Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-03-17

the young man approached the ladies
ne came up, and, knowing Tom well
was presented also.
Mr.. Page, ladies, and Mr.. Elliot rho
champion of the day, and nv ruthless
conqueror. My cousin, Miss Ruth
oomers, and my sisters you already
know"
hugh bowed with mingled feelings of
pleasure, embarrassment and pride: but
tnere was no hint of their late un-
peasant meeting in the few words with
which Ruth greeted him.
L congratulate you on your victory
Mr.. Elliot" she said; you PLAYED
magnificently."
Ihank you; I am glad there is one
thing l can do in civilized manner"
ne answered, with a significance which
she only understood.
others soon Joined the group, and
MT. Page took the first opportunity to
ask Hugh about the paper.
I hope you had no trouble during
my absence" he said.
Not especially" replied Hugh, hest
tatlngly, and knowing full we'll that
every word could not but be overheard
by Miss Somers. "There were some
lew matters not quite as I had expect
ed. You have seen the paper, of
course?"
''Yes, and I am glad you got it out
on time. Everything seemed to be up
to the usual mark. There was, how
ever, just one thing that somewhat sur
prised me. That was the story con-
cluded from last week. It struck me
as being-well, rather involved toward
the end"
Il regret that it was" replied Hugh,
land I am to blame for that Unfortun-
ately there had to be slight alteration
toward the end on account of an &C.
cident; that is, some of the concluding
pages were missing"
"Missing!" exclaimed Mr.. Page. "You
don't say so. Well, how did you man
age it?'
ooh, I played author myself" ans
wered Hugh, with a grim smile. Il
regret the result was no BETTER"
What, my dear boy-you wrote the
end? Why, you're a treasure, jewel.
thought you capable, of course, but
scarcely thought you equal to that, not
being in your line. I'm thinking of
looking up successor for some time in
the future, and am glad to know where
l may let my mantle fall"
TT was abominable," here Hugh
could not help but put in, his endeavors
to say the right thing from two points
of view proving serious task. I'D
rather fix up everything else on the
paper than do another love story. I
know, besides, that the writer will
never forgive me, which makes it
worse"
'Oh, was there any unpleasantness? ?"
asked Mr.. Page, hastily. "Of course
we don't want anything of that kind.
Authors are very touchy and can make
good deal of trouble sometimes"
Hughs face had fallen decidedly dur
ing these last remarks, and he saw that
he stood poor chance of advancement
if his chief knew how very unsatisfac-
tory to the author his conclusion to the
story had been. But Miss Somers also
had caught the hint and now turned
charming face to Mr.. Page.
Indeed, Mr. Page" she said, sweetly,
'you said you would leave it to me to
judge, and 1 assure you Mr.. Elliot's
part of the story was charming, and so
like the up-to-date story. l must say
was exceedingly interested in reading
it myself and feel sure the author will
make no complaints. More than likely
the writer forgot to send the manu-
script complete, anyhow. Authors are
so careless. I think Mr.. Elliot should
he stood a poor chance of advancement
ment for his ability"
$50 be it, then" agreed Mr.. Page,
cheerfully, and walked away, leaving
the two young people stranded together
at some distance from their party,
versation.
BY mutual impulse, as soon as Mr..
Page was gone, they glanced furtlvely
at each other, and what each saw IN
the others face must have been reas-
surfing, for, without more ado, both
Immediately dropped their dignity and
broke into such hearty, good-natured
laugh at the turn the whole thing had
taken that it would have been impos-
sible after that to regain their dis
lance, and made them feel like old ac-
| QuaintanceS at once.
do you remember what you said
to me the first time I ever saw your"
he asked, without further preliminar
| les.
ct said lot of things, didn't L?
Some hateful ones"
"Never mind them. But you said,
too that you believed in love stories
ending the right way. I'm thinking
of case where your ending could be
used beautifully"
| "But thought you liked two endings,
like one of Rudyard Kipling's stories,
and l believe you couldn't think of
! any more. My ending might do for
ono eunpoSino there was Such case