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

''If there is anything especially OBJ
noxious to me-" ayowed Miss Murphy,
in solemn conclusion, it is interfer-
ence with the affairs Of others; but in
this case said to myself, Duty, Mary
Anne Murphy, dutyv"
"O!' gasped Jessica. She had sunk
back in the rose-beribboned rattan
rocker in quite a tremor of dismay
A very charming room, this suburban
parlor, into which gold bars Of sun
shine slanted through the half-closed
tYenetians. Worthy even Of pretty
Jessica-it, with. its tiled hardwood
floor. it's silver-fox and bearskin rugs,
it's Madras-draped windows, it's quaint
ly modern mantel of polished oak, it's
eccentric chairs, it's grotesque tables,
it's dainty aquarelles, it's Chinese cabi-
nets, it's slender but admirably chosen
collection of bisque and Limoges.
And surely eye, however critical,
could crave no sweeter picture than
little Miss Ray made in her pale blue
ciennes, and all her bronze-bright rip
ply hair braided in childish fashion
down her back. But just now the love
ly face was curiously colorless, the pur-
ple-blue eyes wide and startled under
their long lasies.
There was silence after that sharp
exclamation of Jessica's. Miss Murphy
could afford to be silent. She had
dropped her small shell and it had ex-
ploded with most satisfactory report.
She sat rigidly erect in the conscious
ness of duty done, every fold Of her
black silk visiting costume stiff with
propriety, every pOmpon on the brown
.biege bonnet bristling with respecta-
bility.
Il don't believe word Of itr' de-
clared Jessica, slowly.
If impolite, the remark was in no de-
gree insolent. 1t was simply the utter
ance of a conviction. Miss Murphy
was not offended. She removed her
gaze from gem of Van Elton's on the
opposite wall to fasten it on the agi-
tated little lady in the rocker. It took
some endurance on JeSSica's part to sit
meekly under the scrutiny Of those fad
ed blue eyes-eyes tolerant, placid,
beaming, as those of benignant old
COW.
1T is true. my dear. He said it. l
heard him with my own ears!'
This really was unanswerable.
''They were in the front parlOr," pur-
sued Miss Murphy, folding her plump,
tan-gloved hands with aggravating
leisure and serenity. Il sat sewing
Just behind the portiere. never would
have staid could only have foretold
what was coming. They had been
talking about other things, and were
silent for awhile. Suddenly my Ned
burst out laughing. so you've seen
her. he said, and you dont fancy her,
EN-? Fancy her. echoed Jack. 'Wcll,
I should say not""
"Well?" urged Jessica, steadily.
She would hear it out, she told her
self-she would-every word of it.!
"Well, then,'' slowly, to heightcn by
suspense the effect of her narrative.
Ned said, The boys around here all
like her immensely. Roy Pates says
she's a daisy"
~O.' moaned Jessica. "You must ex-
cuse that nephew of mine, my dear;
you really must. Ned but repeats what
he hears. Besides, You know he is
only a boy yet-jnst Is. Whdf Ned
said is of NO importance. Please go
on
She sat erect again, very pale ard
imperative, indeed.
eff YOU insist on hearing hesitat-
fngiy. Jack replied, We'll, 1 don't.
did lust at first. 1 confess for awhile
she deceived me. But few days gave
me enough of her. Ned said: Why,
we all thought you were in great luck
TO get her 'LlGkt cried Jack in an
swer. SO loud my dear, I fairly jump
ed. Luck! Yes, the most confOunded
piece of bad luck ever struck! am
ashamed to say, my dear, but to DC
,yeracious [ must say that here Ned,
nuite carried away by his youthful
sympathies, inquired: Cant you ger
out of it? And Jack said: 'Confound it.
no, That's the worst of 1t. cant
break such a contract with any honor
to myself. But only wish some other
fellow stood in my SHOES Jnsl noW.
promised to take her, and I've got to 90
it but it's a deuced bad bargain'-oh'
my dear Jessica, you're not going 10
fainti''
Jesaica put out her hand with
slight. depressing gesture.
mo. Miss Murphy, | am not going ~
faint. Is that all!'
Miss Murphy was rather disconeert-
ed. Her shell had not exploded noisaiy,
1t is true. But now that the smoke was
clearing away she, at whose reef i
had been flung. was not dead-nof even
wounded.
Eyes. I believe that was all, FOR JUS.
then some< one summoned Jack. But
as he went OFT he called back to Nea;