Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-06-13
CHAPTER II
a Secret Kept.

m, found ldILH " 50 La ''Ni VIII
., nUbov. But at the moment she
.rr did not think about what he
Al sd Any answer to her would
4. served if It had been kind.
1, she walked on into the windy
a-sppss much relieved that he had
answered as he had, rejecting that he
nd yet to prove his words true, she
hr,p 10 grasp the deeper significance
sbpm. There was a revival of pride
As made her feel that she ought to
vorD to think at all about such a
nll
Presently Madeline's guide turned
of the walk and raped at a door of
ow.roofed house.
Hullo-whos there" a deep voice
answered
"Gere Stewart" said the cowboy.
yal FlOrenCe-quick~
Trump of footsteps followed, a tap
Oh door, and voices. Madeline heard
woman exclaim: Gene! here when
there's a dance in town! Something
wrong out on the range" A light
Jared up and shone bright through a
window In another moment there
came patter Of soft steps, and the
door opened to disclose a woman hold
hg lamp.
"Gene! AIs not"
al is all right" Interrupted the
cowboy
Madeline had two sensations then
-tle Of wonder at the note Of alarm
and love in the woman's voice, and
the other Of Unutterable relief to be
safe with friend Of her brothers.
TITS AIS sister-came on tonight's
rain," the cowboy was saying. 81
happened to be at the station, and
I've fetched her up to you"
Madeline came forward out of the
shadow.
"Not-not really Majesty Ham
nond" exclaimed Florence Kingsley.
She nearly dropped the lamp, and she
looked, astounded beyond belief.
YES l am really She" replied
Madeline. 'AIy train was late and
ioF some reason Alfred did not meet
me- Mr.-NIr. Stewart saw fit to bring
me to you instead of taking me to a
hotel"
Vn, I'm so glad to meet you" re-
pIed Florence, warmly. "Do come in.
I'm so surprised, I forget nv manners.
"ny you are white as a sheet. You
must be tired. What a long wait you
nad at the station! If had known
you were coming! Indeed, you are
very pale. Are you ill?"
NO. Only I am very tired. Travel
Jug SO far by rail is harder than
imagined ] did have rather a long
wait after arriving at the station, but
! can't say that it was lonely"
Florence Kingsley searched Made
Dne face with keen eyes, and then
WoN long, significant look at the
>, @ent Stewart With that she de-
IoerateIy and quietly closed a door
"aulns into another room.
MISS Hammond, what has hap
Esaeu" She had lowered her voice.
90 not wish to recall all that has
happened" replied Madeline. 81 shall
s VEL Alfred, however, that 1 would
.''''er nave met hostile Apache than
a cowboy"
W lease don't tell AL that!" cried
florence. Then she grasped Stewart
aau pulled him close to the light.
uene, you're drunk ~
NOW, see here, Flo, I only"
/ don't want to know. I'd tell 1t.
gene, aren't you ever going to learn
lecencyq Aren't YOU ever going to
top drinkingi You'll lose all your
riends. Molly and 1 have pleaded
nth you, and now you've gone and
one-God knows what!"
What 90 women want to wear wells
Or" he growled. I'D have known
Ter but for that VEIL"
And you wouldn't have insulted
ler' But you would the next girl who
came along. Gene, you are hopeless.
NOW, you get out of here and don't
ever come back"
FLO" he entreated.
i mean It."
1 reckon then I'll come back to-
o morrow and take NY medicine" he
Don't you darer' sI> ried.
door.
Miss Hammond, you-you don't
e a. how this hurts me-" said
florence. What you must think Of
W w. IT'S so unlucky that you should
H S had this happen right at first.
), Wv, maybe you won't have the heart
stay Oh, I've known more than
.r rs eastern girl to go home without
b.s earning what we really are out
8 Miss Hammond, Gene Stewart
,.u' mend when he's drunk. All the
me- know, whatever he did, he
To aSl' no shame to you. Come now.
Ma ulnk about it again tonight"
I'm e TOOK up the lamp and led Made
"'O Vtus room. won't you