Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-12-31

head. Mr.. Kingscott went into his own
room and closed the door Of communica-
ton. Not till then did Stella feel free to
sink down on her knees beside Berries
sofa, and speak to him in soft, caressing
tones.
Dear BERTHE, we are all so sorry. And
you are sorry, too"
Then the boys grief broke forth. He
burst into a storm Of choking, oyerpow-
ering sobs, in which all his attempts at
speech were lost. It was some time be-
fore the words became arriculate.
II didn't mean til never thought
what l was doing-I shall never be able
were the first words that became audible.
81 know, dear; | understand"
"Just when you came home-just when
you expected a welcome-for me to dis
grace you so! And my father hell never
forgive me-"
ooh! yes, he will, BERTHE. If you are
sure that you have told him everything
that he ought to know-and if for the
future you do right
BERTHE did not speak. From tho tremor
that ran through his whole frame, Stella
felt that her words had gone home.
''Is there not anything that you have
kept from your father, BERTHE? Is there
not something that he ought to know"
The boy covered down, with his face in
the cushion again.
"Why are you afraid of him." said
Stella. "Why do you not throw off Mr..
Kingscott's bondage and be perfectly
frank and open? You think he will tell
your father of things that you want hid
den? But why do you hide them? Why
not make full confession of everything
wrong, and start afresh? Be brave, dear
BERTHE, and tell your father ALL
But at this BERTHE fell into paroxysm
of terror, and was yet so emphatic in his
observations that there was nothing to
tell-nothing to conceal-that Stella was
fairly bewildered And when the boy
added the most earnest assurances that
he was resolved to give up his bad COM
panions and to lead steady and honora-
BILE course for the future, she felt that she
was unable to do more for him, and could
only hope that he would keep his word.
Alan Moncrieff was only too glad to be
able to accord free pardon to his boy,
aid Stella felt that her intercession had
not been unavailing in bringing recon-
citation about at an earlier date than
BERTHE had expected. The boy was very
much humbled by his disgrace; for it
could not be denied that every one in the
neighborhood was aware of the fact that
he had been seen under the influence of
drink outside the railway station, on the
evening of his stepmother's arrival; and
it was the publicity of the incident which
added poignancy to his fathers grief, as
we'll as his own humiliation. 1t was de-
cided that he should be sent to tutors
at the New Year; and in the meantime
he was to remain under Mr.. KingScott's
tuition and guardianship.
One Of Stella's first visitors was Lady
Valencia Gilderoy. Lady Val lived with
a widowed sister at pretty little house
about five miles from Torresmuir, and she
had known the Aoncrieffs for many
years. She was reputed to be one of the
most skillful and shameless flirts in the
county, and Stella liked the report that
she heard of her so little, that she half
involuntarily received Lady Val with
much stiffness, and showed by her man
ner that she had no great desire to be a
friend of hers. But Lady Val was undis-
mayed. II like the little thing, and I'm
going to be friends with her." she re-
marked to her sister, as they drove home
together after their first call; $50 she
needn't put on her company manners for
me; I'll soon get rid of that"
''Shes very pretty" said Mrs. Len
nox."
II think there's more than that in Mrs
NIoncrieff. She must have some char
acter, fancy"
She did not say why she thought So;
but she was thinking of that autumn day
when she and John Harrington had been
riding side by side toward Dunkeld, and
when 'the little Dundee giri'' had given
John Harrington the cut direct. She
laughed to herself, but she set her teeth
as though something hurt her even while
she laughed, at the thought of Jack Han
nington's face.
CTo be continued) su! i
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