Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-11-02
CHAPTER III.

Dear Bella, you are wanted. The boy
is ill., and Lady Ennisford will be the bet
ter for your help in nursing. Write at
once what train you can take.
"ENNISFORD."
This is the note, more command than
request, that finds it's way into the room
where Bella Grant poured out the Walls
of her passion and grief now nearly two
years ago.
80! you cannot live without me! my
darling-my love!' she murmurs, half
aloud; 81 knew you couldn't. For nearly
two years have dragged on this wretch
ed, loveless, lonely existence. But no
more! thank heaven no more! If l once
enter Highcliffe, I'll never leave it again,
never! I'll kill her frst!' and the old
evil look creeps over every feature and
darkens the whole of her face.
Within twelve hours from the receipt Of
his missive she is on her way to High
lcliffe. Lord Ennisford, having nothing to
do, for he is an indolent man by nature,
meets her at the station, and with the
very first tone of his voice chill Of dis
appointment falls upon her.
OF course his handsome face brightens
up, for he is glad to see her-very glad;
but there is such a decidedly Platonic
look in his blue eyes, and such a Platonic
Isound in his voice, that they seem to
strike from her at once the dream of love
and triumph in which she had wickedly
sreveled during her journey.
II don't know why, Bella; but, some
how, l feel that you will be the saving
of the boy" he says. "You remember
how splendidly you nursed me through the
fever 1 caught at Rome. If it hadn't
been for you l should have died." and
with this remembrance vibrates the first
soft tone in his voice, and it goes through
Eher from head to foot.
II shall do my best for him, George,
you know -that!' she answers. II seem
ito love him already!' and her mouth
trembles as she speaks, and while he
iglances at her gratefully they drive
quickly up a magnificent avenue, with
lcentury-old trees meeting overhead, to
the door. Highcliffe, grand and imperial,
massed in beauty and bloom, smiles down
Jon them.
You will excuse Lady Ennisford not
coming down to welcome you, Bella!' he
says, with certain depreciation in his
manner, for he is not anxious to add fuG
Ito the fire which he sees blazing in her
gray eyes, and she notes that he always
lsays-Lady Ennisford. "She asked me
ito take you directly you came to her.
She is with the boy. She will not leave
him for a moment, not even for me-" he
adds, in a decided tone of injury.
Bella stoops and gathers up her wraps
I'm her arms really to hide smile Of sat
Sisfaction as she listens. Then she follows
him into the hall. 1t is growing dusk,
land no one is by.
Hating before him, she stands with her
figure drawn up, her head thrown back
land pair of gray eyes upturned with a
meek, beseeching look.
Lord Ennisford cannot help but mark
their expression, but, willfully misunder-
standing her, he says, simply but kindly:
''Tired, Bella?'
mo-" she answers. George! we have
mot met for nearly two years. Are we to
meet as strangers now?"
For the life of him he cannot help liken-
ing her in queer sort of way to Mephis-
topheles A little grain Of distaste creeps
over him; but he is a weak man, is Lord
Ennisford, especially where women are
concerned
He bends down and drops chasta sa-
lutte on his guests high forehead, But it
does not satisfy her.
kiss me on my lips, George! 1t will
seal our-friendship."
Friendship-it is quiet, pleasant
sounding word, and he revives at once.
After all, kiss more or less cannot do
any one much injury, and in this instance
1t may smooth down difficulties which he
had not contemplated when he wrote to
this cast-off love of his to come and live
under the same roof as his wife. So he
stoops once more and puts his lips to
Bella's, and for an instant she stands
with her eyes closed, dazed, bewildered;
then she draws long, deep breath.
Il am ready to follow you now," she
says, in her abrupt bizarre fashion, and
in the next instant they enter side by
side half-darkened room.
Here she sees little girlish figure bow
ed over child that lies on her knee
Bella knows, of course, that she is Lady
Ennisford, though she does not bear much
resemblance to her whom she had known
as Lady Frances Clavering. These two
have never met since that day when
Bella threw look of whitening hate at
her rival and her rival caught that look
She certainly was not prepared for the
change, and at the very first glance she
feels satisfied that personal advantages
are on her own side.
at is very good of you to have come to
us at once" Lady Ennisford says, in
whisper. DO look at baby; do you think
he can live?"
Live? Or course he'll liver cries
Bella, in a sham tone of brightness and
hopefulness, which. however, does excel |
lent duty for a genuine one. Then she
stoops and kisses the child for its fathers |
sake, and even little for its own.
ITS only his teeth, you know, poor lit |
tile darling! Directly they make their APP
pearance he will be as jolly as eyerr' she |
says, in an electric tone, which seems to !
be felt even by the child. He opens his |
big blue eyes wide, and resembles his |
father to such a degree that once more |
Bella snatches him in her arms and rains |
down kisses ON his wee face For weeks /