Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-11-11
CHAPTER. TX

CHAPTER TX
Perhaps there is no material pleasure
more enjoyable than that Of floating down
the banks Of the beautiful Thames on
calm summers day. It possesses an in
dolent peace unknown to the everchanging
ocean, and quiet freshness unknown to
the stirring, busy land. 1t keeps us how
ering for a little while, as it were, be-
tween earth and heaven, and persuades
us to lay aside our cares and anxieties
until we reach the landing stage again
Sir Wiifrid felt this keenly as he found
himself gliding down the river, with his
eyes on a level with those of Lena ST.
Blase, and all four eyes well protected
from public observation by the shelter Of
her lace parasol. Jane Warner, and the
cottage at Chelsea, and the irregular mar
riage, went out of his mind altogether
as he talked to his fair companion and felt
that warm glow stealing through his veins
which makes us feel as if we no longer
belonged to this earth when in the pres
ence Of any one for whom we have con-
ceived a tender passion.
Lena had behaved exquisitely through
out the expedition, and Lady Otto was
charmed with her. She had hardly spok-
en- to Captain Dorsay. Only once had
they been thrown together unwitnessed
by the rest of the party, and then such
scene had occurred between them as
made UP for any degree of GOODNESS in
public.
But, 'What the eye does not see, the
heart does not grieye over" and so Meth
err Sir Wilfrid Ewell nor Lady Otto st.
Blase was any the wiser or the worse for
that little undiscovered episode; and as
Lena stepped again on board the steam
launch, aided by the young baronet, the
hand he held trembled in so interesting
a manner, and the eyes he sought were
cast so modestly upon the ground, that
he could not but feel his time was come,
and he had conquered.
He wrapped her fleecy shawl about her
shoulders, and kept his place behind her
chair all the way home, leaning over her,
and whispering in her ear as they glided
over the silvery waters.
what makes you tremble so! l am
afraid you are cold, he said.
s'No, l am not cold. l am quite COM
Portable, thank you I wish you would
not notice any of my little vagaries," re-
piled Lena, with an agitated laugh.
not? I hope you have enjoyed yourself"
he continued.
'.Oh, immensely! It has been too
charming! 1t makes one feel sad to think
it cannot come over again"
"Why should it not come over again
all through ones life? l have had but
one drawback to my perfect happiness.
.And what is that!'
Of hot I)0rS1V
I cannot help feeling that he means to
win YOU. He cannot keep his eyes away
from YOU. He is very far gone, indeed.
nity hin-that is, if you do not recipro-
cate"
II have already told you do not. He
Is only n friend of mine, and knows he
will never be anything else. But per-
hans he has sufficient interest in me left
70 fool little anxious about my happl-
ness-that is all"
SIS it possible that any man who has
once loved you can be content with your
friendship only? do not believe 1t. He
must saw If lust to relieve your anxiety
concerning him.
.R,,t I have no anxiety on the subject.
7 dismissed him, and there is an end of
it,
"Just as you dismissed me. | wonder
if he felt what I did, when l heard my
fate"
.-Sir Wilfrid! I thought you promised
me not to allude to that subject. 1t IS
very unkind of you. If you knew
eff I knew-what!
"Ihe influence that was eXerted over
me. Try and put yourself in my place.
Surprising 1 had been the one to plead,
and YOU to reject Cannot you imagine
how hard the ia SIX would have been, and
how YOU would have hated to think or It. !.
afterward--far more to hear it alluded TO
Why will you humiliate me IN sucn
cruel manner! -,
my dear Miss st. Blase, forgive me.
But. you see, could not suppose sucn
thing. because-the cases are so dIlei-
Ont. You to plead, and l to reject! How !.
could it be possible, when loved you 50
How could it ever be possible, feeling
feeling-as- e.l.oroa.
~ know-I understand" she faltered'
..but supposing the cases are not 50 VI,
ferent. after all? Surprising that-i
s.Well-well-gQ on. For heaven sake,
don't keep me in SUSPENSE! ne eAcialneu
eagerly. r said?
What would you have me say!