Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-01-12

affairs, as BELTS the eldest daughter Of the
family; and, rebel as she may, at certain
times and seasons she has to give in to
Miss Symptoms DEGREES, and, under her
guidance and direction, interview COOK
and housekeeper.
Very thankful indeed does Yolande feel
when the clock strikes one. and at last
they are able to shut up books and do
whatever seemeth good unto them" for
the remainder of the day. She hurries off
as swiftly as her light feet can bear her to
her own pretty, dainty room, and heaves
a sigh of intense relief as, with locked
door, and a sense of perfect security from
intrusion, she sets herself to study the
unwelcome valentine once more.
cam l such f1irt?" she thinks, as her
soft eyes look up from the hateful words
and meet their own lustrous reflection IN
the opposite mirror. II know like dane
ing, and fun and-well, little admira-
tien; but surely there's no great harm IN
that? Oh, 1 hope he did not send 1t!
And yet it must have been he! No one
else would mind what [ did; they are so
used to me and my ways. Well, L don't
care, and l won't carev'-with stamp of
the little foot. 'Who is he that l should
mind his opinion? l have seen him only
three times, and
Here she pauses. A tide of crimson
sweeps over her fair low brow, her lovely
cheeks. She filings the luckless valentine
to the farthest corner of the room.
II hate himw she cries, rising and pac-
ing up and down the soft-carpeted floor.
ooh, if only | had not said that! Per-
haps he thought it was hint. hint!
Just as if Lance, and Dick, and young
Tempestown, and Jack Fortescue, and
and-heaps of fellows weren't glad
enough of the opportunity of sending me
valentines! And to think that l wanted
one from him! Oh, how shall meet him
tonight! If l could only look perfectly
cool and unconcerned it would be all right;
but | am sure the moment he looks at me
it will be all over-and-he will knowv'
Another abrupt pause. Then she goes
slowly over to the corner to where the
valentine has f1uttered and smoothes out
the crumpled paper, and once more pc
ruses it.
TO my Lady CoQuette,'" she reads.
"Ah, Mr.. Denzil Charters, if you mean
that, it will so hard with me if | don't
make you rue the day you wrote or said
it, No; l won't throw this away. 1t shall
be kept as a memento of this day and Of
my vow-the vow | make over this sense
less paper that you have made so cruel
a weapon-if it lies in womans power to
bring you to my feet, there you shall be
brought. If it lies in my power to pay
you back in such coin the insult and the
shame you have given me to bear then
assuredly 1 shall pay it-every farthing!"
CHAPTER II.
The great dim drawing room is lighted
by the soft glow of lamps, and bright
wood fire burns i'll the old tiled fireplace
The perfume of dollhouse flowers, of
which Yolande has that morning robbed
the Conservatives, throws a faint, subtle
fragrance around. 1t is a beautiful old
room-a room where all is harmonious
and no modern upholstery and incongru-
GUS coloring are to be found.
Mr.. Mervyn is standing by the fireplace
talking to a gentleman who is portly and
elderly, and has a loud voice and good
humored face. 4 lady, also portly, but
with brown hair instead of gray, and few
CT wrinkles in her good-humored face than
her spouse possesses, is holding an appar-
emily interesting conversation with Miss
Skipton. A pretty fair-haired girl with
a marked resemblance to the obesity and
good-humor of her elders, which proclaims
their relationship Enthusiastically, sits by
a small table turning over the leaves of an
album. She advances with alacrity as
she sees Yolande, and greets her most af-
fectiOnately.
what a love you look." she whispers,
with good-natured appreciation.
Yolande gives her a smile of thanks.
and then hastens to greet her father and
mother In the midst of the questions
and answers that follow, the door opens
and some more guests are announced
Now says Yolande, inwardly. and
draws her breath sharply and sets her
lovely. mobile face into stern composure
No one can see beneath the surface, no
one can tell how fast and painfully her
heart throbs, or what superhuman effort
is required before she can utter naturally
the commonplace formula:
Good evening. Mr.. Charteris''
The man to whom this greeting is given
is not very different from the ordinary
run of men. He is handsome certainly:
but so are dozens Of his sex. He is very
tall and we'll made; but his face is too
the fair sex.
He does not look stern now, as he
glances down at the slim, fiower-faced
maiden before him; there is a faint quiz
Zical amusement in the depths of his
splendid eyes, a culver of a smile round
the corners of the grave lips. Yolande
withdraws her hand as soon as possible,
and enters at once into conversation with
pretty little Mrs. Adair.
Then they pair off, and Yolande tries
her best to listen and to appear interested
in her own companions conversation. The
dining room is pleasantly warm, lit with
wax lights. and perfumed with flowers.
She is separated by Arthur and Vi from
Mr. Charters and Judith; but she can
see his dark stately head bending towards
Judith's fair one, and every now and then
catches word or two Of his deep. mellow
voice. Judith is flirting as lightly and
brilliantly as she can; for the admiration