Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-01-18
CHAPTER III.

Have you heard of Sir Johns latest
vagary, grandpapa2 He is gone down to
Kynaston to hunt--so there's an end of
him"
"Humph! Where did you hear that?"
I've been lunching at Lady Kynas-
tons"
The speaker stood by the window of
one of the large houses at Princes Gate
overlooking the Horticultural Gardens.
She was small, slight woman, with
fair, pale features and mass of soft vel
dow hair. A stranger would have guess
ed her to be a girl barely out of her
teens. Helen Romer was in reality five
and-twenty, and she had been a widow
four years.
OF her brief married life few people
could speak with any certainty. All that
was known was that Helen had lived
with her grandfather till she was nine
teen; that one fine morning she had walk
ed out of the house and had been married
to man whom her grandfather disap-
proved of, and to whom she had always
professed perfect indifference. 1t was
also known that eighteen months later
her husband, having rapidly wasted his
existence by drink and other irregular
courses, had died in miserable poverty;
and that Helen not being able to set up
a home of her own, had returned to her
grandfather's house, where she had lived
ever since.
1t is certain that she would not have
lived there could she have helped it. She
did not love old Mr.. Harlowe, neither did
Mr.. Harlowe love her. A sense Of abso-
lutte duty to his dead daughters child on
the one side. sense Of absolute neces-
"a fho Jyoy~ txro bor
Their natures were inharmonious. They
kept up form of affection and intimacy
openly; in reality, they had not one sin
gle thought in common.
She stood at the window looking out at
the waning light of the November after
noon She was handsomely dressed in
dark green velvet, with heavy old-fash-
toned gold chain around her neck; every
now and then she looked at her watch,
and frown passed over her brow. The
old man was bending over the fire behind
her.
Gone to Kynaston, is he? Humph!
that is your fault; you frightened him
off"
Did l set my cap at him so palpably,
then?" said Helen, with a short, hard
laugh.
You know very we'll what | mean"
answered her grandfather, sulkily. "Set
your cap! No, you only do that to the
men you know L don't approve of, and
who don't want you"
Helen WINGED little. You put things
very coarsely, grandpapa," she said, and
laughed again. Il am sorry | have been
unable to make love to Sir John Kynas-
ton to please you. Is that what you
wanted me to doV"
II want you to look after a respecta-
fble husband, who can afford to keep you.
What is the meaning of that perpetual
going to Lady Kynaston's, then? And
why have you dragged me up to town at
this confounded time Of the year, if it
wasn't for that? You have played your
cards badly, as usual. You might have
had him if you had chosen"
81 have never had the least intention
of casting myself at Sir Johns head"
said Helen, scornfully.
"You can cast yourself, as you call ut,
at that good-f nothing young spend
thrills head fast enough, if you chose
It,"
81 don't in the least know whom you
mean" she said, shortly.
The old man chuckled. "Oh, yes, you
know we'll enough-the brother who
spends his time racing and betting. You
are a fool Helen; he doesn't want you;
and if he did he couldn't afford to keep
you"
Suppose we leave Captain Kynaston's
name out of the discussion, grandpapa,"
she said. quietly, but her face flushed.
Are you not going to your study this
EVENING"
"Oh, yes. I'm going, fast enough. You
want me out of the way, I suppose.
Somebody coming to tea, Ell? Oh, yes, I'll
clear out don't want to listen to your
rubbish"
The old man gathered up his books and
papers and shutfied out of the room, NUT
tering to himself as he went.
The servant came in, bringing the lamp,
and drew the curtains, shutting out the
light of day.
Anyone to tea, ma'am?" he inquired,
respectfully.
"One gentlemau-no one else. Bring
up tea when he comes"
Very well. ma'am." And the servant
withdrew. Mrs. Romer paced impatient
ly up and down the room, stopping again
and again before the clock.
Late again! A whole half hour be-
bind his time! 1t is insufferable that he
quickly enough to see some new face
some fresh fancy that had attracted
aim"
She continued to pace steadily up and
down the room. The clock licked on, the
minute hand of the watch crept ever
stcalthily forward over the wolden dial.
Suddenly she sank into an armchair, COW
ering her face with her hands
"Oh. what a fool--what fool ami"
she exclaimed aloud why have | not
strength Of mind to so out before he
comes. to show him that / don't care?
Why, at least, can not call up grandpa.
and pretend | had forgotten he was COM
Ding? That would be the best way to
treat him: the way to show him that I
.am not the miserable slave he thinks me.
oh, if only could be proud. and pretend
do not care! But can't, an't--there
is always this miserable sickening pain
at my heart for him, and he knows it,
4 ring Mt the bell made her snrinp RI