Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-08-02
CHAPTER yIII.-(Continued)

Was this young girl trying to be rude!
Surely her remarks could not.be at ran
dom. Gossip about himself and Mrs.
Tazewer had passed through the hrst
stage of whispers, through the second
OF deprecating sorrow, and was we'll OIL
the way to the third of fading interest.
"Well, do your she asked, impatient
ly.
Gam I favored above all others| he
asked, blandly.
81 don't know. AS for me, I hate her,
and you may tell her so, if you want to.
I am afraid of her, too. Look at those
cruel lips. How much mercy do you
think her capable off"
'T have never had occasion to throw
myself upon it," Curiously enough, Miss
Tazewell's words had not made him an
CRY. Half as much from another would
have made furiously so.
"Ahv' Miss Mamie exclaimed. "See,
one of her admirers has been favored
with a smile! Your young Englishman is
sIngeing his wings. Bring him to see
me some time"
Through the hall the stream of guests
passed slowly. Pretty girls in fresh
muslins rustled by. Mr. Henry, bach
elor and an ardent admirer Of feminine
beauty, made his way up the stairs and
broke of Hugh's tete-a-tete.
''Why, Mr.. Henry" Miss Mamie cried,
with great show of cordially, 81 began
to fear I shouldn't see you. Mr.. Car
rington kindly rescued me from Mrs.
Letcher's caustic tongue, but l am be-
ginning to tire of him. He's mighty
rude at times. I am sure you have never
been guilty of that" And she smjl ed
swCetly on the gray-he ded lawyer.
May l perish before give you cause
for offense, my dear young lady," Henry
answered, with ponderous gallantry.
COR perhaps there are so many pretty
girls below that Mr.. Darlington finds it
hard to concentrate his mind on me-" she
continued "Who do you think is the
handsomest woman in the hall below
us?"
''She says the hall below u.s." Caring
ton put in, as Henry placed his hand
upon his heart and was about to break
forth into a monumental compliment.
"Miss Tazewell" said Henry, ignoring
Hugh, with my eyes upon you 1 am
blind to loneliness in others" And he
Strengthened his shoulders and pulled
his mustaches, not whit disturbed by
her gay laugh.
Now began the strains of the Wedding
March; a lane was formed down the long
hall, and the BRIDE fresh, happy-looking
girl smiling TREMENDOUSLY beneath her
veil, and leaning on James Carrington's
substantial arm, passed down it
The Bishop of Virginia, her uncle, a
white-haired, gentle-faced man, stood by
the palms and decorations at the end of
the wide hall, book in hand. He lowered
above the assembly. The music ceased;
bis arms, in their loose white sleeves,
were appraised. and his slow, even voice
began the service Even Mrs. Letcher's
volubility was hushed. Negroes, old and
young, filled the doorways, and the over
fow Of the black population clustered
about the window-frames of the neigh
Dor rooms, whence, perchance, they
might gen a glimpse of the ceremony.
Then came the supper, with its loaded
tables and its crowd of smiling, obllglng
black walters. The servants were light
ing the candles in the ballroom as Oar
rington wandered out into the hall again.
An aged trio of darkies were tuning thelr
flddles. From every corner of the stair
case and from every shadowy nook came
the murmur of soft voices and the tInkle
of light laughter Near the palms gay
crowd was chatting the bride. Mrs.
Tazewell, in spite of her cold manner,
still maintained her court, of which
James Darlington seemed a permanent
member. From across the room Hugh
watched Mamie Tazewelfs eXtravagant
bestowal of smiles with rising vexation.
'Little hypocrite!' he said to himself,
although he would have found it hard to
explain what cause he had for applying
the word to her. All this time he was
listening to General TaZewelPs smooth
voice, in his sympathetic patronage of
the entire world. Where would you
find, in all the breadth of this most glo-
rious country" the general was saying,
"a brighter, more delightful scene? 10
weary worker in the vineyard, like my
self, to whom home comfort and leisure
are granted but in fieeting glimpses. this
Is a very paradise. The simple ceremony
we have this night witnessed never fails
20 affect me: whether among rich or poor,
high-born or low-born,> my feelings
are too strong for utterance. The
charming bride and her noble husband,
who so bravely look the future in the
face. and. hand in hand, enter upon the
blessed path of mutual self-sacritice and
aONiiAS t'All L, are uSuI 10 ZIG
as if they were my own children."'
Hugh" Henry said, solemnly that
man can so down deeper and come up
arier than any man I know His string
of platitudes is like dry wind in a des-
ert"
Then the stentorian voice of red
faced planter gave an echoing invita-
ton to take partners for the Virginia
reel. Henry pleaded his years of assid-
nous devotion to the mothers of the pres
ent Generation at like functions; but ur-
gent messages kept coming, and finally
an express command from Miss Tazewell
Not until early in the morning was
there any general move to so. Hugh
caught Fairfaxs eye as she left the ball
room, and saw that she wished to sneak
with him. Several men lowered about
Aer, pressing her to remain. Hugh fol-
lowed her up the stairs toward the
dressing room. As be caught up with
her, she turned away from her escort and
said, with switt indrawing OF breath,