Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-12-28

Saicn'' pu1 she dld not move. The room
| seemed to strike the ichotder as
suoony and lonely: even the freight
i@1 rs 10 light up its solitude
| Inc furniture and hangings were
| rlcn, but their tone was so!nDer. ana
spoke OF bygone fashion The Girl
s'ione was young ana fresh: she looked
strangely beautiful N her dark setting.
ne door opened and z ma d entered
bearing a lamp
wv hat is the time Davis?" asked
Lady Darrell. waking from her THOUGHT,
Nigh half-pas5 i've, my LADY,"
answered the maid.
..HoW dark: it is almost night"
Inc young figure left the window.
want me-"
Yes
Inc ma q went slowly from the room.
ana her young mistress walked towards
the IRE: her lace was subdued and her
eyes gazed INFO the glowing Goals
quietly, almost sadly.
1.-Two months, she murmured: cit
seems like two years Am [ the same
nesh and blood as the girl who, two
months ago, was in rags, and worked
on the farm like the plowboys? 1t
seems like a dream. Perhaps | shall
wake some day and find myself back on
the farm-find all this gloomy sp,endor
melted into mist, and hear Aunt
Martha's voice scolding me as she used
to do.
She moved from the fire. and walked
up and down the room swiftly.
II wonder if | would be happier if I
woke to find it all dream-to be back
once more in the old life? No, no; |
! could not do it. And yet'-she
stopped-''it is terrible lonely here.
All is so grand; but | grow oppressed
with it. IF only his mother would
speak to me kindly. She is ALWAYS so
cold and courteous. But [ know she
| scorns me in her heart: she loves Val
erie Ross. She should have been his
wife, not q farm-g girl ,lowly born, like me.
Alice-my Lady Alice, the name con-
dennis me; it will cling to me forever.
And he, wha tdoes he think of me now?
/ All danger gone, and he only remem-
| bers that he is tied to me forever-tied
to q loW-bOrn girl, whose very presence
drives him from his home
| She paused an instant, her lips COM
! pressed as II with pain. then with q
sigh, she drew up chair to the table
and took up a book.
She was bordering over the words
thOughtfully, when q tap came to the
| door.
''Come in" she said absently.
! The door opened. and a woman ad-
vanced into the room, tall, elegant
figure in robes of trailing black satin,
! cut low round the beautiful snowy
| shoulders. On the masses of red brown
hair cleaned stars of rubies and dia-
monds; slender chain supported a
! glowing star of the same jewels round
/ the swan-like throat
1t was Valerie Ross. She came in
drawing on her long tan gloves slowly.
! Her face was pale, but her eyes flashed
dark and glorious, and there was a
| strange Neutrality-suspicious. smile on
| her lips.
my Lady Alice" she observed play
fully, ''stiIl buried in your books?
What a store of learning will be in
that pretty golden head when your
lord returns.
| Alice flushed slightly.
4 was not studying. I was reading
for amusement" she answered.
Valerie walked to the window with
| her swift graceful carriage. The cur
tainS were still undraWn, and out i'll
| the darkness the trees seemed like
moving phantoms.
"Amusement?' repeated Valerie, with
half a shudder. Indeed, you want
some. | wonder you are not dead OF
| ennui and melancholia already.'
II am quite content said Alice,
slowly: then suddenly remembering
her duties: But will you not sit by
the fire Miss Ross? This chair is most
comfortable
''Thanks.'
! Valerie turned inditferently toward
the fire. She did not take the chair,
! but stood buttoniug her gloves, with
one slender foot on the fender.
"You don't seem surprised to see
me-" she observed after a moment S
silence.
No" answered Alice.
She did not add that she had grown
used to Valerie S strange erratln visits
I during the last two months, and had
ceased to wonder at them.
.'Have YOU heard from those worthy
people your aunt and uncle since they
left the village?' next Queried Miss
Ross very lightly.
No" said Alice again, this time
with a crimson flush on her cheeks.
There was something in Valerie's
tones that always made her wretchcd
brought her low origin in glaring
Dainfulness before her eyes.
"Thav are not considerate for their
niece welfare observed Miss Ross.
Her gloves were buttonod: she let
her hands drop, and gazed at the young
troubled face before her inditferently.
ITO BE CONTINUED.
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