Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-08-30
CHAPTER xIu.-(CoutinuedD

Il
Could he himself win her? At times
he had believed he could. She was very
young, and though her ideals were high,
her knowledge of men and of the world
was slight. Her conquest might be pos
dble if he took infinite trouble to study
her and make himself up according to
her standards. She was not for him,
however. He was captive to another S
chariot wheels; of her he must think. He
took letter out of his pocket and struck
matches until he had read it again. Like
himself, Fairfax was an Indifferent let
ter writer, and the phrasing was COM
monplace. It was quite short. Hugh
felt no disappointment, and believed there
was no change in the writer. He was too
well used to her letters. No matter how
strongly she felt, or how well she might
be able to express herself by word Of
mouth, nothing of this showed on paper.
Hugh had intended to form some plan as
to his future life, when he came out; but
now his mind wandered from his pur-
pose. He would wait till tomorrow. He
wondered idly how long the general
would live, felt sleepy, and went in.
The next day dawned hot, and he did
not feel in the humor for thought. After
all, Sufficient for the day" he yaWned.
The warning strikes Of the overseer' $
bell found him in the yard. There was
no order about the beginning of the day S
work. Mai. Tazewell was not up, and
the corn could not be got until the key
Of the corn house was brought; and all
hands seemed perfectly Indifferent as to
when it came. Two of the mules had
large sores on their shoulders, but no
attention was paid to them, and their
gear was put on. The hay which the
men were feeding was mouldy, and 10
one took any pains to see that it was
given out economically. The overseer,
after ringing the bell, smoked placidly
by the hay barn, and the hands jolled in
the morning sunshine. A thin stream Of
smoke arose from the house kitchen, and
an old negro woman, pipe in mouth, split
wood for the breakfast at the door. The
cows were being MIXED wherever they
happened to be, and from three a gallon
was carried to the house. THAT air calf
COTTON most fun two cows" the milller
said, cheerfully
Every one seemed to be doing what lit
tie he did in a lazy, haphazard way.
There was no encouragement to do any
thing well. A few hogs ranged through
the stable yard, polling their eternally
ravenous noses into every corner. They
received no notice but chance kick or
two. Hugh walked around to the front
of the house. The porch was sadly i'll
need of paint and the blinds were miss
Ang here and there. 1t was a big house,
and still imposing. He retraced his steps
to the stable yard. There was a sudden
air of movement in the awakening house.
The old cook at the wood pile held her
ak suspended. A boy rushed by her out
of the house, and shouted a few words.
Two female servants huddled togeth-
er, frightened, at door. The overseer
looked up from his pipe and the negroes
were eXpectant.
"Mr. Ca'ingtonw called the boy. Mas
ter! He's dying"
Hugh ran to the house and tore up the
stairway. \ lamp was burning i'll Maj.
TazewelIs room, and Miss Tazewen was
supporting the old man with one arm,
while with the other she held a glass to
his lips She was in her nightgown, one
bare foot showing beneath its white folds.
Her hair was loose and hung in clouds
about her face.