Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-09-22
CHAPTER XVII.
LIFTING or THE CLOUDS.

A LIFTING or THE CLOUDS
! To Brian, the knowledge that Mar
garct had not lost ali feeling for him,
| and that her faith in him was strong,
| notwithstanding his many falls,
brought new strength and courage.
| With the Lower of strong determine
ton he seemed to be gaining victory
over that old habit Not an entire one,
OF course. Margaret could not expect
50 much Sometimes a friend could
lure him away, but this was seldom,
and never since their talk in her room
had he lost the entire command OF him
| self.
| Under these circumstances Margaret
! felt her heart considerably lightened
She could look forward more hopefully
to the future, and her letters took On
something of her OWE cheerful spirit.
Brian could not fail TO see the change,
and it was equally apparent TO Wilson,
in his few brief visits. He only dropped
in upon rare occasions now, seldom
stayed long, and always claimed that he
was too busy even to find time to see
his friends.
Il suppose we must accept your eX-
cuses, Doctor" Margaret replied one
evening to his usual plea. Can t you
teach your patients some idea Of the fit
ness of things? Why should they all
get sick together? l think a few might
wait until the others are we'll.
so they might Mrs. Leigh, if they
could see the matter from your point of
view Unfortunately, however, illness,
like time and tide, waits for no man.
We have had very trying winter, and
pneumonia is very prevalent. That has
added considerably to my labors. [ con-
fess [ am thoroughly tired out when
night comes, and only too glad to creep
into bed.
And sleep in the comfortable sense
that your rest is we'll earned"
Yes, he laughed, though that is no
proof against its being broken. The
only time my profession brings regret
and [ am called from delightful
nap"
Just as I've always said" observed
Brian. with side glance at Margaret.
"A doctors life is all work and no
play"
And you like the play best; don't
you?" she reioined, quickly. Still, play
Or not, Brian, it is u very noble profess
sion, and when I was q child / always
declared [ should be a doctors wife.
There was q decided question in the
eyes she fixed upon him.
"Poor Margaret" he replied, joining
in wilson S laugh. What Il miserable
concern } GU managed to get. Only the
beginning OF one"
Don't be so generous with your sym
pathy, please. A beginning is better
than nothing. An acorn is only the be-
ginning of an oak, but we don t despise
the acorn because it is not an oak
yet.
Wilson, as well as Brian, caught the
delicate emphasis on the yet, and he
answered with q half smile:
Brian will become an honored mem
Der Of the profession before his days are
ended. predict that, Mrs. Leigh"
"Ah. [ have quite decided it, re-
turned Margaret promptly. Brian
knows that as We'll as I do. l
couldn't have all my childish calcula-
tons upset. l used to think Uncle
Stephen the very personification of all
things good and noble, and [ wondered
then il his son were anything like him.
You see [ had not met Brian"
And now, Margaret. that you have
met hinl?"
Brian came behind her chair with
this question. She glanced back at him
and smiled.
/ never form an opinion of a book
after reading only its first page. must
go deeper TO see if it will realize or dis
! appoint my expectations. Besides, I
don't air my views in public. Speakir--
| OF views, she continued more lightly.
J. have some I want to show you, Doe
tor. You must promise 10 think them
very beautiful. or [ shall be disap-
pointed. Brian, will you get them
please?"
At this request Brian got out small
folio Of wood cuts and pen pictures of
various scenes about Elmwood and the
surrounding country. They wore ali
excellent, and Wills MS appreciation was
was warm enough TO satisfy even Mar
| garet's enthusiasm
DO you wonder that I am proud of
| Elnwood?" she asked, after an ami
mated description o. several Of it's finest
! points. DO you wonder that [ should
| love it SO dearly? My wonder is that
Brian doesn't care for it as I do, for he
was born there. I think he has the
i least bit Of fondness for Bohemian ex-
istence. an sorry for him, because
/ do think it most unsatisfactory sort of
! life. l agree with George Eliot that
! We all should have one home spot that
! shall stand clearly out in memory, and
/ TO which our minds and hearts may al
ways lc-urn, no matter how far we may
! have wandered from it. :"
! Margaret broke off with sigh "This. "
! she added, taxing up another picture in