Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-04-05

-. - = dlulJFd s. Mayor.
lohoWlng closely in the footsteps Of
JIM hoDDlns and the distinguished
guest OF the evening as they passed
down the long aisle to the table re-
served for distinguished guests Tho
hon. Jack Speed was seated On T;n,,,
right and Spencer at his left. mich 70
the latter's increased uneasiness Thon
the banquet commenced. and for ON
nour the CHATTER and chatter continued
without break. Jim was as delight
ful as OF yore, dividing his attention
very equally between the guest Of the
evening and Spencer, but the latter's
heart was filled with q vague distrust.
When the clatter finally ceased Jim
raped on the tables, and in q nice lit-
tie speech told of the purpose of the
banquet. He introduced the Mayor.
VINO briefly welcomed back the Hon.
MI. Speed to Palmyra. Then the Hon.
Mr.. Speed responded in brisk speecb.
testifying to his delight in returning
home to- such friends and such a vel
come, sentiment which was greeted
with loud applause Then Jim arose
again, with a crumpled telegram in his
hand. He much regretted, he said. to
be obliged to announce that the Hon.
Dwight Perkins could not be with
them. A telegram he had just re-
ceived announced railway accident
that blocked the road and held back
IIsMr. Perkins sixty miles away.
Our regret, however" said Jim, sis
somewhat mitigated by the fact that
we fortunately have with us as an
honored guest one Of the most promi-
nent of New York's young political
and social leaders, Mr. Spencer Clifford,
who will talk to us on the questions of
the hour
AS Jim sat down q patter of ap-
plause ran around the hall, and the
long lines of faces assumed an expec
tant expression.
Spencer gave him a horrible scowl as
he rose to his feet. Then he turned to
the auditors with pleasant smile. He
put his teeth together hard He
| wouldn't be bluffed. And deep down
in his soul he felt gratified that Jim
| despite his consummate meanness-
had confidence in him. Jim knew he
down the long table in front of him
they suddenly stopped. They rested
| on a. woman's face. 1t was the face of
the woman whom above all others he
was anxious to impress. She was
looking straight at him with such 4
| frinndIv anc0ura ciDo Spai1a
He took 4 mental brace. He had
meant to sit down at the end of his
next sentence. He kept right on. He
talked well. He talked still better as
he warmed to his subject. It was
mostly a talk about patriotism. He
spoke of the inspiring effect of the
sight of the old flag when he saw it
abroad. He told of the American who
| had fallen while attempting an ascent
| in Switzerland, and whom he had
helped to carry to the nearest house
| where the hastily summoned surgeon
| could set his dreadfully fractured
| limbs. And how the surgeon had no
chloroform when he came, and how
| the poor fellow, his vitality almost
| gone; had asked them to sing while
! the operation went ON, ''to drown his
groans," he said. And how the three
| Americans had sung 'The Star-Span-
gled Banner" the sufferer presently
| joining in with q shrill quavering
! voice, and apparently forgetting all
about the grooming. And how he at
| terward looked up with a bright
smile and whispered, Bet you an even
| hundred I see the old flag again"
And then Spencer took occasion to say
something pleasant about the men who
were upholding the dignity of the flag
at home and abroad, with handsome
ly indirect compliment to the Hon.
Jack Speed.
| When Spencer finally took his seat
| the applause was vigorous and. long
drawn out, and Jim, his face flushed
! and his eyes sparkling, grabbed Spen-
GERS hand under the table and
squeezed it hard and said: "Great, my
boy, greate'
| Spencer looked down the long line
| again But she had ORA wn back and
he could not see her lace. He Won
| dered what she thought of it all.
Presently Jim's fingers rested on his
arm.
Its all over," he said, .and we
must get our coats and hunt up Min
ME. Minnie is Mrs. Jim. By the way,
she has young woman from your
oyergrown town in tow tonight, and
we'll have to escort her to her aunt's
[ home. know her? She's Miss Anna
! Goldie."
A little later they were out in the
open air, Anna walking with Spencer
and Mr.. and Mrs. Jim going ahead.
'It was Splendid murmured Anna.
splendid You see, you can do some
thing we'll il you really try
I'm sorry you doubted it, MUIR
INJURED Spencer.
| az never doubted it, said Anna, L
only regretted that you lacked-for-