Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-11-26
CHAPTER 7.


Clear and bright, with the crystalline
clearness and brightness of atmosphere
peculiar to Scotland, the brilliant summer
DAY drew softly to a close. There was
no cloud in the solemn blue depths over
head, but around the sinking sun few
neecy masses had been turned into Grim
son and gold, and were reflected in gleam-
ing light and glancing bloodred hues
from the bosom of the majestic river, as
1T widened between receding banks to-
ward the Northern Sea- A London
steamer, making its way up the channel
to a port on the northeastern coast,
whittier it was bound, seemed to be
plunging into mystical land of glory as
1t turned its head toward the burning
west.
SO it seemed, at least, to girl who was
standing on the deck, with her eyes fixed
upon the shore, which was half lost in a
golden haze. eve seem to have come to
city of gold" she said. smiling, to a
gentleman who stood at her side.
''Some people have found it so,'' he an
swered, rather dryly. ga good many for
tunes have been lost and won in the good
old town of Dundee"
Il did not mean that" she said, in a
lowered voice. ~ only thought-when
and buildings look so dream-like and I'M
substantial-of Bunyan's Pilgrims
Progress and the Celestial City that
the pilgrims saw from affair.""
In the silent evening air. speech some
times travels further than we know.
The girl was quite unconscious that her
clear, fine utterance had reached the ear
of one other person besides her immediate
auditor. A middle-aged man with grave,
keen face who had been leaning over the
bulwarks, with his eyes fixed abstractedly
on the water, and his head turned away
from the golden glory of the west, was
struck by her words. He changed his
position a little, so that he could see the
girls fair profile, studied it for a mo-
ment or two with a look of kindly interest,
then rose up and walked away.
"Do you know who that is y" said Han
nington, looking after him with interest.
'Moncrieff of Torresmuir; one of the
wealthiest men in Scotland. Some peo-
pie say, one of the most unfortunate. He
lost his wife three or four years ago
under specially sad circumstances; she
was thrown out of, a pony-cart which he,
was driving, and killed before his eyes.
Then. his only son is weakly-in fact.
something of an invalid. He has young
How very sad! said Miss Raeburn.
Her gentle eyes were full of sympathy.
His wife's death must have been great
loss to him.
Conveniently, yes" answered Mr..
Harrington, lingering his black mus
tache, with smile. He found Miss Rae
burns simplicity adorable, and thanked
.ate for sending him on board the steam
err from London to Dundee, where he had
found her in charge of lady with whom
he was acquainted. "In real life, you
know, the death of wife does not always
leave man inconsolable. 1t is rumored
that Mr.. and Mrs Moncrieff did not get
on very WE'LL"
ooh, then, he is more unfortunate than
] thought" said the young girl, quickly.
ITO worldly man like myself, Miss
Raeburn, it does not seem that Mr.. Mon
crieff is anything but a lucky man. He
has a fine estate; he has splendid in
come and a magnificent house; he has-or
may have-all the official county distinc-
tions which he wants; no career is closed
to him; and, although he has lost his first
wife, whom rumor says that he did not
love, he is free and able to marry again,
and to marry whom he pleases--which
many men are not.
A harsh note was IuulDIe III MS voice.
The girl kept silent. She was still gazing
toward the west, where the light was
growing taded and dull. 1t seemed to
her. suddenly, that if she listened long
TO Mr.. Hannington's worldly wisdom. life
also would fade in brightness as surely
as that western sky. But Harrington
knew what he was doing; he had an
effect to produce
..What am I saying?" he broke out,
with an accent of sudden self-reproach.
..Inflicting my hard, worldly maxims up
on YOU. who arc so far above nc-so far
removed from evil
ooh. please. Mr.. Harrington, do not
+oJk in that wayr' said the girl. with
arooninc head and flushing checks. And
,.et1Stella Raeburn would not have been
s;rl of nineteen if the lattery were
a,.eao+ber distasteful Mr.. Harrington
knew that well enough.
81 must tell you-before we separate.
no so;d. in agitated tones, that siacc l
l-new You l have felt different lnilu-
nnca have felt as though nobier'
S;nher life were possible | have seen
.he+ ronr standard was higher than NINE.
,d hove wished-wished bitterly. ana |
aaaI ra;nlv-that I could attain It ne
aeel short rs if emotion impeded his
stopsu end Stella attempted few
words of depreciation.
1T .,n not worth such praise. can ohiv
II. .ha+ NV own standard were high
or" she murmured. - c.au,
..Forgive me if say too much' s.ei''ti
.our friend call you, Go they NO.