Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-02-11

energy. He did not understand Ae~ emo
tion-how should he ?--he only knew that
she had been maynard and ill-hUmored
for FIVE minutes, and was now repenting
of her misdeeds in metaphorical dust and
ashes.
II was cross" said Michele, dolefully.
She raised her head from his arm and
drew herself away He did not detain
her, but he let his hand rest upon her
shoulder.
Nov that you arc such grown-up
young lady" he said, lightly, II did not
know whether / might be allowed to Of
fer you Christmas present, but | asked
Mrs. Dumaresq's permission and she gave
| it,"
"Why not?" she said, her face bright
ening. "YouA always did before, and this
morning / Mas quite disappointed. !
| thought you were very unkind, Paul"
lie laughed. Il must make up for my
delay. This year / am impartial; have
got Il present for each of you-except
| for your father, and he likes to give pres
ents SO much better than to receive them,
| that | thought it would be only kindness
| to leave him out"
"And for me-"
IAN ornament" he said, smiling.
| She looked half indignant.
"Michelle,' he said, gently, 81 am net
| giving you Il mere ornament. You know
| | had sister once" She did not look up,
| bat made Il movement of assent with her
| lips. ''She would now have been older
! than you if she had lived, butt have
| told you before that you remind me of my
| little Alice"
| Her face was beautiful in itn tender
ness. The soft gravity OF the eyes she
turned upon him made it easier for him to
| proceed.
lit is only a simple little thing that be-
| longed to her, my dear. She used to wear
| it round her neck. 1t has lain in my desk
| good many years since then. If you
/ will take it and wear it sometimes, shall
| b. pleased. There, little sister,"
| He put an open box into her hands. 1t
contained a silver cross; nothing remark
| able in itself, only hallowed by associa-
| ton in Eastlake's eyes, and therefore in
| Michelles eyes also. She looked at it
with tenderness, almost with awe.
Il don'tthink l am good enough to wear
| her things" she said in a very low tone.
"She would have liked you to have it, "
| he answered. Then, in more ordinary
tone, Il gave it to her on her fourteenth
birthday. 1t came back to me two years
later ! have had it seven years since
! then, so, you see, it is very old, Michele.
| You will keep it, and wear it sometimes,
| for her sake, and mine, will you not?'
Yes, Paul. l will. Thank you"
Something in the gentle sclf-restraint of
hc.' zone and manner touched him exceed
ingly. He bent down and gravely kissed
| her forehSad; then was sorry that he had
done so, for his kiss brought sudden
| rush of warm carnation to her cheeks.
She was vexed with herself also for blush
ing, and drew herself rather hurredly
away. A moments silence-the first 81
| lence of mbarrassment-fell between
| them
She passed him with brave smile, but
| there was some new consciousness in her
shining eyes and III the hot color of her
| cheeks. Easthke did not feel inclined to
rcjoin the company in the drawing room
at once. He picked up some flowers from
the table and absently laid them together
in his hand. He was lost in thought.
Had he been unwise in showing Mi
chelle such unwonted affection? He had
shown no more than he really felt; but
had he made her understand that it was
the affection of II brother. not of a lover
He never would have put these questions
to himself but for the fact Of Michelle's
vivid blush. Sisters do not usually blush
in that way when brothers kiss them.
He sat himself down and considered the
matter. He wanted to marry. He had
been thinking of marrying for some time.
He had formed Il lofty ideal of the woman
whom he would make his wife. "Rich she
shall be, that's certain: wise. or I'll none,
fair, or I'll never look or her; mird, or
come not near me; noble, or not for an
angel; Of good discourse. an excellent mu-
sician, and her hair shall be Of what color
it pleases God" Such a woman was sell
dom met, and would be far above his de-
serts, of course; and yet-and yeti
seemed to him that he had found her
fair, wise and mild, rs Benedict described
her; and her name was-Anne Carteret.
1t might be advisable soon to prepare
Michelle's mind little for the change in
his mode of life. And yet he could not
do that until he had spoken to Anne. He
lost himself in reflection about her unit
it was time to dress for dinner.
Go be continued.)