Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-04-19
ENDING THE STORY
BY MILDRED WHITE


The room she was an might have been
part u a picture OF long ago.
The girl turned her eyes on the let
ter. My dear namesake," IL began.
Il hope that the bracing air OF Win
cllm Is doing FOR you all that the doc
tors pr0phesied. and IL Is fortunate
that l was able 10 take advantage OF
my old friends hospitality. for your
sake. Remember me lovingly 10 Laila.
and ntaK 1 ann going 10 tell you story,
the Etury Of your old maid aunt's life.
All girls love a love story. do they notI
And most girls az one time or another
have known love, either In its happi-
ness or its disappointment. I knew Il
In SORROW. Many years ago. when /
looked as sweet and fresh as you do
now. my dear. was betrothed. as we
called Il then. TO the fortune-favored
young master 81 the very castle where
In yUu are today a guest. His sister.
I-ai.a, was then, as now, my faithful
friend.
what Joyous times we had together,
until a fancied cause for jealousy sep
aruted me from the man I loved.
I Women In rivalry for love are. sup
T pose. the same through all the ages;
and Il was such an unprincipled aud
+ untruthful creature who brought me
sorrow. What matter now the pitiful
nature 81 those l0ng-ago lies2 My
F lover In his madness rushed OF TO
marry. FOR spite. a gentle soul who de-
served better treatment; n friend she
was. too. ~ Laila's and mine. who
7 lived or perhaps not knowing her own
Y disappointment. only until her young
son was born.
"Sad and widowed. John Meredith
came again 20 seek my hand. but I
could not forget his lack OF trust. so
I we were never married. And even as
/ I refused him. his old hot anger arose.
and he swore 10 haunt me In reproach,
I living or dead.
My dear, was still deeply grieved
when. as time passed, came 20 learn
Of his death. Indeed you may see the
/ portrait u the man Tor love OF whom
/ your aunt lived single all her days
/ hanging in the wainscoted room over
/ looking the sea. When you gaze nj
those dark eyes. be sorry that they
were not softer I'm expression,
I She sat thinking over Aunt Mil
I lIcents story as twilight descended
/ and a purple mist seemed 90 rise from
I the sea. Then. presently. as though
I drawn by some unseen power, the girl
7 looked toward the portrait. Slowly.
but positively. the tall painted figure
/ swayed forward. and Aiillicent jumped
/ with a startled cry. As quick as her
/ CRY. the picture fell back into place.
Bravely. she advanced 10 test IL with
her hands. The oiled surface was firm
/ Il It's place.
i Il am getting 90 be as bad as the
servants" she told herself and went
Z brIskly TO join her aunt's old friend.
But Miss Meredith had gone down TO
the village. the housekeeper told her.
And would she have tea in her room9
{ The uncanny influence again drew the
I girl.
Il win have H." she replied, lin the
f front tower room"
She tried 10 persuade herself, as
. NMAAA anu MAMaAa AA&A ~ ERANAAN 49,
T canvas In the panel, that she was cur
ing herself Of an Illusion. IL was just
as she had finished her second muffin
Z that the unbelievable happened. Noise
I IeSsly. the great panel swayed out,
I then back: and in place Of the painted
man stood n living. breathing one.
The same dark eyes gazed, wonder
I lng into young Millieent's own: the
/ same dark hair just touched with sill
I very gray brushed the high white fore
head-and then the picture spoke-at
T least. 50 II seemed 10 Millicent.
i And the speaker echoed her own
I confused thought "Are you," asked
"A pleasing voice. n real person. or am
i I having n vision Of the yearsT
Deliberately he came forward, while
the space where had been the picture
was now but shining panel.
The wonder Of his eyes was reflect
ri in those 81 the girl. Your eyes are
softer she answered irrevelantly'
sand your chin Is less determined
The man smiled. 'sThan whose, for
Instancey' he asked.
4 "Ihem the eatH 1hn tAtN Na -
Great-annt MIllicents lover" she an
swered him perpleNedly.
The mysterious invader retraeed his
steps until he stood before the panel.
Come here" he said gently, and
compare us closely"
AS he spoke. he touched some hid
den spring. and the painting swung
back into place.
1T is really a secret door into this
nv fathers study" the man ex-
plaIned. Il only was permitted 10 use
il when a boy. Returning 20 my old
home today from a long trip abroad
II occurred 70 me TO use IL while full
filling my aunt's errand. i was sent
70 bring her young guest to dinner
Aunt and I had been 10 the village n-
eether. and / admit" added John