Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-07-21
CHAPTER VI.
SOME VIEWS OF POVERTY

When Brian QeSconQeQ TO the DIe1h-
fast room next morning, he found Mar
garet alone.
She was standing near the open win
dow, and SO intent upon arranging some
lilies in a bowl that she did not notice
his presence until he was close beside
her
His voice recalled her absent thoughts,
and, looking up with q start, the warm
blood mounted to her brow, notwith-
standing her effort to control the mo-
mentary weakness.
Il did not expect to see you SO soon.
she said, in answer to his Good morn
ing"
And I did not expect to see you
alone. We are both disappointed-I
most agreeably. Will you allow me to
assist you? No? Perhaps you doubt
my ability. I shall improveit by watch
ing you. Or, better still, shall take
advantage Of this opportunity to tell
you that L am sorry ever came here. f"
THAT is a poor compliment to Miss
Hilton and me, replied Margaret, with
an attempt at lightness, and an absorb
ing interest in her task.
You know what I mean, he returned,
with some warmth. You know why
the very sight of you is painful for me.
You seem happy enough, but L am ut
terly miserable"
did you sleep well last night?" she
broke in, with questionable irreleyancy,
placing the flowers, which she could
make no further preteXt Of fixing, in the
middle of the table.
NO, | didn't sleep at all, was the
rather short reply; L was haunted"
Haunted! How unpleasant! l wonder
why they don't bring in breakfast.
Will you ring that bell by you, please?'
No, no! Wait one moment, Mar
garet. l dare say the coffee isn't ready,
or the steak isn't cooked, or something.
don't like my breakfast half done; be-
sides, I'm not hungry"
But l am; I've had long ride this
morning."
you didn't use to ride at S'conset.
Confound that hole! How wish it had
been swallowed up before [ ever saw it!
Why did you deceive me, Margaret?
You told me your name was Smith.
And so it was while [ was there.
Others knew me as Miss Smith, Why
shouldn't you?"
She colored in spite of herself.
You might have told ne afterward,'
he continued, reproachfully. What a
difference it would have made!"
Il understand, she replied, with not
little scorn, and Brian, feeling that he
had committed himself again, was about
to say something in his own vindicatiOn,
when the door opened and Miss Hilton
entered, thus putting an end to the tete
a-tete.
He saw Margaret's expression of re-
lief, and his heart sank accordingly.
Bat during breakfast she talked to him
so pleasantly and naturally that he be-
gan to feel less depressed. He was even
planning a quiet hour with her during
the morning, when she arose from the
table, with the words:
Il think shall ride over to The Cedars,
Miss Hilton. [ haven't seen Alice since
my return, you know. [ am sure you
and cousin Brian will have lots to talk
over, Sc I'll leave him in your hands.
Miss Hilton noticed the change that
passed over Brian's countenance, but
she answered quite cheerfully:
very we'll, my dear. You mustn't
neglect your friends. Brian and 1 will
have a nice, quiet morning together.
Don't let the Colonel keep you too
long"
After your remark about the quiet
morning. I think I'll spend the day"
was Margaret's quiet reloinder, as she
passed through the door which Brian
held open for her.
Twenty minutes later she had mount
ed her horse, and was following the
well-kept road through the busy little
town. But though she was nodding
every few minutes 60 the people she
passed, her thoughts were far from her
present Surroundings.
Certain ideas had obtained Judgment
in her mind and refused to be displaced
hot
her uncle had looked forward to union
between her cousin and herself came to
her with a certainty that was absolute
pain. She recalled many incidents and
illusions, many half-forgotten converse
tons, which received a deeper meaning
from this new possibility.
She remembered that often, in speak
ing of Brian, her uncle had said a good
wife would be his salvation, that home
ties would bind him to a more useful
life, and that his most earnest desire
was to see his hayward son we'll and
happily married.
But she remembered, above all, that
when her uncle lay dying he had awak-
ened. after many hours of unconscious
ness, to say, in accents which only her
ear could catch: God will bless and
guard you, Margaret. Don't forget
Brian, and be good 20 nm Tor MY sake.
The request had sounded oddly then,
but now it had new meaning. Was
her uncle looking into the future even
then, or did he in his dying moments
enjoy the happy delusion that his hopes
were realized:
Margaret was trying to answer this
painful question when she reached her
destination-a handsome, modern-loo
ing house, surrounded by stately cedars.
Running up the broad staircase, with
the air of one familiar with the sur
roundings, she paused before a half
opened door, with the words:
May | come in, Alice?"
For answer, there was glad cry; the
sound of chair falling, followed by
rapid footsteps and a pretty girl of a