Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-10-29
Williams shudderoA

wells bowed for the third time In
assent taking keen enjoyment from
the others distress. A hot dislike
struck him Immediately upon the
close slgnt or Williams. He wondered
now he had ever trusted or liked tba
man. 1t was as an unpleasant taste
IN MS mouth when Alberta stepped to
williams side; her manner was elo-
quent or so much love-love thar could
not be new thing. Williams turned
toward her, about to present Wells.
smiled at her: the picture that they
made was vivid one to the man thev
had wronged. whose angry eyes. in
spite OF all the restraint under which
ne labored, fell upon Albert's face.
she gave him a dazzling smile. He
had seen that smile before.
AND this is the Japanese lord"
Alberta announced gaily, then. quick
~, to Williams: "He understands Eng
lish, doesn't he. Ray?"
"Why-yes-he spoke English to
me-"
Wells did not see his uncle an
proach. and the voice at his elbow
startled him.
1T Is good of you to take so much
trouble for me-" Sanderson said 81
only trust it is because this voyage
lifted into your own plans"
Wells gathered himself in hand. and
turned toward his uncle. Nothing of
recognition, no amazement at a re-
semDlance, was on the others face.
Why should there be? Wells realized.
He had had months to perfect his
part, the disfiguring bandage and for
elgn dress, his acquired habit of mar
rowing his eyes and holding his lips
tightly together, his darkened skin
and thinned face, to which he would
add, in moment, his singsong. stilted
English
Wells was shocked at Sanderson's
| appearance. 1t told him plainly that
the old pan had been and still was
suffering; there were new wrinkles.
the whole face and figure were ex-
| pressiye of laXity, Sadness Wells felt
desire to get matters over with. Set
tied. Quickly. Instead there must be
ceremonial dinners and vacant speech.
Anger surged up in him. He had a
perverse desire to hurt some one, and
yet did not dare vent 1t upon Alberta
or Williams, who were the cause.
II am on my wedding Journey" he
answered Sanderson. He indicated
Ellen. '"This is my wife. My first
wife"
Alberta giggled. SLOW deliciously
naive!" she whispered to Williams.
Sanderson approached the point at
once.
| You know hOw-my nephew died,
sir?" alberta whispered huskily to
Ray that Uncle Sandy was like that,
now; always thinking of Bob, and
never minding where he spoke of him
Imagine, right on the wharf, and in
terrupting a Japanese reception y
Wells was not ready to answer the
question at all, so: 81 am very tired.
We can speak of this later"
Sanderson nodded. 81 had hoped,
sir, that you would come with me
with us-to my home. l had prepared
rooms for you. A suite as comfort
able as any hotel could furnish. If
you and your wife could? II would
LIKE am anxious to hear-he was
| about your height, sir, but a bit broad
er In the shoulders, perhaps OF
course, l did not understand" glance
at the waiting japanese who chafed
at the delay, "that you would have
so many friends who have claims upon
you. But" he left the sentence I'M
| finished.
The leader of the delegation smiled,
nodding. There will be a banquet"
he admitted, with the honorable
Kayama-San as our guest"
| For moment Wells did not see his
way: if he went with the Japanese,
as Kayama-San rightly should do, it
would prolong Sanderson's suspense
and pain, to say nothing of his own
impatience; if ne went with the white
man, the Japanese would think it
| queer-more than queer.
And in flash it came to him that
he need not care longer what they
thought
II have business so gravely i'm.
portant that the ghosts of my an
cestors will come to hear" he confid-
ed to the leader of the delegation,
dropping his voice and changing the
language. 1T concerns the honor Of
my house. Tomorrow, perhaps? l do
not cause you too great disappoint-
ment? You will excuse me? Good"
Tomorrow Let them search for
Kayama-San tomorrow, if all went
well.
81 will go with you," Wells told San
derson. 81 and my WIFE"
(TO BE CONTINUED)