Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-11-09
CHAPTER Y.


lea piece and hang up photograph of
bisford in its stead?" Bella asks meek
bf her hostess, on the day after her ar
The photograph has hung for
rly two years just opposite my bed.
Ere | could see it the last thing at
hit and the first thing on awakening,
shall miss it sou
certainly, do as you WISH" Lady En-
ford answers, with flush sweeping
pale cheek, but with her usual sweet
s. for she has an angelic temper, and
In this Bella, whom she feels is an
emy fails to ruffie it. II can quite I'M
stand any one being discontinued with
Few of the sea when they can see Lord
nsford!'
You don't really mind, do you?" Bella
htrasts badly with the haggard, drawn
rs on her face.
II did not know you had made the
hinge already" remarks Lady Ennis
FL with a little stately gravity, that
lla resents terribly within.
II knew you would not mind" she
s. with dash of flippant Indifference.
bid Lord Ennisford tell you he wished
likeness to hang here?" and two pure
rs, guileless as an infants, fix them
yes with sort of usefulness on Bel
S face
Yes. he has always liked me to have
portrait of him in my ROOM"
#'Thcn you are quite right in doing SO"
rd Ennisford's wife answers, quietly,
bile sharp pang goes through her
TART. What right has this Bella Grant
4 any other woman to look on her hus-
#nd's handsome face ''the last thing ut
ght and the first thing on awakening?"
III have turned your painting to the
Pill, that the dust might not hurt It,"
ELLA observes, sweetly.
*'Thank your Lady Ennisford muir
urs, coldly, and, to her companions
Sinking, haughtily.
'Prde shall have fall" she registers
herself before she goes on glibly with
j purr in her voice, that many feline
omen possess.
#When Lord Ennisford comes back from
is drive he walks straight into the IL
Parry, which is his usual resort. He
karts as the painting, which he had so
graphically commented on as marvellous
10 of transparency in water, and full Of
*fe and genius in the low-lying clouds,
|he swoopng sea-gulls, the mystic twi-
#ght meets his eye.
Il suppose Bella has turned that out"
He mutters, wrathfully; chow dare she do
*nch thing l must nip such imperti-
Renee in the bud" And without further
Eetlection he pulls the bell violently and
{emands that Miss Grant shall be sent
b him at once.
A moment or two afterward in comes
Bella, to find him flushed and with I'M
histakable anger in his face, as he strides
lp and down the long room, habit Of
his whenever he is vexed and with which
Dhe is perfectly familiar.
She glides with her noiseless, cat-like
Btep to Il chair; her garments are somber
b hue and severe in fashion.
Did you want me, Ennisford?" she
Disks after a while, mildly. He pauses in
bis rapid walk
What did you mean by turning that
painting out of your room! he ques-
lions, angrily.
Il did not turn it out, but Lody Ennis
Ford said | am welcome to hang up that
large photograph of you instead of it. She
likes me to have it, in fact, and does not
mind how many portraits of you are
about"
She said that?' he questions, eying
her keenly and waxing more wrath, but
now with his wife, for it hurts his enor-
nous sef-love intensely that she should
not mind other, women having his like
ness.
Yes" answers Bella, unflinchingly,
quite Indifferent how she perverts Lady
Ennisford's words. but what fuss
YOU make about that painting, Ennisford!
1t is very nice, no doubt, but one would
really fancy it was Millais, or Tur-
her, or Il Tenier, by the value you put
on it."
Il value it fifty times more because it
Is my wife's work." he answers, valiant
Iy, though inwardly the accession Of a
red patch on Bella's sallow cheek and q
glitter in her uncanny eyes make him a
shade fdgety. And, Bella, think 1t
very bad form of you to flaunt my photo
graph and your love, as you please to call
It, for me, before Lady Ennisford!
Il couldn't hide my love for you be-
fore Queen Victoria herself; no-not even
Ii my life depended on it!' she says,
hardly; land if you are so tender of
Lady Ennisford's feelings, you should not
have let me come here! But, George, I'll
keep guard over my eyes and my lips.
Il be hypocrite-a sham-a lie, sooner
than you should look at me like that!
You hate me, believed" and, burying her
false face in her pocket handkerchief, a
puny, gaspy sob meets his ear. He puts
indignation into his pocket, and with a
couple of hasty strides stands beside her.
Please don't cry, Bella! / did not
mean to hurt you, but you see | am in a
confounded hole. Lady Ennisford has q
right to reproach me for all my short
comings, and she never will. You have
no right. but you are perpetually hurting
lnvectives at my head. want to be nice
with both of you, if can. have no de-
sire to cut up rough, If can help 1t. !"
AT this Bella INDUCES in little smile
within the folds of her handkerchief. He
Is dreadfully weak, unstable az water, as
mas been said before, but she forgiyes the
piemish, since on it she trades, and hopes
by 1t to reach her aim some day.
You are always nice for me-" she
whispers, holding out one hand, which
ne clasps, thinking it guarantee for hel
good behavior in future.