Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-06-18
t<.
CHAPTER w

Serton,s ball with anything but hanniness
o. onelr hearts-Ida Raughton and wol-
ter Cundall. "nu w d.
que was able to tell herself, as she sat
~ ner dressing room after her maid had
1eAt ner, that she had, after all become
snsaseu TO the man whom she really
4o'eu' OUT she had also to ACKNOWLEDGED
enat' Tor that other one, her compassion
was very great 'S
que nad never loved him, nor did she
untI TINS night believe the rumors Of So
Iiely that reached her ears, to the effect
tnat ne loved her; but she had liked him
very much, and his society had always
oeen agreeable to her.
ana, Tor she was always frank even to
nerselr, she acknowledged that he was
man whom she regarded with some kind
VI ave- man whose knowledge Of the
"orld was as much above hers as his
wealth was above her fathers wealth.
Les, she reflected, he was so much
ABOVE her that she did not think, in any
circumstances, love could have come into
her heart for him.
AS for him, he hardly knew what to do
on that night. He walked back to his
mousse In Grosvenor place Che was too I'M
easy to sit in his carriage), and, letting
hlmself in, went to his library, where he
passed some hours pacing up and down it.
Afterwards, when he was calmer. he
went to large escritoire, and, unlocking
1t, took out bundle Of papers and read
them.
They were a collection of several old
letters, tress Of hair in an envelope,
which he kissed softly, and two slips of
paper which he seemed to read particu-
larly carefully. Then he put them away
and said to himself:
1T must be done, there is no help for
1t. My happiness is gone forever, and /
would not wreck the happiness of others:
but, in this case, my sin would be beyond
recall if hesitated.'
And, again, after pause, he said to
himself: ut must be DONE"
He rose in the morning at his usual
time, though it was nearly six before he
flung himself YEARLY on his bed to snatch
some troubled rest, and when he went
down stairs to his breakfast he found his
secretary, Mr.. Stuart, waiting for him.
"West told me that I should find you
looking better than ever, Mr.. Cundall,"
he said, "but I cannot honestly say that
I do. You look pale and worm"
II am perfectly WE'LL nevertheless. But
I went to a ball last night, and, what
with that and travelling all day, I am
rather knocked out, but it is nothing.
Now, let us get to work on the CORE
spondence, and then we must 60 into the
city"
They began on the different piles Of
Ietters,a Mr. Cundall throwing over to
Stuart all those the handwriting Of which
he did not recognize, and opening those
which he did know himself.
They went to the city together later on,
and then they separated; but before they
did so, Cundall asked Stuart if he knew
what club Lord Penlyn belonged to.
Blacks I fancy, and the 'Voyagers,'
but we can see in the directory" And he
turned to the court department Of that
useful work. and found that he was right.
In the evening of two days later Cum
dali called at "Black's'' and learned that
Lord Penlyn was in that institution.
All through those two days he had been
nerving himself for the interview that
was now about to take place, and had at
last strung himself up to it.
4. He had prayed that there might be no
cruelty in what he was about to do; but
he was afraid!
GLOW are you, Cundall?" Lord Penlyn
said. coming down the stairs behind the
porter, and greeting him with cordially.
at have never had the pleasure of seeing
you here before
Then he looked at his visitor and saw
that he was CHASTITY pale, and he noticed
that his hand was cold and damp.
ooh, l say!' he exclaimed, "aren't you
we'll? Come upstairs and have some
thing"
81 am we'll, but have something very
serious to say to you, and"
.Ida is not ill?' the other asked ap-
prehensively, his first thoughts flying to
the woman he loved. And the familiar
name upon his lips struck to the others
heart.
.sShe is well. rs far as I know. But it
is Of her that have come to speak. This
club seems full of members; will you
come for a stroll in the park? 1t is close
at hand"
Eyes, yesv' Penlyn said, calling to the
porter for his hat and stick. but what
can you have to say to me about herr!
Then, as they went down st. James
street, and past Marlborough House into
the park, there did come back suddenly
to his memory some words he had once
overheard about Cundall being in love
with the woman who was now his atti-
anced wife.
"Now tell me, Mr.. Cundall," he said,
"what you have to say to me about my
future WIFE,"
sI have come to tell you first" Cundall
answered, "that, three nights ago, asked
Ida Raughton to be my wife,
ssWhat!' the other exclaimed, "you ask
ed my future
zone moment" Cundall said quietly;
"I did not know then that she was to be
vour future wife. If you will remember.
I had only returned to London on that
day"
ment?"
.1 knew nothing. Let me proceed. In
nroposing to her and in gaining her love
for she told me that she had consented
M be YOUR wife-you deprived me Of the
only thing in this world prize. the only
thing wanted. came back to England
With one fixed idea, the idea that she
loved me, and that, when asked her, she
would accept me for her husband"
He paused moment and Lord Penlyn
said:
seyVhile I cannot regret the cause Of