Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-08-24
CHAPTER V.


Glade received the news Of that en-
gagemeat with triumph that was yet half
bewilderment. She, like Mrs. Audley, had
always more than half suspected that
Lenore preferred Cyril; now, she said to
herself that she had been wrong-there
could be no inducement except real love
wealth nor title.
$50 it was Austin all the time, she
said, ''and l have been wearing my life
away With anxiety, thinking it was Cyril.
Erea if it had been--if they had been en-
gagged twenty times over-l should nave
kept my VOW"
May passed with it's harebells and haW-
thoras; June came with it's roses and
lilies, July, with it's blaze of scarlet pop
oies and full-blown lines. That summer
the marriage was to take place, but 1t
would be when summer was waning.
L,eg.t,re walked one morning through the
Barton Woods.
OF late there had grown on her spirit
of unrest; she could not tell why or
WHEREFORE terrible spirit, that made
the four walls of a room utterly unbear-
able to her, that drove her out to the
woods and the fields, always seeking
counsel from her own heart and hndlng
none. What allied her, what possessed
her, what had gone wrong in her ife-
she, who ought to have been happier than
any other On this morning the CONVEX
sation had turned upon her wedding
dress. Glade was vitality interested III
it, not forgetting to put in plea about
her own.
81 must have something very nice"
she said ''Sir Cyril is sure to come to
your wedding, Lenore; if I am your
bridemaid he will be your best man, and
we shall be thrown together"
A very natural speech. Lenore felt that
it was so, yet it made her angry, so lrri-
tatea, that she could no longer talk pleas
antiy to her mother about muslin and silk.
The room seemed small and close; every
word uttered by everybody seemed tire
sorne. She said to herself that she was
oyertlrel. and she must so out; yet, when
she was out in the beautiful sunshine, the
sense Of irritation remained with her.
She stood at the whitebarred gate which
he'd to the entrance Of Barton Wood. She
sighed as she watched a bright winged
pheasant; life was not all she had pic
tured it; the fancies and dreams Of her
girlhoed were not realized.
81 seem to have missed something" she
said, land | cannot tell what | have
missed"
At that moment she caught sight Of
mans figure crossing the wood. Why
should her face flush hot crimson that
almost panied her, then grow white as
snow lrop-white even to the lips? Why
should her hands tremble and her brain
reel? 1t was Cyril; there could be no
mistake. Cyril, the knight, with the sol
fiprs erect carriage and the knightly air
of dignity; Cyril, her old friend and play
fellow, whom she had known as long as
she had known Austin-Cyril, whom, of
course, she admired very much, as did
every one who knew him. What was the
mist that seemed to spread out in the air
between himself and herr, She seemed
aazeSf and half bewildered.
81 must have felt frightened" she said
10 herself in half pitied excuse for her
own emotion. Yet why should the sight
Of Cyril brighten me?'
ssIsenore! cried a CHEEKY voice, full of
deep, rich music; "Lenore"
She was utterly unable to answer; she
zaise8 her beautiful, colorless face with
something of the dauntless spirit which
burned in her gallant fathers breast
gaen he faced the Sepoys' fire.
"Iaeaorew
The cry was repeated, then came the
crash of strong footsteps among the
araeksn and the fern. Then a dark, hand
some face was smiling into hers-a face
full OF Are and passion and power; dark
Eyes, fuN of something before which her
9Wn Sell.
~I.eaere," he said, how strange that l
saoaka meet you, how strange that I
should find you here | was going to the
Manar House purposely to see YOU"
Why could she not answer him? Why
xhoul3 her pale face grow paler, and her
AanRs treable from his clasp? He looked
hail surprised, half amused. The man
ReysE lived yet whom feminine timidity
did Rat fatter, or girls pretty coyness
aisaFu.
absence has been bad friend to me,
IAenarer' he said. "Have you not one
warS Of greeting for me? l have been
away all these months, yet you have not
sae word when l return"
Il did not know you had returned"
xSe said, shyly.
], zayseIf," he replied. Il wonder if you
ess guess at all why I came, Lenore?
~Ino-I never can guess anything"
SIZE answered.
Then | shall be compelled to tell you,
and ii will not be an unpleasant task; but
y9a must be civil to me first, Lenore
Hold ont that pretty white hand of yours
Il remember the touch of it so well-and
ssy sAat you are pleased to see me-"
She Reld out her hand
y ana much pleased to see you," she
ssiE
But why did the touch of his strong
Ezsexs on her hand make her heart beat
md her whole frame tremble? She had
sSG&sa hands with him hundred times
fefe9e.
Afsenore," he cried, half impatiently, 81
% Ret believe that you are pleased to
rS-n ~