Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-10-21
CHAPTER I.


Some twenty years ago there lived in
An oldfashioned rambling cottage, in the
greenest part of Chelsea, England lady
Of the name Of Warner and her daughter
Jane. Mrs. Warner was the widow Of a
lieutenant in the Royal Navy, fact Of
which she was inordina tely proud. Her
daughter Jane, at the time of her faith
er's death, was staid, sensible girl Of
fifteen, and quite capable, III the opinion
of Mrs. Warmers friends of assisting her
mother to exc out the miserable pension
which was all the Lieutenant's death left
them to live upon. So they established
the mother and daughter in the Chelsea
cottage, where Jane grew from girlhoOd
to womanhood, with such education as
books and her own thoughts could give
her, and knowledge of housekeeping
and the best means of making a shilling
do duty for two beyond her years.
The upper portion of the cottage vas
let in lodgings, and generally all the year
round, for it was 4 sweet, quiet place to
live in, and Jane made her dodgers so COM
Portable they had 10 desire to move. At
the time our story opens they had three
permanent inmates, all of whom looked on
the house as their home. The drawing
room floor was let to Mr.. Wilfrid Ewell,
a clerk in Somerset House; and the one
above it to Mr.. John Cobble, who was
walking the hospitals; while The room on
the landing served as ''parlor and bed
room for alp to Miss Prosser, a daily
governess, who had made an arrange
ment to take her meals with the Warmers.
Jane was glad to secure such compan-
ion for her mother, who occupied the iln-
ingroom, and who was never happy I'M
less she had some one to chatter to about
the deceased lieutenant. The room was
decorated with trophies of her herO-hlS
books and portraits, and the shells, stuffed
birds and other denominations which he
had collected during his voyages for the
edifcat ton Of those at home. The odd
fashioned rambling cottage, which was
surrounded by a green veranda, almost
hidden in summer by honeysucl1le and
clematis and climbing roses, was set in
the midst Of garden as oldfashioned and
rambling as itself.
1t was an evening in June, quiet and Sc
rene as herself, and Jane, the days labor
over, was watering her faverite flowers.
She wore a black and white print dress,
with holland apron and broad brimmed
Il
as she stood there with the watering rot
in her uplifted hand. Presently little
person, Enthusiastically dressed, came am
bling along the garden paths, and Mrs.
Warner stood beside her daughter. 1t was
difficult to look at them, and believe they
were parent and child. Jane lowered
inches above her mothers head, and her
regular features bore no resemblance
nose and round bird-like eyes. The elder
lady wore q dress of many colors, end
wonderful cap, manufactured by her.
self. Her cap was ornamented with every
artificial flower and ~morsel of ribbon she
could lay her hands ON; and in the front
of it was stuck a large brooch, formed Of
painting on ivory of the temple of Tan
iore-one of the Lieutenant's last gifts
to her. and which the poor old lady re-
garded as q species of amulet or charm.
She was never seen without this brooch
placed in some part or other Of her dress;
and her latest craze was that, if she part
ed with it for single hour, some harm
would happen to the Lieutenant--for her
madness had taken the happy form of
refusing to believe her husband was dead;
and sometimes Jane was unable to per-
suade her to stir out Of the house for
days together, under the impression that
he might return while she was away. AS
sic approached her daughters side on
that June evening Jane saw she had some
new crochet in her added brain, from the
way in which she looked around her, with
her finger to her lips.
Jane" she commenced, mysteriously,
Miss Prosser is not in
well, she is often detained, you know
that. Perhaps Lady Brooke has a dim
ner party, and has asked her to remain
with the children. She will be home to
supper. But you must not wait for your
cup of tea a minute longer"
And Jane put her arm round Mrs. War
ner's waist. and tried to draw her to-
ward the house. But the old lady stood
still upon the path and refused to stir.
Jane" she said, solemnly, don't trife
upon such a subject. Have you forgotten
that expect your father to arrive at any
moment-that this very evening he may
be here? And Miss Prosser does not re-
turn! Perhaps she has gone TO meet him.
The thought disturbs me greatly. l have
been very kind to Miss Prosser l have
talked a great deal to her of your fathers
goodness and beauty. Do you think talk
too much of his goodness and beauty,
Jane?"
Perhaps you do, dear, sometimes. The
subject is not so interesting, you know,
to other people as it is to you and to me-"
"But that is impossible, Jane. Every
one must be interested to hear of your
dear father. He is one of the handsomest
men in England, you know, and certainly
the best. Can women fall in love with
men of whom they have only heard,
jane"
Il don't think so,'' replied the girl,
cheerfully II never met with such a
case. Mother. if you don't come in at
once the evening air will ruin the paint
ing on your beautiful brooch" said Jane,
using the most forcible argument she