Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-01-06
CHAPTER XVI.

ing the progress of the last few months,
palpable even to those who had daily in
tercourse with her. Nothing so rapidly
ages woman and destroys her beauty
as the use of anesthctics. They possess
as destructive power as stlmulahts, anu
sometimes a more Fatal one. Lena was
evidently attired with the greatest care.
Her dress was perfect, and her golden
tresses as attractive as ever. But though
veloutine and other cosmetics had been
literally used en- her beautifully formed
features, they were powerless to hide the
ravages which her unfortunate predllec-
ton had CEASED. Her eyes were glazed
and heavr, and her eyelids pulled and
swollen The back of her hands, too, had
the same appearance as though water nad
formed under the skin. Her complexion
was yerS white--a dull, thick white, ON
which the rouge refused to remain, or IN
which it seemed to sink as soon as APP
piied-a frequent occurrence when people
are out of health Added to this, her gait
was frequently unsteady, or her sight
seemed suddenly to fail her, and she
would be forced to put out her hands and
grasp the first article with which they
came in contact, to save her from fall-
ing. On this occasion, however, she seem
cd more like herself as her eyes and ears
were constantly on the alert to know what
went ON below, and she found 1T lmpossl-
BILE to rivet her attention on the novel she
held in her hand.
what is the matter, Lena?' inquired
Lady Otto anxiously. do you expect
anyone to-night?"
"Oh, no! 1t is nothing she
said with ready deceit
''You are looking very ill., my dear. |
am really distressed by your appearance.
wish you would take DR.. MarshalFs ad-
vice, and so to the seaside for few
days" continued her mother.
ooh! don't worry, mamma" was the
impatient rejoinder, "and please don
stare at me in that way. | can't see any
difference in my looks, unless it is that L
am rather pale. And everyone is pale IN
London during the season"
Lady Otto returned to her work with q
sigh, and Lena resumed her attitude of
expectation. The person she expected
was Captain Dorsay. After Il perfect
siege of invitations and reproaches the
fortress had capitulated, and he had con-
scented to visit her. He had only done so,
however, for his own peace of mind. Lady
Ewell's correspondence aud messengers
had become q nuisance to him. He was
afraid, moreover. lest her penchant should
become patent to society, and reach the
ears of her husband. Friends are always
so obliging in repeating exactly the piece
of in diligence that one wishes not to be
iold. And until this very evening when
Lena sat in the drawing room in moment
airy expectation of his arrival, Captain
Dorsay had had his own reasons for not
wishing to break with Sir Wilfrid Ewell.
So he promised to pay her visit. And
he meant that visit to be anything but q
pleasant one. He had made up his mind
TO tell Lady Ewell plainly that their in
simacy must come to an end, and that he
had no intention of giving up his friend
shin with her husband on her account, nor
az hearing his own name spoken of in So
sicty in connection with hers. 1t would
.haye been 4 very stormy and violent in
4eryicw, had it taken place. But after
meeting Rosie Ewell Captain Dorsay de-
cided not to go to Onslow Gardens. The
man had some good traits in him, and one
WAS that though he was very lax in in
<nlcing his fancies, he did not follow vice
for its own sake.
So he wrote to Lady tlwell instead. AS
no had promised to leave England for n
time. her morbid passion for him would
not have an opportunity of venting itself,
and his absence would obviate the neces-
sity of telling her some unpalatable
7ruths. So that his letter contained no al
ms;on to anything more personal than his
nroposed departure. But it was none the
more welcome to Lena on that account.
She received it by the latest post, and
when her patience was nearly exhausted
nv waiting for him. 1t contained but n
few words-but they scared her vanity
like a red-hot iron. Not one wish eX
nrassed to hear from her! Not one hint
as to where he was going or to whom!
Lcna's hands dropped the sheet of note
Naper upon her lap as if they were power
less to hold it.
"Anything the matter, my dcar?' said
her mother. inquisitively.
She knew her daughters moods by
heart. and was certain that the letter was
IN some way connected with her unusual
excitement, and that disappointment had
been the result of it.
"Matterr' repeated Lena. snapp:sh,y.
oWhat should be the matter? Cannot
receive letter without making its con-
sents patent to the world?'
"Certainly. my love, certainly. /
thought perhaps it might be some COM
munication from Sir Wilfrid.'
'sSir Wilfrid troubles me with a great
many communications, doesn't he?" said
Lena. with sheer.
..IIe would write oftener if he thought
you cared to hear from him, my dear.
i am sure of that. l think YOU are treat
sng your husband very i'll. Lena, and play
Sng your cards very badly. He is very
fond of you, and he gave you every posi-
Bile liberty at Lambscote, and every pos
sible Indulgence"
IF you can't find anything newer to
say than that. mamma, you'd better say
nothing at ALL
ssBut wish to know for certain what
ron intend to do. Lena, for this state of
things cannot go ON forever"
what can you have to complain of.