Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-06-10
CHAPTER XIX.

The dinner went on gally ana DrlSuIy,
despite my ominous discovery. But Net
tie had grown very pale, and lorke was
very silent | think no one else noticed
the number; but felt miserable and I'M
comfortable, and tried in vain to shake
off the effects of superstitious fancy.
At last the long, tedious business of eat
ing and drinking was over. l was eX-
pecting some more people in the course or
the evening, and by the time the gentle
men left the table the rooms were half
full. Nettie was the center OF an admir-
ing circle, and certainly no one there look
ed half so lovely l watched Yorke as
he entered. He glanced round, then went
straight over to her side, and calmly en-
crossed her attention in a manner that
soon left him clear field. Satisfied with
this arrangement, | turned my attention
to my other guests.
Presently there was some singing and
music, but only at intervals, so as to re-
lieye, not check, conversation. l liked the
buzz of voices and the sound Of laughter,
and | liked to see the gay groups forming
and breaking themselves up, from time to
time, in a bright kaleidoscope fashion,
that left the room as background to va
ried pictures.
| had 6. dim idea all that evening that
Yorke had determined to speak to me,
but avoidance was easy, and L had
dread of anything approaching tete-a-
tete with him. My remembrances OF them
were not pleasant. However, ne had
watched his opportunity better than L
guarded against it, for l found him sud
denly by my side,
81 want to congratulate you" he began.
''The society papers were right. You nave
really become quite brilliant
81 Think l said, glancing round, that
I may rass-in a crowd"
eff that is your AMBITION he said,
''you may assure yourself OF It's acmeVe-
ment. had no idea you had become such
a-such a success
"Do you think it is the effect OF the
groove [ move in, or-my nature! am
inclined to think it is the former. Things
are made very easy for one in society,
YOU know. The world is very kind l
answered, taking up my fan and half
turning away.
care YOU going?" he said abruptly.
"How YOU grudge me even five minutes!
This is the first time you have spoken to
me tonight
81 have no doubt" 1 said, there will
be plenty of other nights in which it may
be possible to repair that OMISSION
"Will there?' he said eagerly. DO you
mean that 1 may call here-that l am
likely to meet you-that you will be
friends with me again.
"My days." I said TRANQUILITY, are
Tuesdays from three to six, and Saturday
evenings from nine to twelve. You may
call here on any of them if you feel in
clined.'
"In a crowd like this"'
"Sometimes," l said, there are more.
Do YOU really call this crowd!'
81 think" he said, passionately, that
YOU grow more hateful every time see
Won. I never could have believed it posi-
HE that any one could change as you have
done"
For one moment, think, my self-com-
mand forsook me. For he was wrong,
and tonight it had been acting-and very
bar,i aching. too. But | would not let him
see that l was unhappy. l would not
hetray the secret trouble of my heart. To
lest and laugh. to smile and talk, feeling
how keenly he watched me, had not been
easy. but | had accomplished it. L felt
myself trembling as he spoke. | dared
not look at him.
Comment on your manners, L said at
last, would be superfuous But you
might remember that when gentleman
addresses a lady he usually throws thin
veil of politeness over the truths he is
frank enough to speak.
He turned on his heel and left me, but
/ should be sorry to transcribe the word
that Kissed between his set teeth. L Will
give him the credit of not intending me
to hear it.