Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-09-12

Degan TO have better understanding
OF the nature of it when thew cast off
restraint and pressed forward to kiss
.ns bride. In all her life Madeline
nag never seen bride kissed so much
ana SO heartily, nor one so flushed
ana dlsheveled and happy. This in
ueed was joyful occasion.
Inc dinner began quietly enough
with the cowboys divided between en-
Darrassment and voracious appetites
tnat they evidently feared to indulge
Wine, however, loosened their tongues
ana when Stillwell got up to make the
speech everybody seemed to expect of
MN they greeted him with q roar.
Stillwel was now one huge. NOM.
famous smile. He was so happy that
ne appeared on the verge of tears. He
rambled on ecstatically till he came
to raise his glass.
AN now, girls an bows. LET'S all
drink to the bride an groom: to their
sincere an lastin' love; to their hap
plness an prosperity; to their good
health an long life. Let's drink TO
the unltin' Of the East with the West
NO man full of red blood an the real
breath of life could resist q Western
girl an a good boss an Gods free
nand-that open country out there.
so we claim AL Hammond, an NAV
we De true to him. An, friends. I
lhlnk 1t fittin' that we drink to his
sister an to our hopes. Heah's to the
lady we hope to make our Majesty I
heahS TO the man who'll come ridin'
out OF the West, fine, hearted
man with fast boss an a strong
rope, an may he win an hold her !!
come, friends, drink"
A heavy pound Of horses hoofs and
yell outside arrested Stillwelrs
voice and halted his hand in midair.
Inc patio became as silent. as an
unoccupied room.
through the open doors and win
dows of Madelines chamber burst the
sounds of horses stamping to a halt,
then harsh speech of men, and low
cry OF woman In pain.
Rapid steps crossed the porch, en-
tered Madelines room. Nels appeared
IN the doorway. Madeline was sur
prised to SEE that he had not been
at the dinner-table. She was dis
turbed at sight Of his face.
Stewart, you're wanted outdoors"
called Nels, bluntly. Monty, you
slope out here with me. You, Nick,
an Stillwell-I reckon the rest of YOU
he'd better shut the doris an stay in
side"
Nels disappeared. Quick as a cat
Monty glided out. Madeline heard
his soft, swift steps pass from her
room into her Office. He had left his
guns there. Madeline trembled. She
saw Stewart get up quietly and with
out any change of expression on his
dark, sad face leave the patio. Nick
Steele followed him. StiIlwell dropped
his wine-glass. AS it broke, shivering
the silence, his huge smile vanished.
His face set into the old cragginess
and the red slowly thickened into
black. Stillwell went out and closed
the door behind him.
Then there was blank silence. The
enjoyment of the moment had been
rudely disrupted. Madeline glanced
down the lines Of brown faces to see
the pleasure fade into the old familiar
hardness.
whats wrong?" asked Alfred, rath-
er stupidity. The change of mood had
been too rapid for him. Suddenly
he awakened, thoroughly aroused at
the interruption. ''I'm going to see
who's butted in here to spoil our din
ner," he said, and strobe out.
He returned before any one at the
table had spoken or moved, and now
the dull red Of anger notified his fore
head.
tits the sheriff of FL Cajonw he
exclaimed, CONTEMPORARY. "Pat
Have with some Of his touch dep