Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-02-09

q delicious little breakfast, ana was
pleased to be very gracious to Aim.
The anxiety with which he had met
her at. the cabin door soon vanished.
He fell into the gallantry of an &C.
cepted sutton who is very much in
love and q bit uncertain of his con-
quest.
He waited until Dupont went to
fetch the horses before he yentured
to reopen the question Of questions:
"Sweetheart, you've had time to think
it over and decide Tell me, when is
to be the happy day?'
eyes" she murmured, 81 have
thought it over"
''Yoa will name an early dQie!' he
exclaimed, assured by the coy sweet
ness of her look.
Her smile faded, and she dropped
forward in an attitude of humility that
he had never before seen her pride
permit. She replied in meek voice:
"Oh, no, no! l must do what is just
by you. Think what it would be like
for you to take back with you as your
wife Il quarterbreed girl straight off an
Indian reservation"
Vandervyn WINGED, rallied. and re-
Joined with ard0r: LET them think
what they please, SO long as you are
my wife!''
"That is most gallant and--brave OF
you!" she murmureG. "But-there Is
also Per3'
Vandervyn bit his lip. "Need he
come aiong?'
Marie looked up, her eyes full of ten
der reproach.
Il did not think that of you, Reggie.
How can | leave him here alone? You
came back from Ottawa because I
wished to be with him. Even before I
went to convent | saw the traits in
him that you see, but also [ saw some
thing mOre-the man that he might
have been"
Don't imagine I'm asking you to
give him up" Vandervyn FASTENED to
discaim. "All | suggest is that we
take our honeymoon trip alone"
'And leave Pere with no one to cook
for him-leave him here! Can't you
guess what would happen? Within a
Week-a fortnight at the utmOst-he
would marry the youngest and best
cook within reach, q breed girl by pref
erence-most likely Charities sister"
Vandervyn WINGED as if cut across
the face with q Whiplash.
"No-not her!" he stammered.
'That-it would be impossible: She
would be- I tell you, 1 will not
stand for it cannOt!'
"Of course that could not be per-
mitted," sweetly agreed Marie. Il
would not care to come back and find
l had acquired a stepmother as young
or younger than myself-no, not even
if she were as clean and as good a
girl as is Oinna Redbear."
''Then you - think -" heSitated
Vandervyn.
Listen. have thought and thought,
and now [ have it all planned out.
L must do what is just by you, yet,
as you see, I cannot leave Pere here.
You may remember that [ told you a
little about the English people l knew
in Ottawa. When | saw that you
thought l was romancing, I said no
more except in hints. l really was
more intimate with Lady Verlaine
than you will find it easy to believe.
Her son and daughters were already
married. She took q fancy to me.
When | was to come home, she invited
me to visit her in England. | had
told her all about myself and Pere.
We correspond regularly. She has re-
newed her invitation more than once.
The last time she insisted that
should come without further delay,
and bring Pere with me-"
"She did," exclaimed Vandervyn.
"Then why not all three of us go to-
gether?"
Marie dropped again in her attitude
of meek humility.
"You are so generous, Reggie, to be
willing to travel with Pere! But I
cannot allow you to make such q sac
rifice No. there is a better way. I
shall go alone with Pere to England,
and then perhaps for little visit to
Paris With the sister of the mother
superior of my convent. Pere has
never forgotten his Professionalism
dialect, and I have been tinkering it
into fairly good French. A month or
two in Paris may correct his accent.
1t may also smooth down our rough
nesses enough for us to venture over
to Washington without putting you too
greatly to shame before your friends"
1.-TWO months all that timer" COM
planned Vandervyn.
Indeed, no. To will be much longer"
answered the girl. II cannot permit |
you to marry a mere agency girl. Be- |
sides, if Pere does not wish to sell |
out his cattle business, may have to |
wait for returns from the mine. It |
takes quantities of money to buy pol |
Ish, and lots of time to put it on. We |
shall not reach Washington before No |
ve1nber or December"
give or six months !"