 others. It kind of makes a fellow
grind his teeth, little girl; it kind OF
makes him shut his fists and long to
run aInuck."
why should a strong, intelligent
man, such as you are, think like that?
You are resourceful and unafraid.
Why should you talk like that? You
are young, too. Why"
He stopped and looked full into her
eyes. do you really wish to known
Had better?" with a wisdom be-
yond he- years.
mo, you had better not. I'm not a
good man, Torture, as criterions go.
I've slipped here and there; I've gam
bled and drunk and sQuandered my
time. Why, in my youth 1 was as
model a boy as ever was Percival.
Where the divarication took place l
can't say. There's always two forks
In the road, Fortune, and many Of us
take the wrong one. It's easier going.
Fine excuse; Ell? Some persons would
cell me a scoundrel, a black-leg; IN
some ways, yes. But in the days to
come I want you always to remember
che two untarnished spots upon my
shield Of honor: l have never cheat
ed a man at cards nor run away with
bis wife. The devil must give me
these merits, however painful it may
ee to him. Ten years ago, only a
decade; coed Lord! it's like hun
dred years ago, sometimes"
Fortune breathed with difficulty.
Never before had he taken her into
his confidence to such extent. She
essayed TO speak; the old terror
seemed fairly to smother her It was
not what he had told her, but what
she wished to but dared not ask. She
was like Bluebeards wife, only she
had not the moral courage to open the
door Of the grisly closet. Her
mother, her uncle; what Of them, ah,
what of them? The crooked street
vanished; the roar dwindled away;
she was alone. ali, all alone
3 81 suppose I ought not to have told
you," he said troubled at the misery
he ssaw gathered in her eyes and
vaguely conscious Of what had written
st there. Your mother and uncle
Save been very kind to me. They
know less Of me than you do. l have
been to them a kind of errand-boy; a
lhappy-go-lucky fellow, who cheered
them when they had the doldrums."
OEft4 forced cheerfulness he again
took her hand and Struggled It under
his arm, giving it a friendly reassur-
ing pat. III not speak to you of
love. child, but a hair of your head
is more precious to me than all Midas
gold Whenever I've thought Of you,
I'VE tried to be good Honestly"
and can't you go back to the be-
ginning and start anew?" TREMENDOUSLY.
Can any one go back? The moving
finger writes. An hour is a terrible
thing when you look to see what can
happen in It. But, come; sermons!
I'd far rather see you smile. Won't
you?"
She tried to, but to him 1t was sad
der than her tears would have been.
For an hour they walked through
che dim and musty streets. He exert
ed himself to amuse her and fairly
succeeded. But never did the unac-
countable fear. that presage of misfor-
tune, sleep in her heart And at last,
when he took her to her carriage and
bade her good-by till dinner, a half
Sormed idea began to grow in her
brain; to save Mr.. Jones without be-
kraying Ryanne.
/ The latter's carriage was at the 9TH
sr end Of the bazaars; so he strobe
buIIenly through the press, rudely ell
bowling those who got in mis- way. An
occasional curse was flung after him;
But bis height, his breadth of shout
der, his lowering face, precluded any
khing more active. The Moslems had
deal OF faith IN the efficacy of
t,urses; so the iostled ones rested up
on DE promise Of these, satisfied that
directly, or in the near future, Allah