Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-08-15

~, interview with his sister.
s'Vi t4sr carefully reviewing his position,
occurring himself there was no nav
anu liz armor, that the accounts or MS
nltoosbip were in perfect order, ne de-
truslee 1I r. announce his intended mar
rage to the world.
''a We, ers+ nerson to be informed was
r.a,, harrington. That done, there was
nothing more to rear. -, :;
HUt w. Ala NOT reach Chedworth till just In
.;np TO dress for dinner. There were one
~ two country neighbors to snare Inat
uonost and the conversation Lazy LOT
.;n~ton wished to have with her orotnes
aroS nostponed till the next morning.
Marsden observed that his sister looked
rorv crave and portentous; but that IN no
.,av damned his spirits or lessened his
osor+s to amuse and interest his sisters
,nosts which were peculiarly successful.
ia listened with lively attention to the
1otoils Lady Darlington poured forth re-
onoctine Mrs. Ruthven's sufferings and
4odous recovery. She feared that the
uoor invalid would scarcely be able to see
him Marsden begged he might not De
asked to do anything not quite agreeable
to her.
oft is no question of what is agreeable"
cold Lady Darlington severely. 1t IS OF
wbot will be safest for Mrs. Ruthven. You
cannot imagine the weakness to which
che is reduced. Any relapse now would
he fatal. She is anxious to go away to the
south of France, or the RIVIERA out
trust she will not go alone.
"No; she had much better get some
nleasant companion. You will find her
one, dare say. You always have such
= supply of admirable persons on hand
fitted to fill every possible position.
Lady Darlington darted an angry.
warning glance at her brother, and ad-
dressed him no more that evening.
When breakfast was over next morn
inc rs the frost was too hard for hunting,
Narsden sauntered into the billiard room,
and was knocking the billiard balls about
by himself, when the inevitable message
reached him:
MY lady would be glad to see you, sir,
in the bOudoir.'
81 have been waiting for you this half
hour, Clifford
80 sorry; did not like to intrude on
you till you sent for me-" he returned,
coming up to the fireplace, and leaning
easily against the mantelpiece. do you
know you are looking wonderfully WELL
in spite of your nursing worries?
MY looks are of small consequence, y
said Lady Darlington, sternly. Il want
some serious conversation with you, Cliff
ford; your conduct is very unaccountable
and unfecling. What, may l ask, is your
motive for staying in town all this time!,
"Oh, because-because | like it.
"There is something more than that
or rather there is some strong attraction
which do not understand. to keep you
in London! Pray, has it anything to do
with Mrs L'Estrange and Nora z!
They are very agreeable relatives and
see a good deal of them," returned Mars
den, in a lazy, Indifferent way, most irri-
tatng to his sister.
Why. Clifford, you surely would not be
so unprincipled as to delude Nora, your
own cousin. with the notion that you are
in love with her, and you could not be so
insane as to think of marrying her? l
shall certainly warn Mrs. LEstrange
~%anst you; you are too regardless of
everything except your own amusement"
In this case l have thought more of my
own happiness"
What do you mean?" in a tone of
alarm. do you mean to say you have
taken one Of your wild fancies to poor,
dear Nora?"
Il do; and what is more, l have per-
spaded poor dear Nora to take me for
better, for worse"
Good God" cried Lady Darlington.
She sat moment staring at him in 81
icnce as if daZed. Marsden was quite un-
moved Clifford" gasped Lady Dorring-
ton at last, your conduct is most dishon-
orable toward Mrs. Ruthven."
How do you make that out?"
when she was at Evesleigh, every
one thought, Judging from your manner
Your attentions-that you were engaged"
Then every one was mistaken
i, myself, believed that you were de-
termined to marry Mrs. Ruthven."
Why? because l firted with her ?
Don't you understand she is the sort of
woman to whom the end and aim of ex-
You for friendship, however true; for
service, however kindly, if you did not
offer her the homage of overt filtration. l
never intended to marry Mrs. Ruthven."
Then you have behaved abominably,
and just think of your own interests. Nora
LEstrange has nothing, or next to moth
ing"
She has all I want
She has nothing you really want; she
IS a mere distant relative, a nobody; be-
lore SIX months are over, you will be sick
ot her, and wonder what madness induced
You to tie yourself to her."
i think the madness will last couple
OF years. put in Marsden in a low tone,
Out his sister did not heed him.
DO be advised by me, Clifford! Break
on with Nora L'Estrange; she cannot care
much about you in so short a time; she is
reasonable and unselish; she would not
IKE to condemn you and herself to the
IIo'rioie fate of becoming pauper gentry.
protest you drive me to my wits end;
you VIII disgrace yourself whatever you
w. w. l assure you you have contrived to
,IL'presS Mrs. Ruthven with a conviction
"' "a You intended to marry her"
; cannot help her being highly mag
rn"'Fe' can ~ asked Clifford. quite I'M
'oNeu' L never said, and certainly never
Il