Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-12-13
CHAPTER x.


Reuben Culwick did not in any way
attempt to account for his late hours to
the inmates of Hope Lodge. He was the
master of his own actions, which no one,
he felt, had the right to criticise. Hence,
with this impression on his mind, the
deep reveries Of Lucy Jennings, and the
studious stares of her brother appeared
to be taking him in far too intently, be-
came a source of irritation to him.
us anything the matter, LucyV he
asked at last, one morning.
Lucy Jennings sat down suddenly in
the chair nearest to her ledger, and burst
forth with her catalogue of wrongs, max
ing amends for all past reserve in one
breath.
"It has come to you. You're not the
man you have been. You keep away from
home too much-you have been seen at
low places of amusement-your going
wrong-you-you never tell us any
thingr' cried Lucy, passionately.
Yes, have been seen at low places of
amusement" said Reuben, quietly, "and
my hours of return to Hope Lodge are
somewhat irregular at present. And SO
am going wrong, Lucy?'
You are not doing what is right
'You jump too rapidly at conclusions
after the habit of enthusiasts. I'm not a
sinner-that is, no more of miserable
specimen than was three weeks ago"
"Why did you ask John about the girl
in the striped dress, at the Saxe-Gotha
-
"Ah, the rascal has turned kings evil
dence, then!'' cried our hero.
"Why did you ask him not to tell me-?
why are you always at the gardens ?
why had you the effrontery," she cried
with eyes ablaze now, ito ask that
wretched. miserable girl to call here for
you?"
WHAT shouted Reuben, so forcib!y
that even Lucy was unprepared for his
excitement, and jumped back in her chair
some distance from him. what do you
mean? 2" he continues; "who has been
here? Speak out-don't glare at me- you
suspicious, heartless, disagreeable woln-
an. What girl called here for me?"
Lucy was very pale, but she held her
ground against his rage, though she had
never been witness to it before. He
had been always pleasant man till this
day. but now he was full of passion and
perhaps, hate of her. She could under
stand more clearly now why his quarrel
with his father had been a bitter one.
at was a girl in a striped cotton
Dress said Lucy, with emphasis "She
was a pert, insolent miserably clad wom-
an. She would not answer any of my
questions, save that you had told her to
call and she grew impertinent at last. )"
''You sent her away?'
Eyes. She said that she would never
come again"
Because of your hardness and harsh
ness?'
"She carried effrontery and desperation
in her face"
ITS a lier' shouted Reuben Culwick
"you don't know what you are doing,
what YOU have done, in your heartless-
ness There was soul to be saved, and
you have wrecked it.
NO" said Lucy, growing paler still,
.you don't mean"
II mean that that girl is my cousin,
for whom you tried to obtain an honest
place in !ife," he replied, 'for whose sal
walton / have been struggling after my
useless fashion. / found her in Lon
don, and tried to save her from the evil
that was surrounding her. She saved
my life, perhaps, then. and rendered me
forever her debtor When there was
chance for her, she was to come here.
She came,'' he said, fercely, land You
sent her away. How viii you, with all
your narrow views of charity, and Gods
mercy, and Gods vengeance, answer for
it, if you have cut from her the last
thread which led her to a better life:'
Lucy Jennings was cowed By his re