Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-02-02

the ANXIOUS eyes tOOk quioM 1idI LII.
"Surely, they would not dare to modest
him.''
''In their frantic rage they are reck-
less" mG-nured Mrs. Grey. "You re-
member { trouble year ago"
A yea1 70! Whittier grew the lovely
face A spasm of anguish crossed
Fora's lips. Did she remember? With
no reply but sob. half-choked down,
she turned abruptly and ran up the
staircase to her own room.
Did she remember! Her binding
tears, her half-suppressed sobs answered
the torturing query. Fate itself seemed
to thrust certain remem brance upon her
mind, as, hurriedly ransacking drawer
in the dressing case for a pin for her
loose flowing tresses, there looked up at
her from its depths-a photograph.
A true, honest face-a brave, manly
face, it fascinated her for the moment.
cray Webster was the name written ON
the margin of the picture-the last, the
single memento of that occurrence
lone year ago!'
Oh! why had that memory returned to
torment her soul now, when every
thought and emotion should be conferred
on the safety of a beloved father? so
wildly, too! In a flash, there came back
to her heart the old days-the dear days,
when Ray Webster, clerk in her fathers
bank, was her accepted lover.
And then-heart-b break, a shock that
sent her into the delirium of fever, the
bitter awakening, to learn that Kay
Webster, the man she had loved, trusted,
worshipped, was an embezzler-an In
mate Of cell in the State Penitentiary.
sentenced for ten years.
She had resented the charge, to be
confronted with proof. Heartsick, she
read the evidence that had consigned her
lover to living tomb. 1t was irrefut-
able, but. with set lips and doubling soul,
she realized the fact that the principal
testimony that had convicted Ray Web
ster. was that of the man she distrusted,
although her fathers favorite friend and
counsellor-Arnold Dacre.
Then she had steeIed her heart to it
all, had acted the true, obedient daugh-
ter. had chung closer for comfort to the
father who babe her forget a worthless
scoundrel and consistently burned with
out reading the single letter that Ray
Webster was allowed to write from his
prison cell.
Her father!
VII! Lnut III uSu w uCT oHC GuOuSuU uOW.
AS she recalled the angry mob that had
lowered about the bank the day it was
closed after the discovery of Webster's
defalcation. she shuddered at the thought
of her brave unsuspecting father appear
ing among them now, when failure had
really come.
Failure! She could not believe it.
Why! her father was reputed wealthy,
the bank dividends were large. Was
some sinister hand involving them in all
this trouble? Only the week previous,
she had sat in Mr. Merwyn's Office while
he endorsed a draft for thousands.
Besides that invested in the city, was
her own splendid fortune left her by her
mother.
That she had begged her father to
take charge of personally only week
since. Failure!-the bank broken!-
with all those resources at hand!
Still, the fact confronted her-a howl
ing, ravenous mob without threatened
destruction. Her father had looked pale
and anxious when, the night previous,
he had ordered his horse, and announced
that he was going to the city, twenty
five miles distant, on important business.
'He will return by the regular road.
/ will saddle Beauty and meet him and
warn him, before he reaches Ridgefeld,"
reflected Flora.
Mrs. Grey wrung her hands as Flora
appeared below, clad in her riding habit,
and announced her intention. The
lovely lips curled scornfully as the house,
keeper recalled Mr.. Dacre's promise of
providing place of refuge for them UNI
til the storm was past.
Once moanted on Beauty once turn
ing the corner Flora Merwyn paled a
shade deeper. One glance at the mob,
scutfling, shouting. hurting missiles, told
that the appearance of the supposed
cause Of it all, Abel Merwyn, would be
the signal for a murderous assault.
AS Flora passed cottage, a woman
haranguing throng Of neighbors di-
rected curse at ''that thief Merwyn's
daughter, with her tnory" and some
workingmen passing from the mill,
scowled darkly at her. Enmi5v
was abroad. With wlldlv-beat-
ing heart, Flora directed the
trim little steed across the bridge
and, keeping to the road that ran along,
the river, peered anXiously ahead, eX-
pecting to meet her father every mo-
ment.
HE will certainly come this way.
There is a road leading to the town on
the opposite bank, but it is in bad repair.
He always returns from the city this
side," she reflected ''On! on! Beauty,
once beyond the thicket ahead, and we
shall have a clear view down the road
for over mile, and may see him coming.
Mercy"
The exclamation marked catastro-
phe. Urging on the pony at his fleetest,
his forefeet struck purrow. He stag
gered and stumbled. A practiced horse.
woman Flora leaped unhurt to the ground,
but when she tried to lead Beauty from
his difficulties, she found that one fore
leg was abrased, and he limped badly.
81 shall have to proceed on foot" she
murmured, trde dismayed. 'What is
that?"
But, whatever it was, or whoever it
was, that rustled through the wood near
at hand, the disturbing presence passed
from view and mind, as she secured
Beauty to tree and hurried on.
Nha nnarad aouor1v ahoad down tho