Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-05-25

lea her into the house, how sorelv no had
missed her during her six months an
sence, and how pleased he was to have
us little home circle complete.
Wnen they were all come into the SIM
n.y. Well-kept kitchen which was living
room also, and Mistress Salome. having
removed her travelling cloak and bonnet,
was sittlng In an armchair talking with
1lmotny Leland, while Mistress Esther
ana delight prepared a meal for their re-
Ifeshment, Desire slipped into the small
east bedroom.
Good morning, Aunt Rachel" she said,
IN soft, low tone, going to the bedside,
aren't you glad I've come home?"
hachel Leland's great, shadowy eyes
opened with start Her pale face flush
ed with pleasure ct the unexpected sight
OF her favorite niece. She seized the girls
hands and looked at her with that strange
~ searching expression often noticed in
those who are not long for this world.
Iheyve not stolen away your peace Of
mind, those wary Philistines who have
Kept you there SO long-so long, Desire"
she declared, with sigh of satisfaction.
Shake up my pillow, child! 1t has been
like rock ever since you went away!"
Desire laughed indulgently. She was
used to Aunt Rachels swift transitions,
and was very fond of her in spite of her
odd ways.
There! How is it, now? Have you
been a good auntie all this time, or is
there need to scold you? After breakfast
L shall expect you to give an account of
yourself. Delight never wrote me one
word
"a strange thing has happened to De-
light. She behaves with unseemly cold
ness toward her promised husband She
would hardly go to sit an hour with him
when he was so grieyously wounded in
the battle fought almost at our door. Oh,
Desire, that was a fearsome time Such
humors are not becoming in a maid so
soon to become his wife. l told her once
plainly that you would never treat Roger
in such a fashion"
Desire stopped to smooth the pillow,
and her change of countenance escaped
Aunt Rachel's notice.
Desire, mother bids you come out to
breakfast now," said Dolly, at the door,
and Desire, grateful for the interruption,
left the room. AS she seated herself at
the table she glanced at Delight and was
startled to observe for the first time how
greatly she had changed since her return
from Boston in March. She had grown
thinner, and there was a new expression
of resolve, almost of defiance, on her
handsome face. Her eyes were restless
and alert. Her color came and went with
swiftness which betokened over-sensi-
tive nerves or a mind ill at ease.
For time the conversation ran on light
matters of gossip concerning relatives and
fria ,Ie b,,+
long from graver affairs of which their
thoughts were full. Desire reused from
a reverie to hear her aunt saying:
''My visit must be brief, Esther, since
our permission extends only until sunset
to-day. l have weighty matters to lay
before you. 1t is likely that our family
will soon return to England, and I shall
doubtless not be able to come here again.
Can you grant me an interview in pri-
yate?"
sit will pleasure me much, Salome, to
hear aught you have to say" was Mis-
tress Esther's cordial answer. Eve will
leave the girls to clear away the meal,
and we will retire to the south ROOM
Dolly, see to it that we are not disturbed"
So saying, she rose from her chair and
led the way across a small, square passage
into the seldom-opened, musty- smelling
south room. Her buxom figure, erect and
vigorous in it's spotless petticoat and short
gown of brown and ellow-striped chfntz,
showed to no disadvantage beside her sis
ter-in-laws slenderness and her elegant
gown of heavy green poplin, trimmed with
rich lace. As the two danes sat opposite
each other in high-backed, wooden chairs
it was no easy choice to determine which
hot of H.
Their, fair Of skin and brown of eye, sweet
and gentle in expression, yet lacking moth
ing of strength, or Mistress Salome's high
colored, aristocratic face, proud and de-
termined, but comedy, withal and right
womanly. The latter was the first to
speak.
"We may as well come straight to the
point Of my discourse, sister Esther, as
has long been my habit. / would turn
your memory back to the day when we
two, brides of the brothers who are still
our husbands, stood side by side on the
deck of the good ship Fleetwing and saw
the shores of our native land swim back
from our view We clasped each others
hands and looked into each others eyes
and made mutual promises that in case
one of us should die or become needy in
any way, the other would hold the dear
ones Of that dead or needy one as her very
own in every comforting and helpful min
istry. I fear words do not come to me
clearly for smooth rendering of our COM
pact, but see by your look that you re-
member it well. During all these years
of our happy married lives there has come
no time for the redeeming of this promise
until now
Mistress Esther leaned slightly for
ward.
1.-THE course of events about us for the
last three months has been momentous.
You doubtless know as well as do that
there can be no speedy settlement of the
troubles whose crisis came in so dreadful
way across your very threshold. Our
husbands have taken opposite sides in the
conflict. Theirs is the responsibility for
the consequences of this choice, but the
disposal of our children may be rightly