Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-04-22

sitting with father and his friend in the
dining room. and there partake of ga last
stirrup cup"
How jolly you must all be together!'
remarks Yorke Ferrers, who is at my
side.
. "Jollyr' l say obviously. "Well, yes,
suppose we are. But should think you
must find your uncle excellent company"
A black look 1 have before noticed
comes into the sunny eyes.
"a man twenty years older than my
self can scarcely be excellent company,
he says with a sheer.
Twenty years. l exclaim involuntar-
lily. as he really twenty years older? l
should never have thought it. But then
some people are young for their years,
just as others are Old
And as l say it l sigh, remembering
how heavily my seventeen years seem
sometimes to weigh upon me.
II suppose you think | am old for
mine:" says my companion huffiiy.
''You don't look twenty years younger
than your uncle. certainly l answer
frankly. But then. no one would ever
dream he was forty!!''
"You have not had much experience in
judging of age, l should think" is my
companions reply. "Your brother tells
me you have lived here all your life, and
for real, utter, downright stagnation, give
me country life with its daily undeviat-
ing routine"
Have you experienced it p ask coolly.
''Well, not exactly. You see, I've been
at Elton, and then at college. and l only
came here when-when-" He hest
tates, and his brow darkens.
"When you had expectations? l sug-
gest
He looks at me blackly, almost savage
". Evidently l have hit upon sore
point.
'You know--of course every one knows.
1t is common talk, no doubt. That is an
other advantage of country life; every
fact and detail relating to ones neigh
boris affairs is seized upon and discussed
with the utmost avidity.'
Il wonder, if you so dislike it, that you
have come to live here" | remark, Won
dering what Sir Ralph is telling Ally and
father that seems to amuse them so much.
Il have no choice" he says gloomily;
Il am dependent on my uncle
1t is on the tip of my tongue to tell him
he ought to be more grateful than he
seems, but | refrain. | am still lost in
meditation when his voice recalls me.
"Well,' he says. and like magic the
clouds clear off, and it is his bright, sunny
boy face that looks back at me again.
''You have been studying me as if you
wished to take me for model. l know
you paint; your brother told me So"
''AIy brother seems to have told you a
great deal about me-" | say, trying to
hide my confusion by speaking jocularly.
perhaps l asked him." he says in Il
low voice. and looking at me as never
human being has looked yet.
''That is so likely" say, in sudden an
ger. 'Why should you interest yourself
about me-about any of us? Why, you
never knew of our existence till to-day"
"Perhaps when l did know of that ex-
istence the interest followed" he answers
II have been here week and had not
a living soul to exchange ideas with-ex
cept, of course, my uncle
'And Nettie Croft" say, quickly.
He gives little start
''How do you know" he asks.
"I-I only supposed it," say, laughing
at his confusion. ''You know you told
me this morning that she was a friend of
yours, and they certainly don't live
stones throw from Monks Hail."
THAT doesn't count" he says, hurried
w. "She's sort of-of cousin, or some
thing We have known each other since
we were children"
"You have quite cheered Yorke up
among you ALL here says Sir Ralph,
beaming in most kindly fashion and COM
ing towards us. Il have not heard him
laugh for many long day. / dare say"
he adds, with conjunction. sit is dull
enough for him, shut up with an old fogy
like myself 1 hope. if it is not asking too
much, that you will let him drop in now
and then; the society of the young is for
the young-eh, Tempieton:"
"Yes-ah!- decidedly" says father, with
unwonted cordiality. ''Send him here
whenever you like-whenever he likes.
And-and you must come yourself, you
know. | should be glad to explain to you
that new work l have been engaged on,
and whose discussion We postponed to-
night"
Presently | hear plans being laid for a
visit to Monks Hail. We are all to go
the first time in memory hear father ac
cepting an invitation almost as heartily
as it is given.
1ueu there Is IL NdSl ueil UI
ing and speechifying, and finally our
guests are off, and we watch them driving
away in the frosty December starlight.
and go up to my room with Sir Ralphs
hearty voice ringing in my ears:
Thanks for most happy Christmas!
The next day we all paid visit to
Monks Hail. We passed into the hall,
Sir Ralph leading the way with father, |
following them. with Yorke Ferrers on
one side and Darby clinging to my hand
on the other
Monks Hall was very. very old am
afraid to say how old. / know there was
a general air of gloom and moldiness
about it that would have enraptured an
archaeologist. Father naturally was in
ecstasies over it, and peered into holdings
and carvings, and gave dates of the archi-
lecture and medieval decorations, that
somehow seemed to interest the possessor
far less than the informant.
"Come with me" whispered Yorke Fer
rers hurriedly. Il want to show you the
old rs