Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-05-23

to be too SOFT He looked down as he
spoke these words thoughtfully. But
in the battle of life we can rarely afford
to lay aside our armor''
What a dreadful idea of life," said
Nora with sigh. Winton did not reply;
he paused, his hand on a rock, and looked
intently at his companion, whose eyes
were fixed on the fire.
Now, Mr.. Winton, I shall do my best
to conquer" said Mrs. L'Estrange, re-
turning. Winton brought her chair.
do you never care to learn?' he said
to Nora as he took his place.
Il have tried. / used to try and play
with my father, but never could learn,
l never could be interested; there is some
deficiency, l suppose in me, for 1 never
care II l win or lose at any game"
(which shows an unmathematicaI, un-
practical turn of mind" said Winton,
smiling. II wait your attack" to Mrs.
i Estrange.
For awhile Nora read the newspaper;
then she rose, and, leaning on the back
OF her step-mother's chair, looked on at
the game, as if watching an opportunity
of speaking.
''Check to your king" said Mrs. LES
TRANCE at last. "You are not playing
your best, Mr.. Winton; is it negligence
or politeness? No, you cannot move
there, you are still in check, nor there
either"
1T is checkmate!" replied Winton;
"well and quickly done, too!'
''Then I may speak,! cried Nora.
There is paragraph in the paper about
the robbery. / will read it. The mys-
terry which enshrouds the great jewel
robbery is still unsolved; but, although
we must on no account betray the secrets
Of the police, it is perhaps admissible to
state that a faint clew has at length been
found. which in the experienced hands of
certain famous officer may, indeed will,
probably, lead to the detection of the viii
lains whose dastardly attack almost cost
it's object serious illness. We are hap
py to state that Mrs. Ruthven has very
nearly recovered the effects of the shock
to her nervous system, and is about to
proceed to Italy for change of air and
scene
(Which MEANS" said Winton, rising,
''that the penny-a-liner knows nothing,
and has no chance of knowing anything.
When these fellows are most profoundly
ignorant, they assume the greatest know
ingness. But it is late! If you will
allow me, I will say goodnight, and
make my way to the stables. I can be
my own groom"
ooh! Roberts is in, I am sure, having
a talk in the kitchen. He is our body
guard now; he will bring your horse
round."' Mrs. L'Estrange rang as she
spoke, and ordered Mr.. Winton's horse.
"What a dreadfully dark night!' said
Nora, going to the open door a few min
utes after, while Winton said goodbye
to Mrs. L'Estrange. 1T is raining, too
am afraid you will get very wetv'
There was genuine kindly interest in
the eyes raised to his.
eff you care whether I am wet or dry,
alive Or dead, I shall be obliged to lay
aside my armor," said Winton smiling, as
his hand closed on hers with lingering
pressure, SO close, SO warm, that it sent
an electric thrill of surprise through her
heart. Il shall come tomorrow to report
myself, and bring you the History Of
Blankshire' we were speaking of. Good
night!' And the sound of his horses
tread soon died away.
II have such a headache, Helen. I
think 7 shall go to bed-do you mind?"
''No; by no means. would rather
sleep than listen to that moaning wind
I hope we may have news of some kind
from Lady Darlington or Clifford Mars
den tomorrow. The world seems to
have left us stranded here"
They bid each other goodnight and sep
arated.
But Nora sat long bordering, her elbows
Oh her dressing table, her head on her
hands, thinking with startled sudden
iy awakened, sense of alarm of the Gu
rious influence Mark Winton, without the
smallest apparent effort on his part, had
gained over her.
From the first hour they met he had
attracted her unaccountably. He was
not good-looking, or particularly agreea-
BILE or fiattering. He was, on the con-
trary, silent, slightly abrupt, and decid-
| edly uncolnpromisng: yet to Nora there
was yelled pathos in his eyes, and an utter
| Inconsistencies CT himself, that gave
dignified simplicity to his manner. She
was always wondering what he thought
and how this or that would strike him.
Then, when he gradually came to talk
to her of books, and topics off the dusty
track of conventional clatter, the sincerity
of his opinions, the tone of calm, clear
common sense which pervaded his CONVEX
sation, delighted and refreshed her
of his strength and self-suffciency, Mrs
L'Estrange's story of his lonely youth
his resolute struggle for fortune-had
touched chord of tender pity in her
heart; and in short before she was aware
that he was more than an interesting
acquaintance, Nora was in love with him.
Go be continued.)