Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-03-15

alteration that she could hardly tell what
to make of it. Was he trying to make
some other woman jealous? 1t even came
into her head, once or twice, to suspect
that Cissy Hazeldine was the real OBJ
iect of his devotion, SO utterly incompre-
hensible did his conduct appear to her.
If she had been told that Lucien d Ar
blet's real quest was not love, but re-
yenge. she would have laughed. An Eng
lishman does not spend his time nor ms
energies in plotting desperate retala-
ton on a lady who has disregarded ms
threats and evaded his persecution; it IS
not in the nature of any Briton, now
ever irascible, to do SO; but French
man is differently constituted. Ihere
is something delightfully."- refreshing TO
him in an atmosphere of plotting and In
trigue NJ d'Arblet had no intention OF
getting himself into trouble, nor of risk
ing the just fury Of an indignant British
husband, nor did he desire, by any anony-
nous libel, to bring himself in any way
under the arm of the law. All he meant
to do was to dig his trench and to lay
his mine, to place the fuse in Vera New
ills hands-leave her to set fire to it
and then retire himself, covered with
satisfaction at his cleverness, to his own
side of the channel.
M. d'Arblet, as he sat down by her
side under the tulip tree, began by paying
Miss Nevill prettily turned compliment
upon her fresh white toilet; as he did SO
Vera smiled and bent her head; she nad
seen him before to-day.
'sFine evening, Mr.. Wilde" said the
Frenchman, turning civilly toward the
gentleman he addressed.
Denis only answered by a sulky grunt.
Then began that process between the
two men which is known in polite So
ciety as the endeavOr to sit each other
out.
II had something of great Importance
to say to you this evening"" murmured
M. d'Arblet, at length, looking ixedly at
his enemy's upturned face.
"All right, go ahead, don't mind me-,
says the young gentleman, amiably.
I'm never in the way, am !, Miss New
ill?"
"Never, Mr.. Wilde" answers Vera,
sweetly. "Pray tell me what you have
to say, monsieur"
''You have useful proverb in Eng
lish which says that two is company and
three is none," retorts d'Arblet, with a
smile.
I'm awfully sorry, old fellow; but
am so exceedingly comfortable | really
can't get up; if could oblige you in any
other way I certainly would"
''Come to dinner!' cries out Mrs. Hazel
dine, coming toward them from the gar
den side of the lawn; 1--WE are all here
now"
The two men sprang simultaneously to
their feet. This is, of course, the mo-
ment that they have both been waiting
for. Each offers an arm to Miss Nevill;
M. d'Arblet bends blandly and smilingly
forward; Denis Wilde has thundercloud
| upon his face, and holds out his arm as
though he were ready to knock some
body down with it.
"What am / to do?" cries Vera, laugh
ing, and looking with feigned indecision
from one to the other.
make haste and decide, my dear"
says Mrs. Hazeldine; ''for whichever Of
you two gentlemen does not take in Miss
Nevill must take that eldest Miss Tramp
ton for me-"
A cold shiver passes visibly down Mr..
| Wilde's back; unfortunately Miss Nevill
perceives it, and makes UP her mind in
stantly.
Il would not deprive you of so charm
ing a companion" she says, smiling
sweetly at him, and passes her arm
through that of the French vicomte.
Go be continued.j