Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-07-22

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brothers, although Charlie had contemp-
tuous kind of pity for the ungainly boy
who was so invariably awkward and
clumsy.
Peter solved for himself the difficult
problem of his existence. He ran away
from home, leaving letter addressed to
his father, in which he stated that it was
his intention to make fortune at the
gold diggings; he was going to sail in the
Ormoia, he said. The fathers first feel
ing on reading the letter was one of I'M
mitigated relief. But few weeks after
ward, when he read the story of the wreck
of the Ormolia with the loss of all ON
board, he mourned for his son. There
was an end to Peter; he could never an
noy, disgrace, nor irritate them again.
Charles Lennox succeeded to the whole
of the Erceldean estate There had been
ample provision made for Peter, that now
became his brothers. At twenty-one
Charles Lennox was one Of the handsom-
est and wealthiest men in Scotland. He
served in one campaign against the Sikhs
in India. It was there that his fair face
became bronzed-there that he won his
brilliant reputation for fearless courage.
Col. Lennox was comparatively a young
man when the necessity of looking after
his estate compelled him to leave the
army. He divided his time between Lon
don and Erceldeam, and married, after
short Courtship, the pretty, portionless Or
phan daughter of Scotch peer-the Lady
| Ailsa Graeme-who simply idolized him.
They were married ten years before the
birth Ct their little daughter, Beatrix
LennoX.
There were few men so courted or so
popular as the colonel; he was chiefly
known by the name of ''Prince Charlie. :"
1t was difficult not to idolze him, since
he had ways and fashions more royal
even than those of a king. He was kind
and warm of heart, impetuous, indiscreet;
| he was possessed of little caution or judg-
ment, but he had an immense faith in
every thing and every one-an immense
sympathy for all whom he came in con-
tact with. How many destitute children
he placed in schools, how many desolate
widows he established in business; how
many young simpletons he rescued from
folly, could never be told.
In vain did Lady Lennox demonstrate.
''My dear wife," he would answer in his
genial, happy fashion, Il have SO much
money that l can. spend it ALL" He
lent, he gave, he lost, until the day came
that his banker, with a grave face, told
| him that his account was so far over
drawn that some arrangement must be
made.
| The gay, handsome colonel was electri-
| fed. AT first he declared that the firm
was mad; and then he grew indignant.
An interview with his solicitors brought
him to his senses, and he saw that there
was no resource save to mortgage Err
celdean.
prince Charlie lost more and more.
! The London house was given up, q farm
| was sold, the mortgage was increased.
Lady Lennox startled her husband ONE
day by telling him that if he should die
unexpectedly he had not a shilling to
leave her.
Still the fright was not much of check
on him; the mortgage was increased. So
it happened that when Beatrix was born
there was no heritage left for her. He
never realized it. To himself he was al
ways Col Lennox of Erceldean, l@rd of
! one of the fairest estates in Scotland.
| What did it matter to him that it was
mort g., ged to it's full value, and that at
any time, if the mortgage money was
called in he would be a ruined man? He
was not of a nature to remember such
things; he had happy faculty of thrust
ing all dark thoughts from his mind.
He had promised to amend now that his
little heiress was born; but it was too late
to do So he should have reformed years
before. He had nothing now to keep.
| He struggled on until Beatrix reached
her fourth year. She had all a child S
passionate alteration for the handsome,
generous father who kissed her and load
ed her with toys. She loved him, with an
affection passing the love of children for
their parents. until her fourth year, and
then a terrible accident happened.
One sunny morning in August the colo
mel kissed his wife and child for the last
time Some one had begged him to try a
new horse which it was feared was vi
cious; with his usual good nature he had
consented. When Lady Lennox, looking
into his handsome face, asked him whith-
err he was going, he answered laughingly
and evasively. Had they known the
! TRUTH neither wife nor child would have
parted with him.
You will come home to dinner, Char
lie?" said Lady Lennox ''Do not ride
too quickly or too far; the day is warm"
The colonel laughed.
Fancy such advice as that to a man
who has ridden forty miles in the heat of
an Indian sum- he cried 81 will be
back for dinner, Aiisa-indeed, if you feel
dull or lonely, will not go at ALL
! Four hours afterward they carried him
home TO Erce.dean-dead!
CHAPTER III.
| Bearrix Lennox, child as she was at
that time, remembered the untold horror
of the day on which her father was