Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-05-25
and flower beds, inlaid in green turf.

They would have enjoyed this but for
the gardener. who insisted or taking
them over the whole place, and into
every greenhouse and dollhouse, gather
ing splendid nosegay for Mrs. Lowell,
and presenting it to her with n air as if
all he surveyed was his own.
The man did not look happy; in his
heart he was very sad, for every one in
the place had loved the Nortons, and
the change was bitter. Mamie felt
this instinctively, and shrank more into
herself.
When she was tired with her unwonted
exertions, she went home with Andrew,
and Dta and Jaques and Fluff continued
their explorations They went across
the park, and looked down into the lovely
little trout-stream, so clear and swift,
and followed it into the woods, where the
silence was only broken by chorus of
birds and insects; and the smells of the
bracken and wild-tlowers almost intoxi-
Gated the little town-bred child.
AS time passed on trouble came on
Mamie, of which she had never dreamt
in her experience; this was the most de-
vouring of troubles-ennu she had
nothing to do. After breakfast the cook
would come for orders, and stay tor per-
haps ten minutes; then she took Dita out
for walk; but she was unused to walk
ing, and got easily tired and by eleven
o'clock was glad to leave the child with
her maid. ami go home. Her own sitting
room was very pretty and sunny, and
furnished with pleasant books; but she
had no habit of reading, and her eyes
were not so good as they used to be, and
she wearied of her books Andrew had
bought her fine piece Of worsted-work,
but she felt as ii it would never be fin
lshed, and hated the regular pattern.
She had no other resources. Oh for one
morning of hearty scrubbing and wash
ing up! She used to sing gayly at her
work, with an eye on Dita's perilous
amusements in the yard all the time
Oh to see Andrew once more in his black
apron, struggling with difficult rhymes!
His poetical irritability then was nothing
to her; very different from the constant
finding fault now, which only served to
make her shy and awkward.
In these days Nannie's soft hair turned
very gray. and her voice, from its old
cherry sweetness, acquired weakness
in tone, and she spoke low, as those do
who often cry by themselves in secret.
One of the most painful of the ordeals
through which Mrs. Lowell had to pass
tor Andrew was so anxious that she
should please them that it made her
painfully nervous.
One day, about six months after they
had been settled at Stafford, a large party
arrived, consisting of a neighboring land
owners wife, Mrs. Lee Aston, and her
daughter, and party of guests who
were staying with them, who had wished
to see Stafford Abbey.
Nannie's heart sank within her when
she saw how many there were. They
were shown into the draWing-room, and
her nervousness was so great that she
could get out nothing but monosyllables.
Andrew was strolling about in the
garden in studio country gentleman's
dress, and she received them alone.
The Lee Astons came expecting to be
amused. and Andrew, when he came in,
satisfied their fullest expectations. 1t
seemed to Mamie that they were draw
ing him out, tor he had never appeared
to so little advantage. He took them
round the old rooms and the cloister,
pompously telling them the history of
the place. which they knew far better
than he did.
One of the party was tall grave man,
who seemed as if he did not enter into
Vic JOhlIS duu lduS VI bAc yOuu&cI
people; he left Andrew to go round with
his guests and stayed behind with Mrs
Lowell
''Have you met my sister-in-law yet,
Mrs. LoYel?' he said.
II do not know" she answered, ''for
| do not know your name"
He smiled. 81 am Mr.. Norton" he
said: Lady Norton is my sister-in-law,
and am the guardian to the boy
'It seems very hard that this place
should have left it's rghtful owner" said
Mamie. He looked at her sharply,
and then said kindly, II am very glad
that it has fallen into your hands. /
wanted to ask a great favor of your hus
band, and that is, to allow my nephew to-
fish in the trout-stream. He is fond of
fish ng, and being home from Elton tor
the holidays, it will be a great resource
to him."
81 am sure Andr- Mr.. Lowell will be
gentleman"
Lady Norton would call on you, L
know, but she naturally shrinks from
returning here under such different cir
cumstances. There are great many of
the poor people in whom she is much in
terested, and about whom it would be
the greatest comfort to her to talk to
you. l wonder If / might ask you to call
upon her?'
eff she would allow me--if she would
not think it a liberty should be very
glad"
TO BE CONTINUED.