Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-12-13
worthy of being seen.

\ ~ vs. 00O 01lQ,
course" They were silent for space.
and she moved uneaslly. With them
the time for silenees had gone by and
had not yet come back.
| Now, she said, "let me see what
climate has done for you." She looked
him up and down. You're thinner.
| you know, and scorched; but you're
improved, Peter; decidedly improved"
He laughed. JOAN" he broke in.
I've tons to ask; there's a better seat
than this surely. Shall we search ?"
But I've sent Mr.. Playfair for my
tea, [ couldn't be so unkind."
Don't worry about that. There are
always women to drink other women's
tea. Besides, we have debts of four
years to settle. Come along
She looked up at him and-it might
have been the sun, but he could have
| sworn that there was greater brilli-
ance in her eyes.
Her lips parted in half-given con-
sent. Then across the lawn came a
| cherry voice: $50 awfully sorry. but
the crush in the tent was ungodly; and
-awfully sorry again, but all the wal
| nut cakes are gone. I brought
cream scone. Please say twill do
Carstairs smiled. He knew the look
in Joan's eyes. What he had yet to
learn was the sauvity with which she
smiled
$50 good of you," she said "But
let me introduce you two. Charlie, this
is Mr.. Carstairs-quite my oldest
friend"
Carstairs nodded. Sorry, JOAN" he
said abruptly, "but think I must be
off"
''Oh, Peter, how horrid of you'll" She
paused. But you will look me up.
Come round tomorrow In the afternoon
and I'll pay those debts" Her glance
rewarded him for many Things. He
took her hand.
Tomorrow, then. But remember,
have been buried alive, and one doesn't
keep an address book in the grave"
She laughed. How stupid of me-"
she said. you scribble while I say
Or, better still believe I've got
card. Charlie, hold my cup
She drew out small gold case and
handed Carstairs a card. "a permit to
paradise" she said. Don't forget"
He slipped it into his letter case and
took her hand.
"Good-by," he said gently.
"Good-by."
Interesting beggar!" said PlayfaiT,
after a three minutes wait.
She looked up for moment. "The
only interesting man I've ever known"
she said. And she slipped her tea.
=
1t was after dinner that Carstairs
took out the card. Before, he had been
too absorbed TO need the usual little
stimulus of fact. Even when he opened
his case and the square of pasteboard
lay in his hand he twisted it absently,
lost in memories that verged inces-
sanity toward dream.
81 wonder if it's still the same old
house." His eyes wandered over the
smoke that hung above the table in
circling clouds. "How one sticks to
old things and old times! All WE'LL
He turned the card and held it to the
lamp. He held it for a long time, NOV
ing not muscle of his face or hand.
Then slowly, with a sloWness that
seemed almost overdone, he replaced it
in his case. He had had his share of
surprises in the world, and his share
of knocks, and he had taken them
quietly, as BELTS a man. But now, IN
face of this new test, he was more
than ordinarily still; even his habit
of speaking aloud forsook him, and he
sat mute, his face in the red of the
lamplight showing trifie gray.
When Carstirs pressed the bell next
| day at the house in Eaton Square the
erayness was still about his mouth.
But when he gravely asked II Mrs.
| Villiers was at home he was startled
| at the calmness with which he spoke
the name. 1t was its unfamiliarlty, It's
total lack of personal sound, that
struck him most.
He passed upstairs and vaguely
heard himself announced. Then Joan's
voice crossed the silence and every
thing else became subservient to that.
"Joan!" he said. 1t was his greet
ing of yesterday, but it came spontan-
eously.
Eyes, Peter, just the same Joan. Now
I must give you my very best CHAIR
and you must talk"
He dropped into the seat and sat
| staring at bowl of roses by his SIDE.
All that he had meant to say seemed
| futile and absurd.
She carried fragile cup OF tea
across to him and stood looking down.
Peter" she said, something has hap
pened. can feel it hanging about IN
the air"
Carstairs looked gloomily down at
his boots.
Peter, you never used to have Sc
crets from me-
Nor you from me-" He took the