Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-06-01
>ASS
CHAPTER vI.-(Continued.)

feet, crimson with alarm and anger, her
blue eyes flashing ominously, she opened
her lips to speak. But the violence or hef
emotions choked her. Before she could
control her utterance, Sylvia was out OF
hearing, on her way to offer what small
comfort she might to poor, unhappy Dave.
She found him lying face downward on
the grass. Pink and white petals from
late blooming apple tree were thick around
him. Now and then one fell softly, pity
ingly, it seemed to her, upon his thick,
waving hair Sylvia tiptoed along, not
making a sound. Then, like the friends
of Job of old, she sat down beside him IN
sympathizing silence. Whether her pa
thence would have lasted through seven
days of mute vigil it is hard to say. The
one hour before he moved his head and
saw her, perhaps seemed as long to her as
the whole week did to them. Her warm,
loyal heart was aching to express Its In
dignation and sorrow, but certain In
stinctive delicacy kept her from speaking
first. At length he asked:
''Do you know, Sylvan
Eyes. Dave" Then, after a moment of
Intellectual effort to keep it all back, she
burst out: 1T is a shame, Dave, wicked,
sinful shame.'
Hush. Don't talk about it-yet!
"No, won't she answered, softly. For
a good while nothing was heard under the
apple trees but the twitter of some song
birds in it's branches and the occasional
hum of bees among it's blossoms.
81 must go now, Dave Father will be
waiting for me-"
He made no reply, and she left him
more troubled and perplexed than ever be-
fore in her sixteen years of life.
How can Delight do such a thing!
How can she?" was the question which
rang over and over again in her ears, and
to which an answer never came. At the
same time Delight was asking herself,
with ever-increasing uneasness:
ssHow did Sylvia know who the peddler
Is? What made her suspect? Will she
tell father"
When they met with the others of the
family and Aunt Salome in the best room
at two o'clock, Sylvia's steady look at
Delight was of burning disapproval and
reproach, while Delights furtive glances
at her young sister betrayed her disturb
ed state of mind. She had, however,
small chance to wonder further at the
source Of Sylvia's information, for her
father almost Immediately called on her
for her decision.
81 will not leave home with Aunt Sa-
lone, father" was her prompt response.
This was what the uncompromislng pat
riot would fam have heard from the lips
of his eldest daughter, but its saying lack
ed the spirit he expected Of her. His
calm. searching gaze detected her height
ened color and downcast eyes, but he lit
tie dreamed of their cause.
"And you, Desire, what is your wish in
the matter?" he asked, kindly.
Desires large, beautiful eyes did not
waver nor fall before his, as her sisters
had done. With quiet composure, she an
swered him.
1T is not my pleasure to accompany my
Aunt Salome to England, father
Mistress Salome's eyes flashed fire at
this. She turned upon Desire, showing
her disappointment and vexation without
disguise.
"And is this the return you make for all
you have enjoyed at my home?" she in
CURED, pointedly.
1T was God and not you, Aunt Salome
who gave me the great happiness l knew
In your home. If He wills it, shall know
It again without planning of yours"
Desires unruffied mien. her earnestness
and the mysterious meaning hidden be-
meath her singular reply, filled her hear
ers with amazement.
Rash girl" cried Mistress Leland,
quite outdone by so unexpected behav-
Tor on the part of the girl she thought she
understood thoroughly; will you never
learn wisdom from your elders? Can you
not see that unless you come with me
there, l had nearly spoken out and I've
q good mind to do so now and to compel
you to decide as shall be for your best adj
vantage. And if you were my girl it had
not been left to your deciding at al" and
she gave Timothy Leland glance Of dis
appreciation.
She paused then to see what effect this
little speech would have on Desire. To all
appearance it had none. At this point
Timothy Leland spoke up.
SISTER Salome, it sounds i'll to my lib
erty-loving ears when you, who are not the
mother of Desire, speak of compelling her
to any course of action. How come you
by any right to such power?
by virtue of my love for the girl and
my great wish to see her settled in life
more suitably than can be possible in this
desolate region" came her prompt retort.
"Her mother has given free consent to
this, and l have reason to know that De-
sire herself longs for nothing else so great
". It is by reason of some whimsey for
which l have no morse of patience that
she answers you as she does. If I told
Jon the whole truth you would see quickly
enough that her true wish is far otherwise
than lies under her smoothly sounding
words"'
Mistress Salome's anger had vented it
self freely in this declaration, for which
she was now ready to bite off her tongue.
Already she was casting about in her mind
for some speech which might Offset it,
when all other feelings were swallowed up
IN incredulous amazement.