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

III see you at Bryant's tomorrow
night and talk this unfortunate blum
der over again. Be in my study at 10.
Ill meet you there"
And that really is all?' queried Jes-
sica, quite her own possessed self
again.
MISS Murphy started. To once more
drop into SMILES, her balloon. which
had sailed up so straightly and secure
ly at first, had suddenly collapsed and
was falling with startling rapidity.
Il should think" severely, sit would
be quite enough
"EnoughT alrily. ''That's it! it's too
much! You know an overdose Of poi
son occasionally counteracts the effect
of a lesser quantity, and l think" with
smile charmingly confidential, sit is
something the same way with gossip
don't you?"
1t was Miss Murphy's turn to gasp.
Such girl! But then one never could
understand Jessica Ray. Miss Murphy
thought it was time to go. With the
cessation of conversation concerning
personal affairs her interest died nat
ural death. She was ayerse to wading
in foreign waters. The inodorous pool
scummed over with village scandal suf-
feed her. She feared aught else.
"Good-by, my DEAR" with a Devil
dered shake of the tinseled bonnet. 81
am so sorry had to tell you. Life is
full of unpleasant duties. / never like
to interfere in other peoples affairs.
Charity 1 always say; charity and
silence If there is anything I partic-
ularly detest it is talebearing. Well,
as I said, must be going. Good-by,
my dear. Pm so glad you don't mind y
"Good-by," cordially.
eve all thought" pausing at the door
for parting thrust, "that it was to be
not only a marriage de CONVEYANCE,
but a genuine love affair on both Sides y
''Indeedv' said Jessica, brightly arch
ing her pretty brows.
And then at last the door closed on
her visitors broad, black-silk back. The
blitheness bor1ssef bravado died out of
little Miss Rays - She went slow
ly back to the rose-G-i bboned rocker
and sat down therein for good, heart
sick, disconnected, mortified, miserable
cry. When she had been very, very
young and charming, and Jack Suther-
land an awkward lad Of 10, their faith
ers had planned a marriage in the flu
ture. The planning stood, by the way,
upon an agreeably substantial basis,
looking at the affair from a financial
point Of view.
Soon after Jacks father had.died and
Jack had gone to live with his mothers
relatives in England. He carried with
him the memory of pair of sweet
eyes, for all the world like big, blue,
dew-wet forget me-nots, for wee Jes-
sica had parted from her playmate with
q particularly tender and protesting
farewell. Twelve years passed. Meth
er chafed-as in novelistic traditions
bound-against the paternal decision of
their childhood No fair English maid
en displaced his first love in Jack S
loyal heart. AS for Jessica, she had
grown to think of Jack as hero who
was coming across the sea to claim her.
When she anticipated that coming be-
fore her minds eye forth pranced a
snowy charger bearing a pluned
knight.
One day. just two weeks ago it was,
she went down to the drawing room in
response to the servants announce
ment. A gentleman standing in the
window turned at her entrance. He
came swiftly forward, both hands ex-
tended. his face Frightening with gay
admiration.
ut is-it is little Jessicar'
She knew him then. Without cur
yeted no splendid steed. By his side
swung no jeweled scabbard. Around
his neck swung no mandolin. From
his shoulder fell no cloak of ruby vel
vet Not stalwart statured was he, nor
raven haired, nor flashing eyed. Not
the grand creation of her girlhood's
sweet foolish dreams, in truth, his riy-
ais would have said, very ordinary
Young man. But he had come! Jess1ca $
heart gave great throb. A true Wonl-
an though. ego. an arch-hypocrite, she
mt her hand in his with an air of cool
surnrise. a touch of wellbred reproof
in her greeting.
"And you are-Mr. sutherland
Neither had in any way suggested the
odd relation in which they tacitly stood
TO each other. Both felt the chain that
bound them, for all it's massive golden
links very frail and brittle one IN the
passionate strength of youthful I'M
nnlse Neither would be slow to ming
= off 81 the bandage proved oppressive,
However, it did not. The cnlldlsn, -
norant. romantic affection when mao
been smodering in their hearts since
the sorrowfuI parting Of the piaymates,
~ ~ 3 word, a touch, look, blazed up
into in ! a pure and strong and STEADY STEADY
ln Of his courtship Jack suther-