Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-07-07
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\ WOMAN5 INF L-UENCE


Well, I haven't been collecting any
subscriptions. and I'm mighty poor
Christian in the bargain, SO you needn't
blind me with that sand you are digging
up SO ferociOusly.
Margaret colored and desisted from
her occupation.
Il beg you pardon" she said. II did
not intend to send it in your direction.
It is vent for my oyercharged feelings.
suppose that is childish acknowledge
ment, but 1 shall not recall it. I read of
a piece of injustice this morning, and it
has filled me with indignation. be
lieve L m in constant state Of rebellion
against the accepted order OF things.
Why do you laugh?"
Not at you, certainly. Seriously,
am half afraid OF you-your bad opinion,
I mean. What influence you could exert
over some men. Do you like me, Mar
garrett"
The name slipped unconsciously from
his lips, and he drew nearer to her. She
averted her head and answered in the
tone of one measuring her words care
fully.
"The degree of my liking depends
upon yourself"
Brian was evidently not we'll satisfied
with this frank admission.
you couldn't like me we'll enough to
be my wife?" he persisted, drawing more
closely to her and endeavoring to take
her hand, an action she resolutely OPP
posed.
DO you mean what you say?" she
said, in a slightly repressed voice, con-
scious Of something wanting in his man
ner.
He hesitated at her words.
do I mean that I love you? Yes,
Margaret, do, from the first moment 1
saw you. If I could only make you
understand my position, my longing to
win your love and make you my wife.
But"
His pause was eloquent.
But what?" she repeated, in q quick,
changed voice.
why, how you look at me, Mar
garrett"
At this complaint she turned her face
aside and allowed her eye to follow the
motion of bird.
you see" he went on, more at ease in
the absence of those searching gray
eyes, marriage between us is quite out
of the question. If you Were-"
eff I were rich, I suppose, you mean,"
she interrupted, in q somewhat hard
voice; "but admitting I'm poor, what
them"
you must see how it is; we couldn't
live on two thousand year"
And your profession" she supple
mented. 1T seems to me you might be
much worse off. Any one with an econ
Omical turn"
Il hate people with an economical
turn, and 1 don't intend to work myself
to death trying to cure lot of migrate
full people. My first years allowance
won't much more than pay my debts. I
must have money. A gentleman is
obliged to live in a certain style"
"Oh, dare say, even if he sacrifices
everything else in the effort. You love
me, but you love money better. Have
I stated the case correctly?"
He glanced at her cold, impenetrable
| face.
How hard you are, Margaret" he
said, reproachfully. You don't under
stand the difficulty. Love in cottage
is we'll enough in theory but no fun in
practice. 1 could not be happy under
such circumstances. [ love you dearly,
and if I only had a little money, should
like nothing better than to marry you"
Thanks" was the quiet rejoinder.
Your assurance is quite consoling, but
I don't believe quite appreciate the
honor you would confer upon me. OF
course the idea of my possible objection
has not entered your mind. Under the
circumstances l may regard your loss as
my gain.
How truly his loss was her gain she
did not pause to reflect.
you are excellent at sarcasm, he re-
joined with reproach. Il was only
speaking Of my wishes. If you had
told me two weeks ago, how thoroughly
you despised me 1 might have been q
wiser man to-day"
Margaret understood his meaning.
She felt that he had no right to speak
to her in this way, yet his words
panied her. In imagination she went
back to the first hour of their meeting.
She remembered how glad she had felt
that they would be thrown together for
short time in this quiet place. She
remembered what faith she had placed
in the existence of those good qualities
Miss Hilton had mentioned, and what
hopeful longings and eager expecta-
tons had filled the hours of her COM
partnership with him, and now her dis
appointment was both keen and bitter.
1t lent new sharpness to her answer.
You dare not blame me for any ac-
ton of yours. she said, endeavoring to
speak quietly. Il have endured your
company. Could I do otherwise? You
have tried to win my affection by all the
arts in your power. Isuppose you found
the pastime amusing. and probably you
imagined that you had SO far succeeded,
that if it suited your pleasure to honor
me with proposal of marriage, would
accept it with thanks. hope you have
discovered your mistake. I would not
marry you to save myself from starva-
ton. You have insulted me quite
enough"
Not insulted. Margaret" he said, re-
proachfully, looking into her passionate
face. Believe me, l have intended no
insult. 1 respect and admire you too
much, and l love you far more than I
can ever love my cousin. Yet, 1 have
no alternative. 1 must marry her or
starve."
Margaret's lips moved. She was about