Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-09-08
CHAPTER MI.

Mrs. Hephzbah Horton (for it is indeed
she) is jolted rapidly over the uneven paw
ing stones until she finds the vehicle stop
ped before wide portecochere, carved
in old black oak, with fendish and cheru-
bic faces, all sporting in inextrcable con-
fusion about the figure of the martyr st.
Sebastian, with his gridiron ready in his
hand.
Mrs Hephzibah is not given, as a rule,
to embraces and tears, but she is surpris-
ed to find how emotional q meeting with
Della Moray has the power to make her
feel.
There is moisture about her eyes that
she cannot understand as she returns the
younger woman's kisses, and her hands
trenlble so that she gives the driver a
whole frame over his proper fare-a cir
cumstance which affords her a subject
for regret during the remainder Of her
stay in Bruges.
"And now that we are alone, let me
have a good look at you,' she says, when,
all such preliminary ceremonies as re1nov-
ing her travelling attire and taking some
refreshment being happily concluded, she
finds herself seated in her friends private
room.
ing She was twenty-five when they part
ed; she is thirty mine now, but the four
teen years interval of rest and quiet have
passed over her lightly. Not white hair
shines among her smooth, dark tresses-
not wrinkle yet appears upon her fore
head. Her cheeks are plumper and her
complexion brighter than they were wont
to be, and happiness is sparkling in her
eyes and dimpling her mouth with smiles.
My dear, you look ten years younger
than you used to. I'm much afraid you
can't say the same of me. Is it the air
of the place that has done it, or have you
got a Belgian Rachel to make you 'beauti-
full forever? You have certainly got hold
of some secret that half your sex would
give their eyes to find"
at is the rest and the content, dear
Mrs. Horton. Oh! you cannot think
what a peaceful life l lead here. l seem
to have no care, no trouble. [ make the
little money / require for my own wants
easily, and haze friends all over Bruges,
and my boy is so good and generous to
me-"
II am glad to hear that-very glad in
deed. He ought to be good son to you,
Della Moray, for you gave up everything
for him."
"Oh. he is, and so clever besides, and
getting on so we'll in his profession! He
studied, you know, as a civil engineer
and surveyor, and Monsieur PAbbe Ber-
tin took great interest in him; and now,
with the assistance of some of his rela-
tons, he has procured Angus an excel
lent appointment-the permanent charge
of q new line of railway just opened be-
tween Bruges and some Of the smaller
towns in Belgium; and Angus is to receive
three thousand francs a year as salary
that is, one hundred and twenty pounds
of our English money-with an annual
increase of ten pounds. That is not a bad
income for n boy of twenty-one, who has
had nothing but his own wits to depend
on for living-is it, Mrs. Horton! And
it might be all for me if chose to accept
it from him. Dear Angus
The mothers eyes are dancing with
pride and pleasure, and Mrs. Hephzibah
cannot but catch some spark of her lauda-
BILE excitement
1T is capital-it is first rate. and con-
graduate you, Della Moray, on the pos
session Of such son. I didn't think he'd
turn out so well-I didn't, indeed. And
so you call him Angus now instead of
Willy"
Yes, and have done so for years; ]
think it best. 1t is his second name, you
know, and the other is fraught with UNI
pleasant recollections to me. I cannot
bear the thought of that man, William
Moray-eyen to this day. He who want
ed so cruelty and basely to deprive me of
my child-to take my only solace from
me. 1t was long time before l could
forget the aversion and fear with which
he inspired me, and even now sometimes
feel dread lest his malice should find me
out again, and urge him to revenge HIM
self upon my darling boy"
Della Moray, I see that you haven't
given up your old habit of talking nom
sense. How on earth could this man
hurt you or your boy, who is already Of
age? 1t is evident that you've grown no
wiser during the years we have been
parted"
20! know it is but foolish fancy,
h,~& hhns, A Ia TrtapinI1S tn me.