Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-07-14
CHAPTER v.

preached Elmwood. A telegram, sent
from New York the day before, had an
nounced his coming, and, on alighting
from the train, he found the carriage
awaiting him, and the old coachman he
remembered so we'll beaming a smiling
welcome.
Five years had wrought very percept-
ible changes in the aspect of the coun-
try. The small town lying within the
shelter of the valley, true to its old
progressive spirit, revealed wonderful
Development. New and imposing resi-
dences were to be seen on all sides.
Busy activity was everywhere visible,
and Brian began to imagine himself
modern Rip Van Winkle, returning to
his home after long absence.
His home? Alas! this was his home
no longer. For the first time perhaps
the full force of this idea struck him.
From the carriage window he caught
distant glimpses Of Elmwood, the state
ly old house browning the brow Of the
hill like a sentinel guarding the village
below, it's terraced gardens sloping to
the narrow river winding like silver
thread between it's green banks, and
the splendid old forest trees clothed IN
the tender foliage Of May.
He sighed as he turned from the pie
ture. He had never been particularly
fond of ElmwOod in the old days, the
country under no circumstance Offering
inducements that he found alluring, but
now all was changed. The home he had
looked upon as his had passed into the
hands of another, and the knowledge
raised new longings and new desires IN
his heart
He tried to picture the cousin who
had taken his inheritance from him, but
his imagination could grasp nothing
definite. He wondered il she were tall
or short, dark or light, cold or affable,
and then he fell to framing Il face in his
mind; and as the intangible shadow
assumed a clearer shape it unconscious
ly took on the form and features OF the
Margaret he had left in the fishing town
on Nantucket.
Bother i'll" he cried, gnawing his
mustache with tierceness that argued
inward disturbance. The want OF
money is the greatest bore under the
sun. Margaret was such dear girl.
This thought came as a natural Sc
ouence to the other, and he smiled at
the possibilities it suggested.
Poor Brian had his faults; among
them an overweening love for his own
ever could cause him the least incon-
venience His love for money was rela-
tive, not abstract. Money could buy
pleasure and luxury, therefore he de-
sired its possession.
He had no ambition for the fame to
be won by his own endeavor. No de-
sire to take his place in the working
world and win his way in the struggle
for prominence. Priyation and hard
ship, those prolific mothers Of greatness,
were wanting in his life, and the activ-
ity and industry which Margaret adj
mired were to him a laborious effort
that no after greatness could compen-
safe. His education was in part re-
sponsible for these ideas. Selfish and
indolent by nature, he had early been
deprived of his mother. and in her per-
son, of the careful training and judicious
dicipline which might have weakened, If
not wholly eradicated, these traits.
His father was lily fitted for the guard
ianship of quick, impulsive boy, and
the iniudicious Indulgence OF an old
nurse strengthened the already strong
characteristics. When, as frequently
happened, Brian grew unmanageable,
his father was appealed to, and his Sc
verify on such occasions had far from
the desired effect
Such a course Of training had a prac-
teal effect on Brian's after life. When
he left college, he studied medicine, i'll
accordance with his fathers wishes, and
during the progress of his studies, pro-
ceeded to SOW his wild oats with such
unusual vim that frequent quarrels be-
tween himself and father became the
rule.
These terminated in enc more bitter
than all the rest, which resulted in
Brian's departing for Europe, and his
father threatening to discontinue his al
lowance A very direful threat, that
ended, as Brian expected, in nothing
more than words.
Brian had been travelling several
months when Margaret's father died and
she took up her residence at Elmwood.
Once there, she soon won her way to
her uncle's heart, and the old gentleman
formed the project of a marriage be-
tween her and his son. He died without
realizing his hope, and for reasons
which he did not disclose. he left all his
property to Margaret, and cut Brian off
with an income of $4,000. Now, after
five years absence, the disinherited son
was experiencing the novel sensation of
entering his old home a visitor.
Inc friendly, 1amlllar air OIL every
thing about him, made his sense of loss
more keen: and when old st phens, who
had known him as boy, met him at the
door with eyes suspiciously moist, and
a face full of emotion, he found himself
SO overcome that he could do nothing
more than grasp the toil-worn hand of
the faithful old servant, and shake it
with impulsive affection.
Poor Stephens" he said to himself,
when left alone to his reflections. Il
firmly believe the faithful fellow had
tears in his eyes. Never thought I'd
be so low in the scales that the feel
ing of an old servants would touch nae
80. 1 wonder if my beloved cousin
realizes what she has taken from me.
More than mere money!. Yes,a thou
sand times more. She has taken my
happiness. And Margaret-with al