Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-05-20

Ralph, terribly frightened, appeared on
the scene, and had me brought into the
room. He had remained with me until
had come out of my swoon only to fall into
deep sleep, and then had gone into the
| garden for smoke.
AT this moment l catch sounds of fa-
| miliar voices from the garden below, and
springing out of bed, rush to the win
dow. Yes, they are the voices of Sir
Ralph and Yorke. They are talking in
quiet, friendly fashion, there is no faint
est trace of anger or resentment in either
voice, and I tremble, and draw back and
ask myself, "What can it mean?" In
spite of my maids remonstrance, order
her to help me put on my bodice, and
snatching up shawl, rush down into the
garden
My appearance causes my husband great
alarm; but | tell him that | feel better
now, although my CHASTITY face bellies the
fact. He asks me why [ tainted and l
answer that I was fatigued and giddy.
He then turns to Yorke and introduces
me to him as the latters new aunt. Yorke
acknowledges the introduction, meant
only for my ear. He has, then, not told
his uncle that he had met me before. /
tremble as l think what his purpose may
be by this concealment, and his assumed
friendliness for the man whom, only a
few hours ago, he had told me he hated.
Sir Ralph tells me that Yorke had in
formed him that he did not get my hus-
bands letter announcing our marriage,
and that his meeting us here in Salzburg
was purely accidental.
/ can bear it no longer. | falter out
that l am tired-that I would like to go
indoors, and Sir Ralph turns his back on
the garden, and the starlight, and the at
fractions of the nocturnal cigar, and ac-
companies me-
At the portal we pause for moment.
He turns to his nephew.
care you coming in also?' he asks.
'Ir' and Yorke laughs snort, mirth-
less laugh. ooh, no, | am not SO fond Of
my pillow as all that. I'm going for a
walk; it's a glorious night. [ mean to
get to the top of the Gaisberg,' pointing
to the great peak with it's cap of snow.
He lifts his hat with all courtesy, but,
oh! the hooking smile, the look of hate
and fury in the brief glance that meets
my own. Then he is gone. He has not
offered to take Sir Ralph's hand or mine,
and we go into the hotel and up to our
rooms in silence.
''Yorke is very much changed says
Sir Ralph, as he moves to and fro in the
room in restless man-fashion; very much
changed; but think he seems inclined to
be better friends with me than of old,
and he certainly took the news of my
marriage in very good part"
'In very good partY 1 echo the words
4
and hear them multiplied and repeated
by voices of fear and shame, till they lose
sense and meaning in the baffied fury of
curse that has struck to the very roots
of my life.
The next morning I woke up refreshed
by sleep-for, strange to say, | did sleep
and nerved by resolution. l knew what
lay before me. There could be no question
of divided duty, of right or wrong. Hard
as was the task, it must be performed at
the cost of everything, even life itself.
Sir Ralph came in to announce that
breakfast was ready, and that after that
meal he had arranged for a trip to Co
nigssee, wonderful inland lake in the
vicinity. Yorke and German friend of
his was to be of the party. | would
rather only Darby and | went with my
husband, but I could offer no reasonable
objection. After breakfast was over the
carriage came around and we were off
for our trip. On our arrival at the lake,
which we reached about noon, we had
luncheon, and then some of our party, l
believe it was the German friend, pro-
posed row on the waters. We were
bundled into two boats, our party being
too large for one-I, Darby and Yorke i'll
the first and larger, Sir Ralph and the
German in the other. A stalwart peasant
girl takes her seat in the bow, an equally
stalwart peasant youth takes his seat i'll
the stern.
care the others coming?" l cry out,
paling with sudden terror. for few
rapid strokes carry us right away into 4
solitude, vast, gloomy, awe-inspiring, the
like of which I had never imagined or be-
held.
eyes," Yorke answers CURLY.
ooh. 1 don't like it. 1t is horribleH'
cry. and cover my face with my hands.
."rell them to turn back! can't bear it
it makes me i'll; it is like the Styx, or
whatever that awful place was. Do-do
tell them to turn bach!'
Unfortunately" says Yorke, with what
looks ike SEilIl eHJoS lHCiit VI LILY eCAAoA,
81 can't speak a word of German
'SThen call the others.' | cry frantic
ally. Tell your friend | want to go
back! l must so back! I shall die of
fear! 1 never saw such an awful place
in my life"'
1T is as good a place as any other to
die in,' says Yorke, coolly, ''if-as YOU
said just now-you are inclined to do that.
I am sorry can't assist you. The other
boat isn't even in sight; | fancy they
can't get rover"
1 drop my hands. look at him with
sort of horror. He faces the shore; l
have my back to it.
.'Is it true?' / cry. care we the only
people on the lake? Isn't Sir Ralph be-
hind us?'
NO. he says with sheer. Eve are
quite alone
My eyes turn from his face to the deep,
still water. Oh the awful silence and