Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-02-24

TINS appointment with his own wife
something piquant. He waited for her in
the drawing room, where the blinds were
still undrawn, and through the windows
OF which a lovely moon was shedding
floods of silvery light.
You are very kind to wait. Lord Car
ayen," she said. Il could not get away
before. Lady Damers insisted on nv go
ing TO her room to see new-fashioned
head-dress Worth has sent her. / could
NOT get away. l am afraid you are tired
NO, he replied; Il have been watch
ing the moon and thinking
nave come to ask Of YOU" said the
young countess-''a favor on which the
whole of my life depends. In granting it
you will make me happy; if you refuse it
| shall be miserable"
What is it, Hildred?' he asked. ST
do not in the least understand
1T is this. | want you to let me be
your steward mean, let me have charge
of Your estate. / could do the duties far
better than Mr.. Blantyne."
Il give him a large salary" said Lord
Caraven, half laughing-"he ought to do
them WELL"
But you have seen for yourself that
he does not" she returned ''he is not a
just steward"
NO. was the grave admission, She is
not just. 1t is that which grieves me- He
has abused my trust. l shall never be-
lieve in him again.
'"Then let me take his place." she cried,
eagerly. Il do not mean in the mere
keeping of accounts-you will always
want some one for that-nor even in the
looking after little details; but let me be
your head steward, Lord Carayen, and the
welfare of your tenants and dependents,
the well-being of your estate, the care of
your property shall be my one interest in
life. l will be content to work early and
late, to live without pleasure, if you VIII
only grant my prayer"
but you are q lady. Hildred. How
could you find time for it?'
In her eagerness she forgot her reserve
she laid her hand upon his arm, and
looked into his face
II am not a fine lady; am lawyers
daughter. 1t may even be that I inherit
my fathers liking for business. I shah
find time, believe ME, if you will give
your consent
"What would you do, Hildred, suppos-
ing gave my consent?" he asked.
"Say rather what would [ not do.
would reform all abuses. I would make
Rayensmere IL model estate-people should
point to it as pattern. would make
your laborers men; they are now only
soulless drudges. l would pull down those
wretched cottages-w squalor and dis
ease run riot, and build in their places
houses such as even the poor could love.
/ would educate the children. What a
question it is you ask me! What would
l not do?'
The earl rose from his chair; he bent
his head with chivalrous grace before
her.
my wife," he said, 'you shame me-
''No," she cried, you must not say that
to me-
81 repeat it-you shame me-" he went
on. eyes, l give my consent-my free,
full, hearty consent. You will make
better mistress of Rayensmere than do
a master. You shall be the queen regent;
/ will be your prime minister. l place
and leave all authority in your hands,
and l promise you most faithfully that
will never interfere; you shall pull down
and build up, you shall do just as you will,
[ will never interfere"
She was SO overjoyed with his prom
Uses, with the change in his manner, with
the earnestness on his face, that she for
got all about her restraint and indiffer-
ence. and she kissed the hand that held
her own. She saw her husbands face
flush crimson, and she drew back sud
denly.
81 beg your PARDON" she said; 81 am
very sorry. [ did not think of what |
was doing, I was so overjoyed.
I'll Of hn i11rvO 1IJof1
caress, nor of the apology, though both
had struck him.
81 am glad that you are pleased, Hill
dred,' he said. ''In placing my interests
in your hands l feel that | have done
to-day the wisest action of my life. To
morrow we will send for Blantyre, and
you shall confront him.
She left him then, pleased, happy, con-
fused. with an overwhelming sense of the
responsibilities she has assumed, and with
something, she could hardly tell what,
stirring in her heart, while Lord Caraven
looked in amazement at the hand she had
kissed. He wondered if he should ever
understand her; and he began dimly to
perceive that in the money lenders daugh-
ter he had found a noble, high-souled,
glorious woman.
Before many days had elapsed it be-
came apparent that new reign had be-
gun at Ravensmere. Sir Raoul was
charmed and delighted; he never wearied
of praising Lady Carayen, and telling her
what noble work she was doing; he did
his best to help her. A wonderful change
was coming over the earl. Not that he
was beginning even in the least to love his
wife-that idea had not yet occurred to
him; but he was beginning to treat her
with great respect, to recognize the fact
that she was high-souled woman.
But. although the idea of love had not
occurred to him, their relations toward
each other were fast changing. The beau
tiful, gifted wife was fast taking her
place in every respect and in every way
except in her husbands heart.
Lady Carayen lost no time when ner
husband had once given her PERMISSION
TT 10 IonUh md feel