Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-07-21
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4 WONAN5 INF LUENCE

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nay dig chair, and consider yourself
quite privileged. SO that Wretched
place didn't quite kill YOU"
No." laughed Margaret, allowing
herself to be placed in the chair in ques-
ton. I am very much alive, as you
see. You and Miss hilton really anuse
me; your ideas of S 'conset are as differ
ent from the reality as night from day.
It is whole host Of delights in itself I
am really not an object OF sympathy, so
your pity has all been thrown away"
So it has, you bad girl. Why didn't
you tell me before. I might have saved
some. Still Pm glad to see you back.
Uncle will be delighted. He has been
positively unbearable, and [ do hope
your presence will improve his temper.
Oh, had quite forgotten. Your cousin
is with you, isn't he? Is h nice? How
does he like things, and how do you
like hm?"
Alice moved nearer to Margaret, and
taking her hand, laughingly gaZed into
her face.
Yes, he is home. He came yesterday
afternoon, and Well, it is simply
uncomfortable. Fancy the position of
playing hostess to man who feels you
have taken his birthright. Yet, there
are people in this place who think me
fortunate. Some persons never see be-
yond the surface"
We'll, don't think about it, my dear,
said Alice, consolingly. 1t isn't your
fault. l am anX Gus to see your cousin.
His return is all over the neighborhool,
of course. Tn afraid it won't please
Mrs. Downs. She may think poor dear
Alfy's chances lessened thereby. He
has pined to Il mere skeleton during
your absence, Margaret.
cOntemptuous expression passed
over Margarets face.
Il do wish some one would marry him
and carry him Off to another neighbour
hood" she said. L am SO thoroughly
tired Of seeing him around. He may
be the paragon his mother thinks him.
I daresay he is. He hasn't brains
enough to be otherwise. But prefer a
little wickedness to want of sense.
Don't be sarcastic discussing Atty,
my dear. He is very nice, girlish
young man, and his bank account will
reach from here to the Gulf Of Mexico"
perhaps if it We're shorter he might
be BETTER" commented Margaret
Money causes all the trouble in the
world.
The want Of it, you mean, suggested
Alice, sageIy. 1T is Il wonderful power,
no doubt It makes beauty more beau
tiful, virtue more virtuous, and great
ness more great. The very thought of
it makes me wax eloquent. Seriously,
my dear, poverty is the meanest thing
under the sun. Nell agrees with me
there. I had a letter from her this
morning, and to cheer you [ will read
it,"
How is Nell:" asked Margaret,
smiling at thought her mind conjured
up. L don't see that plaque she
painted. Have you become unapprccia-
tive of her genius?"
No" returned Alice from the depths
of her desk, where she was hunting for
her letter. But uncle gave me that
lovely little landscape on the left there,
and when l hung it by Alice's plaque,
the contrast between it and her indigo
| lake and impossible trees was startling,
even to my inartistic eye. [ stood iLtor a
few days, but at last nature would ht ar
no more, and the plaque now reposes in
my trunk, where the sun can not fade
or the dust injure. Here's her letter.
MY DEAR ALICE: At last am sitting
down to answer your letter, and ac
knowledge its welcome inclosure. My
head is buzzing the things | have to say,
but I'll begin at the beginning. Graft
tude before everything in my category.
I will therefore thank you for your
Check. I spell it with a capital, you
observe. | don't know that it is correct
according to the rules Of photography,
but under the laws which make us i'm
portant Or insignificant in proportion as
{ ~ .>,,c, ~
order. Henceforward I shall adopt it as
showing my deep and abiding respect
for money.
This particular money came IN quite
apropos. We had been getting or sum
mer wardrobe q use this word advsediy,
as it sounds more imposing than enumer-
ating details), and you will not have to
strain your imagination much to bring
to mind the painfully emaciated condi-
/ ton Of the family purse. 1t looked ex-
tremely humble, l assure you, despite
| the fact that poverty is always proud.
But the moment your check arrived,
what change! 1t Immediately swelled
with pride, like the tabled frog whose
picture I used to admire so extrav-
| sgantly, and though it has been coasid-
erably depleted since, it still remains
fat.
Now, Alice, a word of advice. Keep
in with the old bear and make him
! leave you some money; for, horrible
| thought, the Reynoldses seem to be grow
! ing poorer l think it a decided mis-
take on the part of mamma and papa to
have had so many children. But have
noticed that this mistake is common
among poor people. l suppose they
want numbers somewhere, SO they make
up in babies what they lack in dollars.
J If matters don't mend with us, shall so
to writing stories; 1 always did think
/ had a talent.
IN your last letter you mildly in
! qured ii we liked our new fiat. My dear
child, the question was superi1uoIs.