Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-04-04

CHAPTER I.
A glowing September morning was
pouring it's golden light through the open
window of a morning room or study, in
the eastern wing of picturesque old
house standing half way up hillside in
one of the Midland shires. A background
of beech trees framed in it's mellow red
brick walls, and before it lay a wide, I'M
dulating plain, many colored, and bound
ed by distant dim blue hills.
A pleasanter room could scarce be
found, though the furniture was old-fash-
ioned the curtains and carpet faded. The
bay window opened on terrace, below
which were pleasure grounds, and in it's
recess stood table, spread with dainty
china and delicate silver-the remains of
the breakfast-and vase of dollhouse
flowers, from a conservatory into which
@ glass door admitted
The sole occupant was gentleman, a
slight, elegant looking man of thirty or
upward, with silky, wavy dark hair and
small mustache, and an unmistakable air
of distinction.
A pile of letters lay beside him, while
he had pushed away his plate to make
room for book, which he was studying
apparently with deep interest.
Presently he RI ised his eyes-"eyes Of
most unholy blue'-and looked upon the
goodly landscape which lay before him.
But his vision was evidently directed to
some far distant object, and after a mo-
ment's thought, he took up a pencil and
began to scribble calculations on the back
Of q letter.
eyes," he murmured, eff it can be car
ried out, | shall be free man." Then
opening the letter on which he had been
scrawling, he turned over page or two
covered with small, firm writing, and read
slowly:
Il shall do nothing about second trus-
tee until after your festivities" ran the
paragraph he had selected. ''Besides,
every one is away at this season. Need
[ say have perfect confidence in you?'
He folded it up and put it under an
elastic band, which held some other let
tiers together, and tearing the envelope
into minute fragments, threw them into
the waste-paper basket beside him.
AS he did SO, a soft indistinct sound
from an adjoining room-the door into
which stood open-caught his ear. He
paused and listened. The faint rustling
to sing in low tone, as if the singer
thought in song. The listener seemed to
recognize the music or the voice. His
face brightened; he half rose from his
seat, but resumed it, as if he wished to
hear more. The next moment a lady
walked through the doorway and stopped
opposite to him.
A young lady, tall and slight, though
4 Il, 7,
ed in maize-colored print and a pretty
muslin and lace apron tied with brown
ribbons, sash of the same marked her
shapely waist, and tan gauntlets hid her
hands, one of which held large garden
hat adorned with couple of pale-pink
chrysanthemums. The face it had shaded
was fair and fresh, and lighted by cou-
pie of large dark-gray eyes-eyes, lashes,
eyebrows, all dark, compared to the light
brown hair that curled in small fringe
over her brow, and was gathered neatly
back into large knot.
She gazed for an instant in frank amaze
ment at the gentleman, who rose to greet
her-then a quick, bright smile curved
her red-lipped, kindly mouth and made a
little cOquettish interrogative dimple in
one cheek, as she cried:
"Why, how-when did You come, squire?
We all fancied you were i'll Scotland"
"Well, you see l am not" he returned.
advancing toward her with an outstretch-
ed hand, in which she placed hers. "And
what are you doing, l should like to know,
invading my premises in this burglarious
fashion?'
"You know very we'll always come to
the library for any books l may want, and
by your leave too. You're such an alb
sentee you ought not to be surprised if
thieves did break through and steal.'
mo, l am not in the least surprised"
with emphasis.
"Well, was, little, when found the
library window open," resumed the young
lady, "but I thought Mrs. Storer was
having a thorough cleaning, so walked
in, and, imagining she was in the room,
L"
"Unearthed the master! I shall accept
your coming as good omen." His hand
some, though somewhat worn, face was
aglow with pleasure as he spoke, but her
eyes were attracted to the pile of letters
and the open book, and she did not notice
him.
81 arrived quite unexpectedly last night,
to the great disgust of my few faithful re-
tainers," he went on. "Do you know,
have been planning great things? Things
that will rejoice you, ma belle Leonore."
'Pray, don't give me my long name,'
che exclaimed, with a pretty impatient
nod. ut always reminds me Of that hor-
rid raven tapping at the chamber door.
What are your great things?"
"Dorrington and Isabel are coming to
stay with me, and the Harveys, Algy Bal
four, Mrs. Ruthyen and a lot more, and
I am going to give big ball to the no
bility, gentry, and even the cads, of the
surrounding country"
''No, really?'' with evident delight, ''you
ere quite charming for thinking of such
a thing"
81 am glad your estimate of me coin
cides with that of society in general"
Glow awfully conceited you are, squire,