Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-07-27

De left alone. L tnOuSnt-l-1 thought
that Sylvia might"
A red flush stained his sunburned cheek,
and he stopped abruptly.
Sylvia is a woman grown now, my son.
She doubtless expects you to come first
to her, as you should"
He turned in surprise.
'Motherr' he exclaimed, with a good
deal of warmth. "You misjudge her.
cannot think of Sylvia as standing on any
foolish ceremony witfl-with old friends
such as we are. Very likely some duty
detains her. But am more than willing
to go over, if you will not be lonely. Your
happiness must be thought Of before all
else, mother"
He stopped near her and looked down
on her placid face very tenderly.
That was ever your way, my son" she
said to the only one of her family now
left to her, speaking cheerfully. $50, by
all means, and bring Sylvia back with
you to drink tea with us. No-not to-
night, either. IT'S enough that her father
must miss his two eldest born, but bid her,
with my dear love, come tomorrow
night"
She watched him as he strobe swiftly
across the grassy dooryard, a stalwart,
manly fellow, the very apple Of her eye.
She did not utter even to herself the hopes
which had long been budding in her in
most heart, but they nestled there, filling
her with contentment, now that she saw
their poisoning time so near at hand.
For Sylvia had, all innocently, revealed to
her her deep, strong love for Dave, and
she was we'll assured that his boyish
alteration of Delight was already, though
perhaps unsupported by him as yet, re-
placed by an abiding affection for the sis
ter so greatly her superior.
So she sat there alone in the little home
which had missed her sons beloved pres
ence for six long years, neither lonely nor
greved over his absence, but thankful
rather that each day brought nearer the
one which a daughter should be given to
her.
AS Dave approached the Leland home
and saw the two horses tied to the fence
and the young men sitting on the doorstep,
he knew they must be from Boston. No
such stylish outfits were to be seen in Lex
ingtOn.
''Some one to see Desire, no doubt" he
commented.
white road, gave no sign, save that her
lively chatter ceased and she became alb
sorbed, to all appearance, in twisting her
flaxen thread to the utmost nicely of fine
ness. Her heart throbbed violently, and
she wished that Dolly and the two youths
were miles away.
Dolly did not spy Dave until he was
fairly in the dooryard. She sprang up.
~ ~ oh an,o 20, Il
to meet him, raising her soft, shining eyes
to his in welcome. Its kind of you to
come so soon to see us. This is my Cousin
Grantley, Dave, and Mr.. Dick Roadway,
of Boston; David Townsend, our neighbor
and dear friend who came home with my
father this morning"
Dave, surprised to see little Dolly at
tired in womanly costume and showing
such ease and dignity of manner, disap-
pointed at Sylvia's absence, suddenly feel
ing old and shabby beside the dapper
young gallarts, did not notice that she
said Cousin"
How do you do, NJ. Grentley?' he
said, shaking his proffered hand. Il hope
| see you we'll, Mr.. Redway."
"Sit here, Dave" said Dolly, bringing
out a chair. ''I'll tell the others you are
come Sylvia Here's Dave!'
AS she went on into the house Sylvia
stopped her wheel. Dave was conscious
of the cessation of the soft whir.
''She was there all the time, he thought,
with a sinking of his heart. ''She must
have heard me and she did not Gomez
And then what lovely vision was it
which filled the old doorway? He rose
instinctively to his feet, hat in hand
blinded, confused, incredulous. Could this
be the romping, frank-spoken, brave little
Sylvia of so many happy memories? Was
this stately, gracious young woman, this
fair, beautiful creature, so charming, SO
remote, the girl he had expected to see
racing over the road to greet him? Older
and shabbier still poor Dave felt, out of
place and in the way. He scarcely knew
that she laid her warm, soft hand in his
for an instant, murmuring a few words
which he did not hear. He was conscious
of vivid relief when Desire. gentle and
calm, and just the same as when he saw
her last, came out and welcomed him at
| fectionately.
Come in, Dave she babe him. "Moth.
err is too lame to-day to leave her chair
but she is eager to see you"
| Sylvia had returned to her spinning
tingling to her finger tips with disappoint
ment and modification.
He never even asked for me" she hall
| sobbed, giving her wheel q reckless twir
which snapped the thread vicieusly. HE
is thinking only of Delight. l might have
known it. l ought to have known it! Oh
what silly, foolish girl you have been
| Sylvia Leland. But no one shall ever
| know-eyer-everi'
She heard Desires invitation She knew
they came close to her in passing through
the kitchen; but, fearing to betray hel
| keen feeling, she kept her head turned
away, and Dawes hungry eyes saw only 6
pink ear and the soft curves of a white
| throat.
And so he sat in the little east bedroom
with Mistress Esther and Desire trying
| as best he could to answer their many
questions with composure while such