Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-08-22
,cuApTER XIII. (Contlnueu.)

III admit that your brother has deceived
basely, treacherously. He had no
49,: ao,'ht found it convenient to lead his cred
:.o.s 70 believe that he was on the point
~ ,orrioee with q rich widow, and so
o.;n time for the settlement of his affairs.
e. e. This he did not hesitate to make me
- ohiect of remark to all the company
=. bis house when | was his guest"
81 am not surprised at anything you
,orn cried Lady Darlington, greatly dis
.."ssod and even alarmed at the sup
.ossad concentrated fury which she per-
ppa;~od under Mrs. sRuthven's carefully
arosaryed self-control. Il am infinitely
ppsbamed of Clifford; but, indeed, he is in
ivory wav incapable of making the use
rou suggest of his position with you. He
= +he merest slave of his whims and fan
~ He was, l know, greatly taken with
rnu. and then all that horrid business
If the robbery kept you apart, and he fell
IN with Nora-and-oh! it is all beyond
nv COMPREHENSION! 1t makes me perfect
" i'll when | think of Clifford's unuttera-
bic folly. l had, indeed, hoped to call you
my sister
Il think you are honest, and alive to the
advantages that marriage with me offers.
| shall always consider you my friend.
As TO your brother have made up my
mind how to act He will find l am not
70 be tritled with; but | must gather a
little more strength before l can deal
with the NATTER
Surely, my dear Mrs. Ruthven, no
legal redress could possibly atone for the
wrong done% said Lady Darlington, in
uncertain accents very different from her
usual decided tone, so appalled, was she
by the prospect of the commonplace vul-
garity of an action in court.
"Are you afraid of breach of promise
trial." was her guests counter-question,
accompanied by a hooking, contemptuous
laugh THAT would be very weak and
inefficient payment of the debt owe Mr..
Marsden-but | will not allow myself to
speak more on the subject. 1t must be
most painful to you; it is too much for me.
can write no more to-day. May l trust
to your kindness to send for Sir Harley
Portman? And will you be so good as to
ask Eirginie to bring me my medicine?
must rest and be quite quiet now"
Lady Darlington felt herself dismissed
If she had gone to Mrs. Ruthven in an
anxious. angry frame of mind, she left her
with a sense OF danger and trouble intens-
fed tenfold. The change in Mrs. Ruth
yens manner from its ordinary caressing
sOftness to the abrupt decision of one who
knew her power and would use it, seemed
to take the ground of superior position and
higher breeding from under the elder
woman's feet. Mrs. Ruthven was, in
deed, not to be trifed with. The vague
ness of her threats made Lady Dorring-
ton still more uneasy. Did she know of
any crooked corners in Clifford's conduct
which would brand him with disgrace,
were they known and blazoned abroad ?
If so, how merciless she would be- 81
wish never had had anything to do with
her, thought Lady Darlington, as she sat
down in the refuge of her own morning
room 1T is useless to try and help
Clifford. He is hopeless. But l think
must send him line of warning. | am
really afraid of that woman. 1 shall
never care to be with her again. She was
naturally angry, and do not wonder at it;
out there was a murderous look in her
eyes do believe she has large share
OF Eastern blood! How unprincipled it
was of Mrs. L'Estrange and Nora to at
ract Clifford! They are quite aware that
>.
huthven! quite; yet they set themselves
against me; and | have been so fond of
Nora, and so kind to her too"
Here her reflections became chaotic.
though of the strong-minded order of
women, Lady Darlington had both family
prlue and family affection in abundance
Inc idea of open scandal or disgrace
attacking her brother was intolerabe,
"ul her anxiety to shield him was not one
N"it lessened by her Indignation and
wrath with his inconsiderate folly!
Clifford Marsden meantime sped Lon
onward we'll content with the result of
:. '' WISH. tie had put matters in train !;
."c'e was no room now for Lady Dorring-
1In TO say that he had kept her in the
uSFh about so important a matter as his
larrase, and she would no doubt impart
'"e knowledge to Mrs. Ruthven. They
"oulu nave ample opportunity to abuse
nI'n together, a nd by the time they all met
"s -, the worst would have blown over.
lie arrived in town late and resolved
"o' TO disturb Nora and Mrs. L'Estranee
~ ~ that hour. Next morning would do.
Hau deep, though unacknowledged,
NAA.'l lie IuuSL .Ue careful anu
v'ious IN his conduct to Nora.
Ne, let' IN spite of his love, there were mo-
4" 'H's When kind of lurid revelation
Sasue across him that, if he could not
seed IN warming her GOODNESS into
,Yi nethins akin to his own fire, the day
'' sl come when he would hate her with
cru ueadly hatred, ay. and revenge himself
.l ,ue'y on her, if she persisted in her mad
S nH'ns Indifference. He could scarce en-
sb., ,he torture it gave him, when she
wn, LUX from the caresses with which he
inc u'a ram have loaded her, and his long
fos,o LOT the reciprocity of natural, un-
H. s tenderness, was painfully intense.
na .oWeVer, absence always made him
tbroa hopeful. He had not seen Nora for
eban Jays, and who could tell what
in thy mat interval might have wrought
cirIs ineomprehensible heart of young
lettas, post brought him large number of
has, most of which needed notice, and
,anl;n Narsden had finished the briefest
wi Sies ne was informed that gentleman
clerk Iet q. TO see him. This proved to be
OFF