Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-02-17

Il 4
m Ser once to give herself up to 4 fun
p mant u ner misery. Of her disappoint-
aa.e ~ look the truth full in the face. and
own to herself that she was ono ~ +ha
most miserable, most wretched girls n the
whole wide world.
she sobbed out the words. II was
relief to say them, relief to saw even
TO herself that she was miserable. she had
Deen SO proudly reticent. SO self-restrain-
ed 60 = 'in-
suddenly a hand was laid mon her
shoulder, and, looking up. she saw Sir
Raoul standing by her side. Tn his MALE
tace, Worn with pain and suffering. she
saw infinite pity, infinite love; compassion
and tenderness shone in his eyes. He had
never looked SO true and so noble as he
did Just then. He bent over her.
Hlldred, poor child, is it so bad as
this?' he asked.
1t is SO bad" she said, "that it could
not be worse, Raoul-nothing could be
worse. l am tired of it. / am going
| away"
Going away?' he repeated, slowly.
THAT is what / feared. Have your pa
thence, your forbearance, come to an end
at last, Hildred?'
Yes" she replied, truthfully, ''they
have, at last
He was silent for few minutes. and
then, as she looked up at him, a great
awe stole over her. His eyes were raised
to the clear skies, his lips moved. Surely
IN picture she had seen figure some
thing like this, with a serene light on the
brow. Her anger, her impotence, her
bitter contempt and dislike seemed to fall
away from her, even from that one look
at his face. She rose suddenly into some
thing nobler than a weeping, vengeful,
unhappy woman.
You are going away, Hildred-you can
bear it no longer? Poor child! You may
run away and leave your home, Hildred;
but that will be commonplace ending.
Do that which is nobler, higher, better
resign yourself, submit to your fate and
make the best of it. AS a handsome and
noble woman use your influence with your
husband to rouse him from his Slough Of
Despond into higher life."
She was looking at him in sheer won
der.
'.How can I influence Lord CaravenY"
she asked.
''You can do it by patience and perse-
verance. Say to yourself that the task
of your life shall be to make him good
| man. Instead of running away from it,
devote yourself to it. There is much said
of woman's mission-let that be yours,
and surely there can be no higher or holier
| mission than to rouse an indolent man to
a sense Of his duty, selfish man from
his self-indulgence."
''But how could I do it, Raoul?" she
asked.
"You could do it in some fashion. The
we'll being-nay, the very souls of men
lie in women's hands. Here is a lifelong
task for you-a glorious mission, a noble
work. Give your life to your husband
to the task Of awakening him to sense
of his duties-to the task of making him
good man and a useful member of So
ciety, Conscientious steward of great
wealth, just land owner; teach him how
to be kind and just and merciful, help
him to lead fair and noble life. Gould
any woman wish for more glorious task
than thisY''
Some of the light that shone on his
face was reflected on hers.
sit would be a noble task" she said,
thoughtfully. "Could accomplish it,
Raoul?"
with perseverance and self-control
that would amount to heroism you
might" he replied. "You must be the
sculptor who, from a mass Of qualities,
good and bad intermixed, must try to pro-
duce a perfect character"
But" she said, doubtfuly, ''he does
not love me-"
''That does not matter. I prophesy
that he will love you in the end-that
when YOU have reused his soul from it's
sleep it will turn to you naturally as the
sunfower turns to the sum-" And an al
most sanity enthusiasm shone on his face.
She caught his hand and kissed it. He
saw her face clear and a bright, earnest
light shine in her eyes.
She walked slowly down the path, Sir
| Raeul by her side. She looked round on
| the four high ivied walls.
81 have always loved this little pleas
ounce:" she said. 50 shall love it better
than ever now. 1t will seem almost like
| church to me-
"Why like a ehurch?'' he asked, with
some amusement.
"Because one Of the best sermons I
have ever heard has been preached to me
here" she replied. 81 have learned a les
son here. l shall never see these high
| iyied walls or touch a crimson carnation
| without tulAAlu6 VI you1 Aee@o"A' "AAO >AH
| that you have said.
Then he watched her as she went from
one bed of mignonette to another, looking
eagerly for the choicest sprays, holding
them up to him with wistful, eager face
and sweet, pathetic eyes.
.Will this do, and this?" she asked as
simply as child. ooh, Raoul, hope he
will not be angry hope he will be
| pleased! / shall tell you how | get on.
I am nervous about 1t.
| In another minute the beautiful face
had disappeared, and Sir Raoul was left
in the pleasaunce alone.
"a man might lay down his life for
| such woman as that" he said, with
what was almost a sigh.
Ito be continued0