Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-12-01
yes, Edna. This gentleman has come

yes, Edna. This gentleman has come
for YOU"
At the gentleman in question the Won
dering, perturbed Edna was starin g.
He made slight obeisance as she APP
peared. Now, stiff, prim, severe, his
sallow face and nervous eyes rather de-
pressed her.
1T is-it is about" otamm cred
Edna
your past? your friends?" murmured
the principal, brokenly. Yes, Edna. l
am very sorry, but your schooldays are
over"
"Oh! Miss Chandler, don't say that! !"
Edna gasped the words. She COM
pretended that the contamination so
devoutly desired by her mystified, i'm
patient lover and herself had arrived.
But the shock of the announcement, a
realization of how sunny and happy had
been her life under the tender care of
the school guardians sent the quick
tears to her eyes and the warm color
from her face.
Then eagerly, longingly, piteously,
she glanced at the man before her.
Was he the relative she had so often
dreamed of-the mysterious censor OF
her fate?
"You are not-my father" she began,
twisting her hands in nervous confusion.
The strange, mobile features never
changed. Staring straight ahead OF
him like some automaton, his face most
resembling that of man in ill-health,
suffering but silent, schoOled against
the betrayal of the least emotion, he
answered solemnly, but not unpleas-
ingly:
friend-his servant-his messenger
"And-he has sent for mef"
Every word was a throb of suspense
and painful uncertainty. A father!
Then she was not utterly friendless? A
father But why had he left her loveless,
neglected, all these years?
Miss Chandler will tell you" an
swered the stranger. she recognizes
the authority by which appear.
Dear Edna, let it be smiles rather
than tears" spoke Miss Chandler. COM
ing to Edna's side and placing caress-
ing arm about her. 1T is all quickly
told. You have a father, and he has
sent for you"
But"
II cannot tell you more. This gem
tleman not only binds me to secrecy, or,
rather, leaves me in complete igno-
rance of the motive for all this mys-
terry but insists that you shall leave at
once. OF one thing be assured, how
ever. I am satisfied that you are going
into kind hands. All will be we'll. This
letter will convince you. 1t is from
your father" And Miss Chandler nodded
to the stranger, who handed Edna
sealed missiye.
She barely glanced at it through her
binding tears. She read only the first
few lines, beginning:
My child, there have been vital rea-
sons for my seeming neglect of you,
there are still vital reasons why sud-
denly, abruptly, you must sever your
connection with your dearest friends
and hasten to me. When I explain you
will know why no one must know"
Edna crumpled the unfinished missive
into her pocket at this stage, for Miss
Chandler was giving her directions to
go to her room and pack up hurriedly.
In that apartment Beatrice Mercer
joined her. With a strange, wondering
light in her eyes, she listened to Edna S
story of the sudden summons.
"Oh! I shall surely be allowed to
write to you, to explain everything
when l find my father" sobbed Edna,
as she chung to Beatrice in fervent
embrace. acknowledgements"
The scintillating eyes OF the dark
beauty flashed wickedly, but the express
sion Was yelled from poor Edna's scar
blinded sight
81 shall tell him"
THAT [ could not bid him good-by;
they woEld not let me. Tell him | Will
get him word as soon as | cam. Oh,
this mysterious haste unnerves' me! 1
do not even Know where [ am going.
Good by, dear friend. Goodby, good
by"
A slingiag kiss emphasized every
word. The tearfus Miss Chandler waved
her a last adieu from the door. Her
aombes companions helped her into ths'
carriage, and the wheels grinding down
the soft road seemed to be tearing her'
very heartstrings, as Hopedale faded
from view in the distance and the We
hicle bounded forward, carrying. inno-
cent Edna Deane TO meet strange, >,
solemn mystery.
Twilight closed In about the land
scape, as the oaEriaga- dashed across the
couatry forthe nearest railway station.
Twilight, folding its mystic shroud
about the Sid seminary structure; was
shut out securely from one room att
least.
with locked doors, and shades draMns.
Beasrioe Mercer sat at a table in her
apar tanent, porting over letter., study
ing is,. Analysing it,, re-reading it.
1t was tae cruanplea missiIe, half
read by the distressed Edna. How had
it csme into, her possession? By de-
sign the cleaning, calculating eyes
told, Scr those eyes had the mask DOWN
now adj alone by herself.
TO BE GONTKN UED.