Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-07-26

owed its continuity TO piece OF Dahns
wire. Hugh Darlington came on morse
hack. He seldom drove. Detractors SAID
he was too stingy. Conspicuous among
the guests was Gen. Tazewell, portly,
compIacent, bland, prodigal OF hand-
shakes, and dressed in shiny black. bis
wife was with him, her proud face ana
unbending manner strongly at variance
with him. >,
''What a collection of Shandy Dams!
Maude said strolling out among the car
riages tied to the yard fence. one
wouldn't think most of these buggles
would run a mile, and yet they go on
forever"
In chair in the hall sat old Mrs.
Letcher, renewing her youth. She sim
gled out Hugh as he was passing, and
he turned to her with a sigh, remember
ing her last remarks to him.
"Stand by me, Mistuh Hugh, and tell
me who all the people are. Why, there's
General azewell-General!' she call
ed, pounding the floor with her stick.
"Why, General, how we'll you look-and
YOUR wife. too! I remember your mar
rage so we'll. Neither of you have aged
bit in all these long years. And how are
all your CullulS1, NIL AdACNSA4"
Mrs. Tazewell was not quick, and she
only bowed with coolest eivility. The
general shook hands with her with
beaming smile, and unctuously murmur-
ed. ''Where ripened wisdom lends its
countenance to loves youthful union,
none but the happiest auguries exist"
"Such a good man, the general" SAID
Mrs. Letcher, with the easy impression
- h
smiling way; 'but his wife-umph! What
could he have seen in her? Why, they
were so poor, before she married him,
that they dtln't have clothes fit to come
to church. l know because-Hugh Car
rington, what has Virginia Carey done to
her hair? I'm sure she used to have
brown hair. l know that's dye. Why,
there's old Mistuh Falconer! How old
he has grown! They say his wife
wouldn't give him any peace until he
had an outside kitchen built, and he went
to great expense, and now they never
use it. l wonder if Mrs. st. Clair wears
that little cap because she's bald. And
there's Sally Payne! Is it true that your
cousin James Tilted her? She looks mighty
sad. l suppose she thought this house
would be hers, and it makes her feel bad
ly. There! l must speak TO Nannle 1aze-
we'll. Go fetch her."
Hugh seized his opportunity and DART
ed away after her. An incoming wave
of people swept them both on. lie ex-
tricated her from the crush and steered
her into a safe angle of the hall, half
way up the staircase, and dropped ex-
hausted at her side.
"What extraordinary exertion have you
been undergoing?" Mamie TazeWell
asked
''Were you ever a listener to Mrs.
Letcher's wide-spreading criticisms!
What eyes that woman has!' He drew
long breath.
"Her mind is like a bad mirror The
reflected image is never true, and some
times it very much distorted; but it is
always recognizable"
81 should hate to think that" Hugh
said.
zone mustn't be vain," she said SOL
emily. "Do you know''-she turned on
him suddenly with the smile that light
ed up her face so amazingly" father is
much offended at you? Why do you
never come to the house? 1t makes me
feel queer, after what you have done for
us, to have you disdain our gratitude"
"Disdain!' Hugh cried.
eyes, but don't shout it. Does that
marble woman yonder disapprove?'
Hugh, following the direction of her
glance, saw Fairfax in a corner of the
big hall, surrounded by several men,
among whom was James Darlington.
"Why do all you men admire her so?
Your Cousins face is as ardent as
story book lovers, and l am sure if that
young lawyer next him had as much as
surance as Mr.. Henry he would whisper
in her ear how very beautiful she was.
She is beautiful, too. She might be
some great lady, in that costly gown
and with that scornful air. Do you
find it as hard as James Darlington to
Twin a smile?' She flashed an almost
contemptuous look at him.
Go be continued.l