Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-03-21

supposed she had no feeling for her
one and only grandson, nor that she
could contemplate the probable family
| ofoll TO follow without genuine dis
tress and vexation, so that she and
Geraldine had naturally agreed to saw
no more to each other about it that
night, but to leave till the morrow all
future considerations. Little did either
think that the days work was not over
yet.
"You are alone?" said Bellenden,
glancing, round quickly. SIS Mrs
| Campbell -
Zone upstairs. We've have not
returned long, and she-she did not
expect anyone" Here the speakers
eye tell on the wet handkerchief, and
she stopped to pick it up and hid it in
| her hand.
'And you-you did not expect me
either" inquired he, his voice sink
Ing at once, as he took chair near
her.
No answer; sligh retrograde move
ment on her part.
"Did you think could wait another
day." proceeded the speaker, in the
same significant tone. mot knowing
where you had been, nor with whom,
nor whether you had ever
missed me, nor looked tor me?"
! ''Oh, yes,' said Geraldine, suddenly
well, [ should think very we'll, in
deed. Why not?' she continued. with
a hard little laugh, reminding him on
the instant o. the hooking fiend who
gibed and tainted him that bright
morning in Bond street. ''Oh, Sir
Frederick, [ think you could have
waited. You are patient man. You
can wait much longer than that for
tidlngs of your friends, we all know"
| t'Angry, by Jove! The best sign in
the world!' cried Bellenden, exulting
to himself Aloud: Are you ''twit
ting me with my stupidity in not find
ing you yesterday? You do not know
how dearly paid for it.. Where were
you? Where could you have been? I
give you my word that [ hunted up and
down, in and out, all over the place,
| for hours and hours, and all in vain. [
only gave up when nearly every one
had left the place."
81 did not mean that" almost whis-
pered Geraldine, for now she was be-
ginning to shake all over. 'I-I-why
do you say such things?" she burst
forth with sudden passion. "What right
| have you to say them? How do you
dare to presume that it's anything to
me whether you seek me or not? You
| you - never told you to look for
me; I never gave you leave. You
must not you shall not do it. Under
stand, sir, that I will not have any
more of this. [ forbid it -I-l-"
do you forbid this, Geraldine?"
said he, very gently, taking her hand
IN his. "Do you forbid my asking for
this hand, and Offering in exchange
/ L ia1N 10 DIV
yours: I sought you, dear, because
loved you. [ think you know I love
you, and | think know that YOU"
''That love you?" cried Geraldine,
wildly; sis it that which you would
say? You know that? You would tell
me that? But you-yOu are mistaken,
! Sir Frederick Bellenden. [ am not
! quite the child, the fool [ once was. [
| i Oh. how can you-how can
you" and, unable to articulate
more, she could only wrench from his
the hand he still held, and let loose
| the trimming floods which would no
| longer be restrained.
"Who has done this??' he cried
| aghast.
''Who? What do you mean? Who?"
sThis is not your own doing. This
| is not Yourself speaking" proceeded
| BOllouUon. LII luuCu dSS IudClOu. oOhlO
smooth-tOngued whisperer has been -
Never mind that-never mind that.
He did but tell me true, if it has been
so; you have chosen to take it for
granted that care for you
"And you do not love =? But no,
YOU would not play me false?"
"How am L playing you false?''
"Look back upon the past few
weeks" he said. "What am I to
| think? Have you not given me reason
to suppose = Could L think other
wise than that you saw. understood,
and returned my feelings for you: Had
you meant to reject me- Geraldine,
YOU cannot, you cannot mean 1t. he
continued, with increased emotion
"You cannot have been triiing with
me- but the word awoke a fatal
echo in her heart.
"Trifine3' she cried, scornfully,
"and WHY not 'tritling,' if it suited me
to triAe? Why should I not have my
turn? You thought little enough once
of trifing with me-"
81? With you:"
"You thought was but little girl,
q child to be taken up. and petted' and
netted, and played with, and dropPed
You thought you might say what you
chose. do what you chose, kiss me II
YOU chose" and she struck her face
upon the spot his lips had burned
..and then and then-no more. was
to forget all as you did. was 10
think nothing Of it, to laugh at 1t, 10
know that others tested about it; was
only a child, you know. What nave
YOU to say now. if l have, as you call
It. 'tritled with YOU
He was silent-too much amazed 1or
words. ;.
.Good Heavens, Why, Geraldine,
he exclaimed at length after mute
nause during which each had lnvolun,
tariIv drawn back pace, and stood
quickly breathing in each others
faces. "Why, Geraldine. what strange
delusion is this II he passed MS
hand over his brow, Il cannot yet I'M
derstand. OF course, | ought to nave
written. to have - Pshaw. that Is
rot what you can SO deeply have re-