Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-08-01
she was Infinitely annoyed by -Marsden's

she was Infinitely annoyed by Marsden's
unfeeling Indifference. Except for the
one hurried visit, he was content with
formal daily bulletin; nor did he seem
much concerned if, by any accident, that
was delayed. 1t was disgracefully heart
less as an abstract fact, and it would
have a final effect upon Marsden's chances
when it came to the knowledge of Mrs.
Ruthven.
What was Clifford thinking of? Had
he discovered mine? or had the reports
which had reached Lady Darlington, and
been believed by her, as to his. extrava-
gance and embarrassment, been exagger-
ated? He was too trying! What was
keeping him in London at such a time!
Could there be any truth in the absurd
idea that Nora L'Estrange was the at
traction-a mere nobody-slenderly dow
ered-and nothing remarkable in the way
of beauty?
However, as the time went by, Mrs.
Ruthven held her ground. There was
more tenacity in the fragile-looking slen-
der little woman than people thought, and
at length she was able to sit up for few
hours, to listen to Lady Darlington when
she read the more interesting paragraphs
of the newspapers aloud, and finally to
read her own letters. But still there was
no intention on the part of Marsden, ap
parently, of coming to offer his congratu-
lations in person. He wrote kindly and
cordially, but in a strictly friendly tone,
explaining that he was busy arranging
his somewhat entangled affairs, and the
preliminaries necessary for letting Ewes
leigh on a lease of several years.
This letter was in itself a severe blow.
1t was, however, as nothing compared to
one received next day from the watchful
Captain Shirley. After expressing his de-
light at hearing of her progress toward
recovery, his regret at not being on such
terms with Lord and Lady Darlington
that he might venture to run down and see
her, he informed his esteemed correspond
ent he could now assure her that Marsden
was positively engaged to Miss LES
TRANCE. He was with her and her step
mother every day, and all day. Finally
he (Shirley) had been in celebrated jew
eler's shop in Bond streetSwhere his at
tention was caught by an unusually fine
ring, the design being two hearts united
one of rubies, the other of diamonds.
The shopman said it was, he fancied, an
engagement ring, and made to order. He
had scarcely finished examining it when
Marsden came in, and after exchanging a
word or two with him, went to the counter
and asked if his order had been executed,
whereupon this very ring was handed to
him.
The next day Shirley had called on
Mrs. L'Estrange and was admitted, when
he saw the identical ring on Miss LES
FRANCES left third finger. There was but
| one Inference to be drawn.
When Mrs. Ruthven read these lines
she felt as if something had snapped her
brain. Her heart beat to suffocation, and
her imagination presented her with a con-
fused, broken, shadowy mass of pictures
! from the past.
Was this the result of all Marsden' s
| implied tenderness and admiration? Had
| he blinded her keen eyes and deceiTed her
sharp observation? He should pay dear
| dear! And that careless, candid girl,
whose easy Indifference was absolutely
| insolent, whose comparative poverty and
| obscurity ought to have been barrier to
| her advancement, was preferred before
! her wealth and beauty and carefully cul-
| tivated grace. 1t was too maddening. If
she could destroy both, she would.
! And how every one would talk! She
had been so sure of becoming Mrs. Clifford
Marsden, of Evesleigh Manor-every one
knew that the marriage was expected
| and now to be deceived, cheated, deserted
for mere insignificant, half-developed
| creature! Mrs. Ruthven felt murderous.
Her head was dizzy; she passed a terri
BILE night, and next day the doctor was
| sent for in hot haste, as his patient show
cd every symptom of a relapse, and before
twelve hours We're over she was rambling
incoherently in a high fever.
She must have sustained mental shock
of some description, the doctor said, but
no one could surmise what had caused it.
Mrs. Ruthven had had sufficient foresight,
feeling terribly i'll, to tear the letter into
minute fragments and burn them, and
from her speech little could be gathered
save that she repeatedly accused Shirley
and others of stealing her jewels.
This relapse was great additional trou-
BILE to Lady Darlington, who was at her
wits ends to discover it's origin.
'.Some of those horrible letters, no
doubt" she confded to her husband. Il
wish she never had had them; at such a
time the absence of some confidential at
tendant is very awkward. You see, we
know nothing Of her former life and con-
| nections.
Go be continued.)
|