Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-07-27
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until one morning the following week,
when two young men rode up. Ihey
found the household in a state OF great
excitement and rejoicing, for Timothy Lee
land and Israel had arrived at day Dreak.
Hearty greetings were exchanged ana al
sat down to listen breathless!y to the mar
ratiyes of the two soldiers until time LOT
the preparation of dinner, when the men
adjourned to the yard and still talked OF
the stirring scenes so recently witnessed
nv two of them After dinner Grantley
and Dick Redway established themselves
on the broad kitchen doorstep, chatting
with Dolly, who was demurely sewing
long, white seam and watching Sylvla,s
graceful stepping to and fro as she deity
spun at the great wheel. Her supple,
straight figure was arrayed IN a snort
oetticOat of dark blue linen, over winch
full skirt of blue and white striped chlntz
was draped high. The smoothly hitting
waist was open at the throat and crossed
over her bosom. Its short, rutt1ed sleeves
came just below the elbow, leaving expos
ed her round, white arms and prettlly
curved wrists.
She made merry with both the young
men in her liveliest mood, but each time,
as she turned in her womanly task, she
glanced coyertly down the road IN the OIL
rection of Dawes home. She knew that
he had arrived there, and she wondered
how long it would be before he came over
to see them.
He, meanwhile, was wandering restless
" about at home, gazing out along the
road and hoping each moment to see her
hurrying over to welcome him. Eleven
, O'Clock had come and gone. Twelve-and
one-and two-and still no flying figure,
with eager eyes and smiling lips, made
zeal the anticipations he had been living
Oh day after day.
He had left Sylvia q frank, charming
girl. He was to find her beautiful wom-
an. Her auburn hair no longer tumbled
about her face in curls, but was piled in
softly waving mass high upon her we'll
shaped head, showing glints Of sunshine
IN it's coils and now and then rebelllous
curling lock. Her brilliant hazel eyes
looked graciously out from under broad,
low forehead, a copy Of Delights. These,
with her clear-cut features, her fair skin,
ner laughing, dimpling, mobile mouth, re-
yeaiiug a dozen natures combined in one,
made up fascinating whole, which was
to bewilder and captivate him.
Slowly. almost unconsciously to him.
self, Delights image had faded away
during the months of his absence, to be
replaced by that of her young sister. Had
amy one told him this at the time, he
would have denied it Indignantly, for he
was convinced that with his loss OF hckle
Delight his love for Womanklnd had been
wounded to the death. Of course, ne
would have freely admitted, he was fond
of Sylvia; he had always been that, and 1t
was quite natural that he should think
much Of her, especially since her splendid
action one September night.
But as he drew nearer mile by mile OF
weary yet eXultant march to his nome ana
hers realizing but family yet that there
need be no more periious absences from
either, he found himself thinking con-
.stantly, eagerly, of Sylvia. He grew more
and more impatient for the moment when
he should meet her dear, bright little self
He could already see her running to greet
him, her curls flying, her face beaming
with glad welcome Then they would go
spart from the others, and she would
tell him in her merry way of all that had
happened, and he would relate to her
whatever pleasant thing he could Of his
army life. and they would eat supper with
his mother, and afterward he would walk
home with her across the fragrant fields.
Very likely, too, she would chide and
-scold and counsel him in the dear old
fashion he remembered so well. 1t was
pretty, aluring picture. and it often
cheered him during the more sad and
somber thoughts clustered around his re-
turn. How greatly he had depended upon
1t he did not dream until his actual meet,
Ing with her was so wretchedly unlike
what he had expected If to be.