Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-03-25
CHAPTER XVII.


ance, and gave a very confused account
of his absence. He had been to the Leb-
anon, to Beyroot. to Suez, to Rosetta
Wherever he had been, the news of the
outbreak at Alexandria had greatly dis
turbed him. he had fastened back lmme-
diately, and was now shocked beyond
measure to learn that his aunt was dead.
He wanted to know what his Cousin Clare
was going to do.
At this question Anne lifted her head,
and looked him in the face so gravely and
searchingly that he suddenly faltered and
held his tongue. Then she rose and went
out of the room, leaving him to settle bus
mess matters with Mr.. Dumaresq. The
upshot of this interview was that Mr..
Dumaresq presently came out into the
corridor, knocked at Anne's door and sald:
81 should like a word or two with you,
my DEAR
Anne came out at once.
canine, the engagement is broken Oft
between Mr.. Lawrence and Miss Sey-
mour He wrote to Mrs. Seymour and to
Miss Seymour about it, and received no
answer He, therefore, considers himself
free"
Anne thought for moment. then de-
cided rapidly. Keep him there min
ute, please, uncle, and l will come
She went into her own room, dressed
rapidly for her departure. gave one or two
instructions to Hammond and spoke a few
words to Glare.
Dear Glare. don't come into the sitting
room unless | send for you,' she said.
''There is a gentleman with me on bust
ness. You can go down to the carriage
when it comes We have only ten min
utes now.
Ten minutes! And in those ten minutes
the future course of three lives was de-
cided, She entered the room in which
Lawrence was standing with look of
such complete sci possession that he felt
his own caImness fail him. There was Il
great apparent contrast between them at
that moment She looked pale but tran
Ouil: dignitied and yet very gentle. Her
beautiful eyes were Redeemed by loss OF
sleep, and perhaps by weeping; but they
were full of a great determination, and
calm as the waters of a mountain lake.
Lawrence, on the contrary, was agltated
and nervous His flushed and haggard
face twitched with emotion as he first
glanced at her, and then let his eyes sink
to the earth.
"Mr. Lawrence" she said, 81 have
wished ever since Sunday that l could
see you for few minutes. Mrs Sey-
mour left no exact message for you, but
she told me a certain fact which you
ought to know. You wrote a letter to her,
inclosing one to your cousin, when you left
Alexandria,
EYES," said Lawrence, looking at her
without lifting his head. what then?'
81 have to tell you-she never gave
Glare the letter" Here Anne's voice
shook, and she waited for Lawrence to
speak: but as he only started and turned
silently aside. she soon went on again
with her speech. ''She thought it better
that Glare should not know, and there
fore, Mr. Lawrence must tell you this
Glare has no knowledge of your feel
ings. and thinks that you-you-that she
is still engaged to you. And AT this mo-
ment, Mr.. Lawrence, neither you nor l
must tell her that you wish that engage
ment dissolved"
''Why not:" said Lawrence. sharply.
Because she cannot bear another
shock. Her mind would suffer. l am
afraid her brain would give way COM
pletely.'
He looked at her with sarcasm on his
lips. "Do you mean that my cousin has
become an idiot. Miss Cartaret"
HOW can you say Sucu tHlHSS. Sdlu
Anne, recoiling 'Think what she has
had to suffer. Her mother dying so sud-
denly, the horrors of Sunday-your alb
sence-you know that she is very delicate.
1t would be sheer cruelty to make her
suffer any new sorrow. Even if you want
to part from her, you must defer that
parting until she is able to bear it. You
will-if YOU are a mani" Her tone be-
came almost passionate in its indigna-
ton as she went on.
'.And what else do you propose?' Law
renee asked. His eyes looked dark and
threatening under his bent black brows.
you know her friendlessness as well
ms do" said Anne, in a low voice. "Her
future depends on YOU
There was a short silence. The two
eyed each other like combatants prepar-
ing for battle. Lawrence wheeled round
and looked out of the window for few
minutes. Then he uttered q short sigh.
very audible in the stiffness, and turned
back to Anne with a curiously changed
voice and manner.
..We are wasting precious time" he
said, softly. Il know what You want. 1t
is like yourself to ask it. But. dearest
forgive me. if call you sol have bet
ter plan. You want ME to marry Clare
because / promised TO Go SO. anu because
she is poor and friendless. She shall
never be poor, Anne; l will take care of
that. She shall have my whole fortune
If you require it. You have given away
yours; you shall see me emulate you, dear.
She shall not be friendless, either-as long
as you and live TO be her friends. But
you are wrong to insist on my marrying
her; there is nothing so cruel as love-
less marriage. or one where the love is all
on one side. And you must know by this
time. Anne. that Clare's disposition will
not incline her to grieve over my faith
lessness very long. Let us take the bet
ter way. Together we can shield her, pro
tect her, make her happier than any mar
riage with me would make her. We
might all three be happy. Do you mean
to make all three miserable for iife:'
ct would be wrong" said Anne, quiet
~.
mo, dear. it would be right, even in
your eyes, if you would be just | only
ask for justice now. We love each other.
Why should we put ourselves to fruit
less pain? If by leaving me you could
make me love Glare. there might be some