Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-02-18
= = = = y y y
CHAPTER XII,

IA most generous thing" murmured
Lawrence, looking very much touched,
and caressing his silky mustache.
II call it flying in the face of Proyi-
dence," said Mrs. Dumaresq.
Anne was out, and Mrs. Dumaresq had
taken the opportunity of giving in an ar
tistic form a sketch of Admiral Fitzger-
AIDS history and the disposition of his
fortune.
''My only wonder is that she did not
give it all away" said Michele, little
contemptuously. canine never seems to
care about it at all"
Mrs. Dumaresq thought she knew what
she was about She had Anne's two low
ers, as she considered them, all to her.
self, and she did not believe that the story
of Anne's generosity would do her any
harm in their eyes. Lawrence, with his
soft eyes and romantic face, would be de-
lighted by it. Paul Eastlake had so much
quiet common sense that she did not know
whether he would be pleased or not.
But Mrs Dumaresq did not read the
two characters quite accurately. 1t was
Eastlake who had far the greater appre-
citation of Anne's conduct. He saw the
justice, as we'll as the generosity of her
action, and admired it, AS for Lawrence,
he thought it beautiful but-perhaps-a
little foolish; sanity, of course, and just
what Anne Carteret ought to do, but not
a convenient frame of mind in woman
who was ones sister, wife, or friend. But
he said little, and looked grave and ten
der, so Mrs. Dumaresq was convinced that
the experiment was successful.
''Where is Miss Carteret now! East
lake asked with some hesitation.
"Gone to the hospital with Mrs. Bur-
ton. She always goes on Wednesday.
Then she was to make some calls in town,
and go to a musicale afternoon at Mrs.
Morioni's."
"She is very much in request" said
Eastlake
Eyes, everyone likes her. And she sings
30 beautifully, and is so good and sweet
with it all that one cannot but admire her
too. At least, l think so. There's the
five o'clock train. 1 wonder if Jim will
come by it?'
Mrs. Dumaresq's wonder was soon sat
isfied. Jim" as she called her husband,
had come by that train, and had encoun-
tered Anne at the Alexandria station and
brought her with him. He went at once
into the tennis ground to convey his news
to the players, and Anne slowly entered
the drawing room where Mrs. Dumaresq
still sat with Lawrence. Both looked up
and uttered some word of greeting as she
came in, and both noticed that she seemed
tired. She sat down and began pulling off
the long gloves that covered her slim hand
and half her arm. Her face was little
pale, little grave, and Lawrence noticed
that she would not meet his eyes. She
poured herself out a cup of tea and drank
it, then leaned thoughtfully back in her
chair and fell to smoothing out her long
gloves upon her knee.
Mrs. Dumaresq and Eastlake stepped
out upon the yeranda, and then Lawrence
turned and looked at Anne. He Thought
that there was something ominous in the
cold gravity of her face. She broke the
silence at last-almost, as it seemed,
against her own will.
Mrs. Burton has had letter from
friend who knows you"
"Knows me?'' said Lawrence, flushing
sensitively. Then he laughed and said,
81 am much gratified to hear it. And
who is the friend p
"A Mrs. Campbell"
ooh. yes. Mrs. Leighton knows her,
too. She Hives near my old home. Well,
Miss Carteret. did she tell Mrs. Burton
any very terrible story of me that you
hook so grave?"
Anne smiled; she could net help it when
Lawrence used that laughingly persua-
sive tome.
mo. oh, no; she said nothing bad of
you"
"What did she say2 This becomes very
Ia lxyIvnr hn n
smile ON his lips, but a watchful, anxious
expression in his eyes.
Her next question took him by surprise.
care you married, Mr.. Lawrence e
Anne asked i'm her usual tranquil tones,
rs if she had put the simplest question
in the world.
Married! The gods forbid!
81 suppose it Us only that you are going
to be-"
But here the color rose in her face a
little. Then as Lawrence looked las al ne
did not quite Well know how to answer
her, the color spread over her cheeks and
hrew till they Mere ned as roses. bis
face had turned very pale, and Mis LIPS
AuiNered.
"Anne," he said, Fit is not true. am
AOt engaged-I ann
He stopped short Mrs. Dumaresq was
at the window Without turning ROUND
ANNE ,moved forward, closed the door be
hind her and was gone. BE made movie
raent as if he would hare gladly torn hmm
self from his couch and followed ANNE.
But he could not as yet walk more than a
few steps alone He turned round saw
asely, esinched his hands aad bit his lip
until the blood came. Then he asked to
be taken into his room.
Ike had "a wakeful night. azd was far
frosa we'll when the doctor visited him
next day. But he succeeded IN impress
ing his medical adviser with the view that
he required change of air. aud was told
that In the cesrse of few days ne might
start if he liked.
eff ] had bN a moment longer, Law
renee had been saying to himself througn
the long hours OF feverish wakefulness,
"if Mrs. Dumaresa had stayed away ana
could have expismed it all, how muca !
easier it would have been for both OF us
What can do now? What can say 10
her? How can tell her the whole truth
She would never forgive pe. VIII De De
wise in time. Now's my chance. II VIII
IL -