Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-10-06
CHAPTER XXI.

On the following day the parSOn IS de-
cidedly the most vexed Of the three at De
LAS absence, although he is too polite to
show it except by his anxious and some
what wandering air. The little dinner is
skillfully chosen and served, and his host
and hostess are cordially itself; still Mr..
lie Mesurier's eyes keep rowing each time
the door is opened, and his ears are strain
ed to catch the least sound from without.
| At last he ventures to hint at the subject
that is disturbing him.
May | ask after the health of your
charming friend, Mrs. Bond? l trust she
is well.''
''She is quite we'll, MI. lie Mesurier;
| that is, she is the same as usual, but her
health does not permit her to take late
. dinners"
Then l trust the pleasure is only de-
ferred, and that we shall see her in the
evening"
Mrs Hephzibah does not reply. She be-
Iieves that Della has no intention of ap-
pearing at all. Her visitor continues:
| Il cannot explain to you what delight
| it was to me to meet a country woman IN
her. Her features remind me strongly Of
the Ferguson family. Was that her maid
en- name|
No. nor do 1 think there is any con-
nection between them"
Della is afraid to meet the stranger
again. She sits at her open window and
listens to the ballads tLat, after the little
party has come in frora the garden, Mr..
| LIE Mesurier trolls out III his rich baritone
| voice, accompanying himself on the cot
tage piano the while.
| Della is very fond of music She is not
great proficient, but sho is a great lover
of the art, and sings her own little songs
/ with a verye that has more power to
| charm than the finest execution in the
| world. She longs to be dGWn in the draw
ing room, taking her share in the enter
! tainment now, for an enthusiast has as
much plea sure in performing herself as in
| listening to the performance of others;
| but false shame restraints her, and she
| keeps upstairs until she hears the final
| good-nights exchanged ard watches Mr..
! LIE Mesurier's tall figure walk down the
gravel drive and turn WITH parting look
at the cottage, in the direA:tion of his own
! house.
But the next day Mr. LIE Mesurier is
not backward in awaiting himself of the
| general invitation which Alrs. Hephzibah
| stops her pony chaise in Arder to extend
| to him.
| Della is seated by her SIDE, and Mr.. LIE
Mesurier glances to see if she seconds the
| offer of her friend. But she is looking
away from him over tt,e surrounding
country the while, and dces not perceive
| the action. He accepts the invitation with
alacfity, and takes advantage of it on the
| very next day, and several days following
! that; but though he ENJOYS many inter-
| eSting conversations with pIrs. Bond, he
! finds it more difficult to g,t hold of her
| companion, who always manages to slip
| away just before Or after Ae makes his
| appearance. One day, howsRer, Della is
| fairly caught. The Bonds have gone out
driving together, and she is superintend-
| ing the stripping of some frkit trees for
| them, and cannot with hon1y leave the
| field of action; when Mr.. Isa Mesurer,
with the familiarity which il becoming
habitual to him, walks through the open
French windows of the COTTAGE drawing
room and out upon the lawn.
How glad | am that | have found you
AT last, and that you cannot run away
from me" he commences. as he perceiyes
her occupation You have been so peril
nacious in avoiding my society .Gtely that
| had really begun to think tAht l had
offended you"
ooh, no.' replies Della, witt the old
feeling of discomfort she cannot Tell why,
at the first glance of his searching eyes;
''how could you possibly have dcpe that?
But you must not forget that l am only
Mrs. Bonds housekeeper, and haze hun
dred little domestic duties to perfl rm that
prevent my constant attendance in the
drawing room."
Il suppose, if you tell me so, NJ s. Man.
ners, am bound to believe it; but pro-
test against the only A woman of your
talents and education may accep: such
position from choice, but need never do
so from necessity
Anyway" says Della, with the tears
in her eyes, SMrs. Bond has been my best
and dearest friend through life, and I
would rather be her housekeeper than the
intimate companion of the greatest lady in
the land"
"Ah! now we approach different phase
Of the subject, and | can well believe in
the sincerity and justice of your choice
And she repays your affection in full
measure"
II know she does"
Only, with myself, she would be better
pleased to see you try and live down the
troubles of the past. than nurse them in
solitude and silence"
Has she been speaking to you about
me. them demands his companion quick
".
Certainly notr'
How do you know, then, that have
had trouble!" says Della, with. anxious
eyes.
My dear Mrs. Manners! How do
know that more than half the world has
trouble? A physical doctor can tell by the
look of his patient whether he suffers or
no! Shall mental doctor be less skill