Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-01-10
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Her heart seemed to stand still
the pulses in her throat to choke her.
Cecil. raising at uhe other end OF the
boat. seemed like a shadow in a dream:
his voice calling to her, an echo from
some far away distant spot
Mechanically she rose to obey the
summons, touched the different hands
held out to guide her, sprang. ashore,
and STUN bled along over the dark, wet
weeds, blind and deaf to all outer
sights and sounds.
The other two were behind, having
stayed to help up the boat; but she
waited for no one And she never
spoke to Bellenden again. nor turned
her back to look for him, but hurried
forward along through the dim mazes
of the woodland path, and in through
the great porch, and up the broad
stairs, straight to her own chamber,
to be seen OF no one any more at all
, that night.
For she was not required to come
down again. There was to be no sup
per, only what the gentlemen chose to
send for, while a tray was dispatched
to her. elf: and SO the farewell on the
water was really what it had been
given out to be, the parting between
the two for many and many day.
1t had not been exactly so intended
bv Be lenden.
The kiss had been given on the i'm
pulse of the moment, and there had
been no intention of producing such an
effect as he could perceive had been
wrought thereby.
SIS she angry, wonder?:" he had
thought, half amazed, and half cha
grined, but after all such a thing was
hardly likely. It had really been
nothing to make anyone angry; it had
been nothing to think twice about.
A dear little girl. A sudden parting.
A tender goodbye. Everything prov
ocative and excusable. Jerry could
not have thong t any harm. After all,
what is a kiss at 10:
Within twenty-four hours that kiss
was in the givers memory as though
it had never been.
During his rapid journey south, and
while he had perfOrce many long hours
for meditation as the swiftest express
trains bore him on from one far dis
tant stopping place to another, Bellen-
den did indeed-having no companion
to talk TO, and nothing to divert bis at
tenJion-bestow a considerable share Of
his nominations upon his late sOjOurn
in the old Highland castle. 1t was
relief to turn to it as d memory when
almost spent with conjectures and cog
itatiOns in the only other direction
which at such time could command
his attention, and the repose of his
mOnCtonOus lite, and the charm of its
inter- curse, at once simple and refined,
soothed and hushed his sp rit when
disposed TO be chafed and impatient by
uncertainty and anxiety as to what
now awaited him.
But once arrived within the land
marks OF his home. once assured that
he was, as he had OWNED he would be,
too late, the necessity for action, the
cessation OF mere passive endurance.
the release from suspense, even the
presence and voices of others, put an
end 1T once and altogether to the Wis.
ions Of the last. The future must now
be eyerytbing.
The new experience began at once
new, and yet lorcseen and anticipated.
There was tie hush. the soIemnlty,
the mournfulness, the whispers, the
death-like pause of expectancy, The
old butler bowling his white head,
the uuder!ings subsiding with
profOundest respect into the back
ground, the shadows OF the women fit
tJtiSG III tllC ullll OlSUcbllCC GIL " tlaiU-
ing to look upon him, unseen them-
selves; all DESTROYS of seeing him yet
none daring to intrude. And then ne
had to meet his mother, his brothers,
his uncles; to interview the steward
and the coachman; to give his sanction
TO pro ected arrangements: 10 hear
what had already peen done: to write
letters.
1t was now twelve hours since the
spirit h I'd departed, and twelve hours
at such times seem long.
Lady Beilenden had so far recovered
from the first shock and impression,
that she had seen her children and
consulted with her maid.
The young men had had furtive
stroll round the premises, and peeped
by stealth into the paddocks and ken
ne!s The stablemen and boys had
known to keep out Of the way and al
feet not to see, as the poor young fell
lows wandered aimlessiy about. feeling
they knew not exactly what, wonder :
ing what they should doneXt, and how
much would be considered lawful under
the circumstances One and all had
wearied for the arrival of the elder;
brother. To learn from him what
would follow this sudden oyeriurn OF
likely to rove, and how it would af-
feet eacn one of bhemr was now Gheir
very natural desire. Frederick had
always been good fellow, and they
hoped the best hoped he would not
change with his altered circumstances,
ana appear, as others have been known
to do, a different man under different
auspices. But who was to say?
Thus Frederick's arrival had been
the thing most earnestly desired and
anticipated both above and below
stairs.
It was late ere it took place, but ncs
one wished to retire to rest first.
For himself, he was too much COM
fused and excited to feel fatigue. He
had been travelling since 5 O'Clock thas
morning, and he had not slept till long
after midnight the night before; but
he had not closed an eye all day. Even
presently. even atter all calls and
claims on his attention had ceased on
the part of the household, and one by
one the domestics departed tor the
night, and the doors had been locked,
and silence within and without had
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