Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-08-05

AnS' nol IeSretS were not sufficient to
pucker her fair brow in the very
slightest degree.
There was no doubt but she made q
very attractive picture, and Reginald
Bulwer could not help being proud of
his companion. Many keen inspec-
ton was made of the pair, and more
than once an audible comment
reached the girls ears.
'Bulwer again. I wonder who that
little girl is?'' she distinctly heard one
man say, as they embarked at the
landing stage. But the remark con-
veyed nothing to her mind, for she
was far too busily engaged in noting
the life and hustle around her to spare
thought for anything else.
Mabel had been on the river often
enough, but Henley was new to her,
and when the full brilliance of the
scene became clear to her dazzled
eyes she could only gasp out her
pleasure.
ooh, it is lovely! I did not think
anything could be SO bright in this
gray England of ours" she exclaimed.
''All England is not Brixton,'' ex-
claimed Bulwer, lightly. ST hope
that we shall see many scenes as
bright as this together and as he
spoke light flashed into his eyes as
he bent them upon her, and Mabel's
heart trembled with pleasure. She
thought that at last he was going to
ask her to share his lot in future, and
remained discreetly silent. But Bull
wer made no further remark, and,
settling to work with the SOULS, pad
died the boat down the stream.
Presently he broke the silence again.
''You will find the people we are stay
ing with very different from the Brix-
tonians, Mabel" he said eft will be
quite a new experience of life for you"
He seemed somewhat at loss to ex-
plain his meaning in reply to the girls
question as to where the difference
lay.
els Mrs. Walls very clever wo-
MANI" asked Mabel, referring to the
hostess she was about to meet.
''No; oh, no." replied Bulwer.
"Clever, of course, but nothing ex-
ceptional, you know. She is just like
the rest of them, and you must pre-
pare to be shocked little. You see,
in Brixton people take such narrow
views of life. Men and women of the
world are accustomed to take much
broader outlook upon things
"What things?" demanded the
girl.
"Things generally, you know" re-
piled Bulwer, vaguely.
Mabel began to wonder a little. She
wondered still more during the next
two or three days she spent on board the
houseboat Irene, and something very
much like distrust began to take pos
session of her. In two days her ex-
perience of the manners and customs
of the society to which Bulwer had
introduced her led her to some very
curious conclusions. She decided
that the ladies consumed more cham
payne than was good for their health,
and she found that brandy and soda
was invariably considered the thing to
drink in the early morning. She
learned that it was correct to address
the most casual male acquaintance as
''dear boy" and to refer to lord
otherwise than by his Christian name
as to confess oneself outside the pale
IF civilization. She learned, too, that
the only subjects upon which society
lady could converse with any degree of
1uency was upon matters theatrical Or
sporting, and when deeply interested
in either of these questions her Ian
guage had an adiectival facility which
was somewhat alarming to mere
Brixtonian.
Still Reginald was very attentive,
and laughed away Mabel's scruples.
She had very little time to think,
either. Each day was full of incident,
and in one continual whirl of light
and life, seemed to end before it had
we'll begun. Before breakfast was
finished it was time to take the punt
and make their way to point OF want
age on the course. Scarcely an hour
seemed to pass and it was time to re-
turn to lunch. Then the punt again,
tea at another houseboat. and finally a
drift down the river and a reposeful
half-hour in the backwater before
Hambledon Lock before dinner.
After dinner, gossip and music, with
out and within, filled the evening,
until eyes refused to remain open
longer. That was the order OF things
until the last day Of the regatta.
Meanwhile Jim Todd had been
going disconsolately about his busl-
ness in town. At first he had deter
mined to remain away from Henley
altogether: but, as each day passed,
he renented of his intention, and at
last on the morning of the last day,
! he donned his fannels and followed
the rest of the pleasure-seekers. At
least he would be able to get glimpse
! of the girl who had thrown him II, over over.
Ho did not bear her any ill-will; there