Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-06-04

after another. coming to town,
dropped him a hint, or more. that
Rose was almost continuously with
this Eaton man, with her mothers
evident consent
For four days he did not write to
Rose. and on the fifth came a pretty
note from her. Was he all right ::
Couldn't he come out for the week
end? 1t was loyely-roses blooming
everywhere. She was having such a
good time. She was, as ever, Rose.
This might mean everything, or moth
ing at ALL He reflected that girls
have no honor about their signatures
as a rule.
On that day Richards breezed back
to his paper minus ten pounds of his
fat and CORRESPONDENCE boastful. Also
he was engaged to Elsie Ragan. He
was important He gave Fred a look
of pity and contempt as he left after
a brief call
Say, you gave her up too easily,
old chap" he began, and to his as
constituent Fred gave savage scowl
and a menacing gesture.
Clear out, Dicky! What you don't
know would fill library!" Dicky
cleared out with a suppressed whistle
and a remark as to the temper of a
city-bound man. And Frederic Knowl-
ton sat down and wrote a letter.
Dear Rose:-
This has beer a crucial time with
my business and / wanted to make
good in order to give my wife every
comfort. l have had no time for out
door counting. told you that loved
you and | meant it then-and mean 1t
now. l asked you to marry me and
you put me off with half-promise.
But you have my ring and have owed
me some consideration.
Almost everybody who has been
out at the lake says, Intentionally Or
otherwise, that your whole time and
attention is taken up by John Eaton.
He may be all right. That is for
your family to make sure of. But |
am now sure of this-that you do not
love me and are afraid to say so fatty.
Don't you know me better than that,
little girl? So now l shall give you
your freedom and ask you to send me
back my mothers ring. You see |
don't want to hold you against your
will to even half promise. You are
entirely free, l hope you will be
happy.
FREDERIC KNOWLTON."
He savagely stamped and sealed the
letter and himself took it to the office
so that she would get it that night.
He grimly told himself that now he
could really put his mad on his bust
ness. But life felt empty and foriorn
enough.
The next morning he was called to
the telephone-by Roses mother.
Were at the town house." she said
quietly Rose wants you to come
out right away
Il can't" he answered, for he
thought he could not bear the torture
of seeing her.
"You'll-have to, Frederic, l ami
afraid" she replied. and hung up with
out further parley.
He seized his hat and took the first
car out to Carey place. Her mother
let him into the stuffy house.
You'll find Rose in the library,
she said bit stiffly.
Wondering, still angry, but eager,
the young man went down the hall
and opened the library door. Rose,
tanned, lovely in her white dress, held
out both hands to him. He tried a
moment to resist and then took them
both in his. But he held her off at
arms length and searched her face.
Tears filled her eyes.
"Oh, Freddie" she said, You'll
want your little ring l want to-
keep it-always."
And me, too?" he asked a bit grim
ly. DO you know yet whether you
want me for keeps?"
She laughed a little laugh through
her tears and came close to lay her
head against his sleeve while she held
to him with her brown, strong little
hands.
Yes" she answered. Il know
didn't want anyone but you the min
ute | saw / might-lose you. ] guess
I've been pretty badl But you're
good enough-for both of us, aren't
your"
Frederic Knowlton gave her a little
shake. She was always an utter de-
light to his heart.
copyright, 1913, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)