Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-04-13
CHAPTER II.

"At once it seems that something new or
strange
Has passed upon the flowers, the trees,
grounds;
Some slight but unintelligible change
On everything around"
Trench
The sunlight of Il brilliant April after
noon streamed into pleasant room on
Beacon Hill in Boston town in this same
year of 1775.
young girl sat in the broad low win
dow seat, idly looking out at the occasion
al passers-by. Seated before a spindle
legged table on which were several cups
and saucers of fragile china, was a mid
dle-aged dame of stately presence. Her
powdered hair was drawn smoothly back
from a fair, ruddy face and piled high in
elaborate puffs. She wore an elegant black
satin petticoat, with voluminous oyerdress
of pink and brown brocade. Here and
there bows of black velvet ribbon brought
into sharp relief the small buckles set
with brilliants, which held them in place
upon the gown. Her slim, white hands
were adorned with many sparkling jewels
The high red heels of her black satin
slippers rested against the low fender.
This handsome matron of high degree
was none other than Mistress Salome Lee
land, wife of Francis Leland, merchant
and secret agent of His Royal Majesty
King George III. of England. A royalist
to her dainty finger tips, she carried her
self proudly among the court circle OF
the provincial town. No one was more
outspoken than she regarding the pre-
sumption and folly of the colonists in
making any stand against their Cypress
ors; none more thoroughly convinced of
the utter uselessness of their attempts to
redress the fancied wrongs they were
enduring.
But she was not thinking Of serious
matters on this particular sunny after
noon. The nieces of her husband were
always warmly welcome to her daugh-
teriess home, and for Desire, the fair
maiden sitting by the window, she felt
especial affection. She was proud of the
girls rather uncommon style of beauty.
Few were blessed with so admirable a
combination of excellent points. Her slen-
der, softly rounded figure showed to the
utmost advantage in the close-ftting dress
of dove-colored silk and crossed handker-
chief of spotless muslin, which was the
fashion of that day.
Mistress Salome had reason to be both
fond and proud Of her niece Desire. She
was thinking of her while she sat before
the wood fire burning SO cheerily in the
tiled fireplace. Her gaze wandered from
the lovely, living face to that of portrait
hanging almost above it.
you are the image of Mistress Pamela
Leland, Desire" she said, at length. las
you sit there I could believe the picture
had been painted from your very self.
Desire raised her eyes and met those of
her fathers mother looking out proudly
from the old frame.
'.My father has often said the same
thing, Aunt Salome. But | fear | have
not her brave heart. You know the story,
do you not? How she left her fathers
house and was married secretly at mid
night to the lover of her choice!
Yes, / know the tale, and have al
ways admired her spirit. Her father had
naught against Francis Leland but his
religion, and surely your granddame was
right to follow her conscience in the mat
ter. when she herself was no Catholic,
though Catholic bred"
Desire did not reply at once. A thought