Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-11-16
CHAPTER Wit.

CHAPTER Wit.
Lady Aylmer is superb as she lounges
in her crimson velvet fauteuil at the Fol-
les Parisiennes. The gold of her mantle
pales beside the luster of her hair; the
dense blue depths of her great eyes burn
like living sapphires; and a rope Of pearls
round her milk-white throat is fastened
by sapphire to match; thick coils Of gold
upon the magnificent arms, bare almost
to the shoulders, look like the rich man
acles Of an Eastern Satrap's love; and 1t
is no wonder that lorgnettes from all
parts Of the house point toward her, for
she is the beauty of the hour-the rage
of Paris just now, and among those who
gaze or rather stare at her, as every one
stares at the beauty that is so much on
peoples tongues that it seems like public
property, are Lord and Lady Ennisford.
Lady Ennisford has recovered from the
fatigue Of her journey, and when he pro-
poses the theater, she only too gladly as
sents. To be with him is the desidera-
tum Of her life always, though she is
home-bird, and feels no cravings after
amusement or dissipation.
| How they come to be at the Foles
Parisiennes is a fact which Lady Ennis
IOrQ does not KNOW, out IL is IacC CnaI
can be easily explained.
BERTHE had said in the morning that he
had promised to go, as it was the first
night of much-talked-of piece; and Lord
Ennisford, on the qui vive to see the fam
Gus Lady Aylmer, suggested the Folies
Parisiennes in careless way to his wife,
and of course she fell at once into the
trap. They have been quite twenty min
utes in their box, and during that period
his glass has never once swerved from
Lady Aylmer's face.
George, who is that?" Lady Ennisford
asks, presently, her eyes alive to his pro-
ceedings, and a sharp twinge of jealousy
going through her as she marks how dis
trait he is, and that he even starts slight
ly at her voice.
''That? I conclude it is Lady Aylmer,
as l see BERTHE in close attendance" he
answers, carelessly; but he thinks that
BERTHE is very lucky dog.
Just at this moment BERTHE, for the first
time, allows his gaze to stray from his
companion. Looking across the theater
and catching sight Of his people, he mods
and smiles at them.
"Who is that mani" Lady Aylmer
asks, after a moments survey of her
vis-a-vis.
"My brother" BERTHE answers, and for
the life Of him he cannot help feeling vex-
ed that the sapphire eyes Of his queen
should rest on such a good-looking face
as that his brother owns.
"What! Ennisford ?-Beriie!-the fam
GUS lady-killer, the Adonis that | have
heard so much about? 2" she questions,
eagerly.
'sThe same. Do you think him hand
some?"
"As a god!' she answers, slowly and
deliberately, her eyes, with strange,
slow fire in them, riveted on the object Of
her curiosity, and lovely flush Of sum-
mer roses sweeping over her cheek, for
Edith Aylmer is undeniably a passionate
woman, as passionate as though she were
daughter of the Tropics.
"And who's the woman?' she asks,
after moment, indifferently.
Lady Ennisford."
Lady Ennisford! What on earth did
he marry her for!
Love"
"Love! BERTHE, don't! You talk the
folly of unripe years. Love, indeed! as
if he could love an ugly woman, it
wouldn't be natural"
"She is not ugly!" BERTHE flares up, not
so much in defense of his sister-in-law
as because he feels as jealous as tiger
already.
She feels tiny bit uncomfortable, per-
haps, for she knows she has let this lad
hover about her, until he has grown to
love her with a desperate love. and she
knows that she is everything to him, that
he never so much as glances at another
woman. She smiles.
Don't you 60 and make a grand in
quisitor of yourself, Master BERTHE"
ST beg your pardon. I have, know, no
right" murmurs BERTHE, still ashy pale,
and his voice trembling.
''No right whatever" she says imperi-
ously, ito harbor ridiculous ideas and
suspicious. Suppose have been looking
at Lord Ennisford, what of it? Is he not
your brother, and are you not the image
Of him? Tell me, are you jealous of him,
BERTHE? You need not be! Don't you
trust me?''
The words are chosen Jesuitically, for
their meaning is vague; they contain no
pledge. scarce an assurance, and she says
them simply because just now she does
not care for a breach between BERTHE and
herself.
81 trust you entirely" he says fervent-
". at must. and to prove it, I'll go and
fetch Ennisford!
He stoops, presses passionate, but
covert kiss on her hand, and is gone.
Lady Aylmer watches him, behind her
fan. as he bends over his brother and
whispers in his ear, and her pulse beats
faster than it has done for long time,
while she waits for an answering move
ment or gesture, and her color fades
away as she sees Lord Ennisford shake
his head.
saShe wants to know you so much. En-