Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-08-23
Hugh shrugged mis- shoulders. >Ol

Hugh shrugged mis- shoulders. ~Or
can go into the army and to the Philip
pines"
At this instant Major Tazewell appear
ed, with bent shoulders and labored gait,
at the door. He came out and tok the
chair his daughter brought for him. 1t
was evident that he was failing rapidly.
He talked cheerfully to Hugh, when his
daughter had gone in to look after the
supper, about the season and the chances
for corn, but not without effort. Hugh
kept thinking Of the girls future. If he
died. where could she go? The dissipat-
ed face of the brother rose before him
and he shuddered. There could be no
proper home for her with him. Some
thing Of the same thought must have
been passing in the old mans mind; for
he said at length:
"Mr. Darlington, how few Of US are
ready for death. If it only mattered to
ourselves, life would not be hard thing
to put down; but it is seldom So"
After supper Hugh promised himself a
long tete-a-tete with Miss Tazewell.
They were hardly through the meal, how
ever, before the ponderous tread of James
Darlington sounded on the steps, and his
bulky figure showed against the starlit
sky as they came out. Hugh found his
presence on the porch not very accepta-
BILE to his cousin, and withdrew into the
majors room.
Not until late did he hear the steady
rhythm of hoofs departing, when he sal
lied forth to find Mamie locking the front
door. He was annoyed at his cousin
visit, and his tone expressed it.
81 thought you did not count my heavy
cousin among your admirers?' he said.
II saw signs Of regeneration in Jim the
last time I was at Cartersbrook, and was
much concerned, fearing he had got re-
ligion or some other fearsome thing; 1t
is less serious than l thought"
Nannie's brown eyes cleaned. MT
Darlington has little need Of your kindly
patronage and interest. He is an honest
gentleman, and merits my entire re-
spect."
perhaps it is not your respect only ne
covets," Hugh said.
Chow dare you talk to me in that
way!' she cried. "You are impertinent,
sir!' and she swept by him up the hall.
Hugh went out. The window of his
room was easily reached from the
ground, and he could re-enter that way.
He was angry with himself and Win
Miss Tazewell Outside was the still
ness of a summers night, a soft wind
blowing. He walked away behind the
house. Lights shone in the windows OF
the quarters and a mOuth-harp merrlIy
sounded a breakdown, with the slapping
accompaniment Of a pleased audience.
He aroused a number of dogs, and the
negroes in the doors of their cabins look
ed at him curiously as he passed by.
He felt sore from the last words OF
Miss Tazewell, and from others that
had gone before. In Virginia not much
beyond the social graces is demanded,
and Darlington could be popular enough
when he liked. Mamie Tazewell, how
ever, demanded more; and her scorn for
his manner of life cut him all the more
deeply for the armor of Indifference and
vanity which protected him against
smaller hurts.
For perhaps the first time he reviewed
his life and faced the future squarely.
He was drifting, awaiting a dead mans
shoes, and making love meanwhile in
purposeless way to a portionless girl, Of
~A~AN
the girl was not fair game, being in his
debt for services rendered her family,
and o7er-estimated. She had no one to
guard her except a feeble old man. When
he died she would have no home except
this plantation, where she could not stay
alone. OF course, some family would
take her in-his aunts, it might be. Or
she might enter it as James Carrington's
bride. Hugh groaned at the idea and
shut his eyes. But surely, good as was
his Cousins blood, and unquestioned as
was his uprightness of life, the figure
that his virtues adorned could hardly be
young girls ideal. Besides, in spite Of
his heritage, James was hardly more
than a provincial farmer in mind and
manner.
CTo be continued)