Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-03-11

meath the waiting woman's watchful eyes.
Not till Hammond had disappeared did
she remark in her usual dry tones: "Anne
l was not aware that you were acquainted
with Miss Carteret, Denzil."
Lawrence looked desperately about hlra
for some means of escape. Clare's soft
hands were upon him; he could not shake
her off; Mrs. Seymours cold eyes were
upon him, too If there was woman on
earth whom Lawrence hated, and even
feared, that woman was his Aunt Adela.
She knew it, and despised him for it, too.
He was obliged at last to answer his
aunt's question. 81 knew her little-l
met her before, at Malta" he said, lower
ing his eyes.
She drew a long breath of relief. He
did not mean to repudiate Clare, attes
all! Well, then, her darlings happines0
was safe.
Glare broke in gayly. EDO you really
know Anne Carteret? How very nice!
But 1 thought she only knew Damer!'
"Oh, people are always confusing Da-
mer and me-" said Lawrence, caressing
his mustache and speaking with as much
nonchalance as he could muster for the
occasion. But he looked singularly white
and shaken, and sat down presently as II
he had not strength to stand.
81 dare say Miss Carteret did not dis
tinguish between the two Names Mrs.
Seymour observed promptly. "She prob
ably meant Denzil, not Damer, Lawrence
all this time. People are not always very
particular about Christian names"
He rose and took his leave as soon as
possible, refusing an invitation to dinner
fo+
at Abbat's Hotel, which is few minutes
walk from the square, but he promised to
come next morning, and half arranged
drive with his aunt and cousin to Pom
pey's Pillar. AS soon as he was outside
the Hotel de rEurope, however, he i'm
medately set off to the Ramleh station,
and arrived there in time to catch the
seven o'clock train. Why he did so he
could not have told He felt as II ne
dared not enter the Dumaresqs' house,
and certainly he had no hope of meeting
Anne. Yet to Ramleh he must go.
How was he to see her? Lawrence
asked himself that question, and found
no answer ready. He knew that in order
to Justify himself at all he must see her
speedily and alone. The next day brought
him no opportunity. He was chained to
Mrs. Seymour's side as long as it was
light In the evening he ventured to ac-
cept an invitation to dine at the Dumar-
esqs', but gained nothing by that move,
as Anne did not appear. She had head
ache, Mrs Dumaresq told him, with an
air of compassion for his disappointment,
but later they came face to face in the
music room.
''Anne," he said, holding out his hands
mploringly, care you not going to speak
to ne? Won't you vouchsafe me a look
a word?
''Not here" she answered coldly. Then,
with an effort: 81 suppose you have some
thing to say to me- I have been expecting
it. I am quite willing to listen to you at
the proper time and in the proper place,
Mr.. Lawrence, but this is neither
81 can explain everythin to you if you
will only listen"
''Not here" she repeated.
"Anne," he said, controlling his passion
with difficulty, "have you forgotten me?
Have you forgotten our meeting at Mex:
or our parting in the desert? Have you
forgotten that you told me-and be-
lieved you-that l was the only man you
had ever loved? You told me that, Anne;
you know you did. You cannot have for
gotten me so soon? Look at me and say
that you remember me and love me as you
did!
She did not shrink beneath his ardent
gaze. She tried no longer to draw herself
away from his close grasp. Her face was
pale; but it showed no other sign of weak
ness as she looked him full in the eyes and
gave him his answer.
''You are not the man loved" she said.
"You belong to Glare Seymour, not to
me-"
'You loved me before" he said. ''To
you / am the same"
ooh, no." she said, with an involuntary
little SILVER 1.-THE same? No, never
never! You cannot understand what
think of a man who comes to me under a
false name, who deliberately misleads me-
and who-to crown all-asks me to think
no worse of him for all this, but to love
him as I did beforev No." she went on,
more sadly than contemptuously, ''the Da-
mer Lawrence whom thought knew is
dead; the gentleman whom l see here is
Mr. Denzil Lawrence-a very different
personalities Seymour's cousin and future
husband; with whom desire no further
acquaintance"
He was still weak in body from his ILL
ness, and could not easily command his
feelings. Perhaps his want of self-control
stood him in good stead at that moment;
for, on turning round, Anne saw that he
was leaning against the wall with his face
half covered by his hands in an attitude
of the most profound humiliation; and her
heart throbbed with sudden pity and COM
junction.
Lawrence started up and confronted
her with haggard cheeks and flaming eyes.
''Anne," he said. Il meant to tell you all.
You don't know how hard it was to nerve
myself to confess to you that had been
liar and coward. When had freed my
self from those bonds, meant to tell you
all. Have little mercy, Anne. If did
wrong, it was for your sake. Surely you
can forgive me that! Forgive me. and
forget the past, Anne. l will have no Sc
crets from you in the future
She opened her beautiful eyes wide, and
regarded him almost with look of hor-
ror. ''What?" she said "Do you think
it is so easy to forget? | may forgive
do forgive you-but could not forget the
past if tried. And you know have no
right to try. You have separated US. /
trusted you once; could not trust you