Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-05-16

! nave the care OIL SUCH pIcClouo SSihA'''
said Nora smiling.
"My dear Miss LEstrange! What an
idea! When you marry and have jewels
of your own, you will know how to take
care of them Bring tea, Virginle; bring
it quickly"
And Mrs. Ruthven applied herself to
put the papers and letters lying on the
table together with considerable method.
'What charming view!' said Nora,
strolling to the window. ''Do you know
| I never was in these rooms before. They
were Mrs Marsdens, and used not to be
opened, at least, when l was here as a
child
Mrs. Ruthven looked down thoughtful-
ly. "These rooms are over the library,
are they not?" she asked, 'on the same
side as the conservatory? I would rath-
er look out in any other direction. l shall
not soon get over the impression OF last
nights terror"
Here Virginie brought in the tea, and
Mrs. Ruthven, settling herself in a large
arm chair, asked Nora to pour it out
"None of them will tell me any par
ticulars about how I was found or what
happened" resumed Mrs. Ruthven. Il
fancy that gruff old doctor ordered me to
be kept from speaking of it. But you
will not be so unkind! Besides, am not
to be kept from thinking of my misad-
venture by his dictum. Tell me, dear
Miss L'Estrange, were you there when
| Mr. Marsdcn first found me?'
eyes! I was in the breakfast-room
an old gentleman who would keep talking
to him, and l heard him say he wanted
to take you an ice"
"And then?"
ooh! then Mr.. Winton proposed we
should so and look at the tent; but when
we came to the conservatory, the door
was shut and locked. Mr.. Marsden was
looking angry and bewildered. Then he
suddenly remembered the way by the
corridor, and we saw him go past and
return imediately to call for help. So
Helen, Mrs. L'Estrange and I went in.
She raised your arm, you were lying like
a dead creature. and began to fan YOU"
"And who lifted me from the diyan"
looking hard at Nora.
"No one; at least, not while I was
there"
mot Mr.. Marsden?"
ooh, no! He looked so white, SO dread
fully distressed. He stood behind Helen,
and kept begging her to see if you were
hurt. Then the doctor came and sent
every one away except the Squire and
Lady Darlington"
Eyes! Hers was the first face I recog-
nized, and then Lady Darlington and the
doctor helped me upstairs? 1t is strange,
l cannot quite account for it.
''For what, Mrs. Ruthven?"
"Oh, nothing; only curious impress
sion that some one had lifted me up
some effect of returning consciousness, l
suppose!
She fell into fit of musing.
From this she reused to ask good
| many questions about Winton and his old
| friendship with Mrs. l. tstrange, giving
Nora a sensation of being gently but
thoroughly sifted. Moreover, one or two
significant looks and words conveyed the
alarming idea that the clear-sighted wild
ow suspected Winton of admiring Nora,
or Nora of admiring Winton, which made
that saucy young lady veXed and I'M
easy.
"Well, I suppose L must let her CO."
said Mrs. Ruthven, as Nora rose to es-
cape further cross-examination. "It is
so good of you to come and sit with me.
In truth, l was glad to get rid even of
dear Lady Darlington, as no one would
talk naturally, or let me speak of what
is uppermost in my mind"
| II shall come and say good-by to you
tomorrow" returned Nora. Il earnestly
hope you will soon shake off your nervous
ness, though you are wonderfully brave
and composed"
| Mrs. Ruthven went with her to the
door, and then again sunk into the fau-
teuil, where she remained for some time
in deepest thought.
| Nora L'Estrange attracted her curiosi-
i Nov ovid n Nd
| soothed the little lady's inordinate vani-
ty, while it overpassed her comprehen-
sion; she was too keen an observer to be-
lieve it was altogether put on, still she
occasionally doubted her sincerity, so
contrary was woman's honest apprecia-
ton of another woman. to all her pre-
| vious experience.
Nora's pleasant, varying voice and
frank looks had a certain charm for her,
| even while she feared their effect on
| Marsden. They gave the hard, selfish.
| fiery, material creature glimpses of posi-
| BILE sweetness that would never cloy, of
| restful affection free from all dross of
| passion or self-interest. But, perhaps,
| the strangest sensation excited by Nora
was resentful envy, not of the girls fresh,
youthful good looks, but of her free, I'M
trammeled spirit; every word every atti-
| tude, was unstudied, spontaneous; she
wanted so little, her simple, poverty
stricken life, as Mrs. Ruthven considered
| it, seemed so joyous and satisfying she
appeared to have no craving for rank or
riches or jewels. Life, pure, healthy
existence, was enough; she had nothing
to strive after, or scheme for, or want
| from others, at least, so she seemed-ay,
seemed-but who could tell what lurked
under the seeming? She must have her
cravings, her hidden passions, which she
dared not show the world. What was
she? What difference was there between
her human flesh and that of other women
| No, she was as yet but half developed,
and how often childish simplicity was but
| the outer garb of cunning?
There was something in Nora
IiEstrange that puzzled and disturbed
Mrs. Ruthven. If she could have found
her guilty of any vicious folly,
she might have liked her better than she
| over liked ANYTHING except q lover. AS