Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-05-13

At Sir Ralph's statement the old fierce,
resentful anger against Yorke seized me.
The latter's silence aggravated my feel
ings against him. I did not write to him
could not, even if had felt so inclined.
Of what use would it have been, since he
had left my last two letters unanswered
and did not even know his address?
A week later Darby and | and the nurse,
with Sir Ralph as courier, started for
Nice. There Sir Ralph rented a pretty
villa for u.s. while he took UP his quar-
tiers at the neighboring hotel There we
remained for weeks and months, while
Darby grew well and strong again.
And all this while did not hear a word
from Yorke. One summer day Sir Ralph
took us all out for a sail and while we
were drifting along over the blue waters
of the Mediterranean confessed his love
for me and asked me whether | could not
return it. His manner in making the pro-
posal was SO delicate, so gentle, l fairly
began to long that 1 could find it in my
heart to respond in the way he desired.
But [ could do no more than be silent, and
he rightly interpreted that to mean that |
had no love to give him.
II might have known it." he said bit
terly. Il never meant to tell you; only
just now the feeling grew too strong for
rne. Do not think of it any more. Let
us at least be friends
Eyes, l said eagerly and finding voice
at the same moment as | found relief.
1--WE can always be that. | should be so
so sorry if we could not" After that
Sir Ralph busted himself in the manage
me t of the boat. Suddenly storm bore
down upon us, one of those fierce, sudden
squalls which spring up on the Aediter-
ranean, and | firmly believe but for Sir
Ralphs able seamanship the vessel would
have foundered and we should have all
been drowned. AS it was we weathered
the storm though we landed in a drenched
condition.
Sir Ralph hurried us to the villa while
he went to the hotel to change his drip
ping garments. When we had changed
our clothing and had found, to my great
joy, that Darby had suffered no harm
from the exposure to the storm, l went
down to the parlor, where, to my surprise,
found my father, who had just arrived.
He had time not only to pay us a visit,
but to inform me that Sir Ralph had taken
up all his debts, and that it was Sir
Ralph's money which had enabled us to
go to Nice. which kept us there, which
had been the means of restoring Darby s
health.
at is his money" said my father, "and
I never knew it-as there is a heaven
above me, never knew it, till-a week
ago"
[ rose from my chair, pale as culprit,
frightened, trembling, heart-sick.
Perhaps" | said in an odd, suffocated
voice, after the silence had lasted some
sixty or seventy seconds, perhaps you
can pay back the money soon?'
!. He looked at me with a sort of plying
compassion for my ignorance.
II never cam he said. 81 should be
ruined, or Moorlands would have to be
sold.'
felt as if all the blood in my veins had
turned to ice. Ruin! The full sense
and misery of the word could only reach
me in a dim and far-off way; but still the
horror of it seemed about me even then
as l looked on the bright scene beyond the
villa windows-as | saw the luXuries and
comforts of the pretty, dainty room.
Across my confused and tangled
thoughts my fathers voice broke again:
.'There is one way-but one--by which
all these troubles might be averted one
my debtor instead of my being his. He
he spoke to me of it long ago, before
you came here at all. left it to him and
to your-well to your own good sense,
JOAN"
l looked at him in a sort of stupor. My
heart began to beat slowly, painfully,
nervously. 1 knew what was coming now.
I waited for the next words as | might
have waited for the executioner's ak. -
I'll suppose he has not snohsn yet?"
my father continued 2slts.. -.@sHe is difident,
Be is. ne thinks you are so much young
err than himself. But he is man worth
fifty of the young. foolish dandies of the
present day. And he loves you with all
his great. honest, generous heart. Look
at all he has done for your sake! IL
\ don't want to force your inclinations,
j Joan. but should like to know what you
lthink of the subject Give it due con-
ysideration, and then-then tell me what
your answer would be if Ferrers asked
you to be his WIFE
..Would be-" cried bitterly. "There is
no chance of what it would be now. He
has asked me. Oh. if had only known
nj. this yesterday-this morning-a little
sooner! Now-it is too late.
.'Too late?" echoed my father. stopping
his pacing backward and forward. and
coming to a halt in front of me. What
do YOU mean? Has he asked you al
ready?''
Eyes
81 refused him." l answered slowly.
He turned very pale. He dropped into
a chair. and, leaning his arms on the ia
BILE. bent his face down on them. ana
groaned aloud.
There came a slight sound at the door.
A little white figure stood there-a golden
halo of damp and tumbled curls about her
face. She came straight into the ROOM
and. with unerring instinct, went up &c
him and laid her hand upon his knee
"Papa," she said softly, lis 1t you,
The hands dropped from his face. me
child climbed up on his knee without fur'