Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-08-16

be unfair, and Il angered him. Surely
she had invited his remark. She, how
ever, cared little what he thought, and
responded with bored Indifference to his
further polite attempts to make CONVEX
sation. A light driZzle began to fall,
becoming a steady rain, as they plodded
homeward over the slippery turf. The
landscape was a misty blur, the ground
sodden and deep. Maude prepared him
self for another snub ard offered her
his coat
mo, thank you," she answered, with
no thanks in her voice, and Maude growl-
ed softly cnder his breath. After anoth-
er mile, walked almost in silence, she
was compelled to unbend Cor she had
thought of plan which required the use
of his covert coat.
"Mr. Maude," Fairfax said, turning
towards him, her wet hair hanging about
her face, II am sorry l was cross" Her
beauty shone clear, above her bedrag'
gled condition. With muddy boots, wet
skirts and dripping hair, she looked love
lier than ever.
''Then take my coat" Maude said,
eagerly. He had sworn to himself not
to offer it again, but the words came I'M
hidden. She had smiled on him only
once.
In the hall Gen. Tazewell was prepar-
ing a majestic reproof at his wife's ven
turing out on such day. The English
mans presence checked the flow of his
words. Change your clothes, Fairfax"
was all he said, ponderous disapproval In
his tone.
Certainly" she answered; "did you
fancy l was coming to dinner in this
gown? You see," she said, turning ia
Maude, "the general imagines all man.
kind as delicate as he is. He hasn't polk
ed his nose outside the door and is chilly
already. I am wet through and sha'n't
be hurt a mite" Her manner was I'M
necessarily rude, Maude thought. II will
have your coat dried in the kitchen" and
she went out of the room.
"And you, Mr.-er-I didn't catch the
NAME" the general said, turning to him.
"Maude," he answered. "Oh, I'm all
right. This coat isn't wet through. Mrs
Tazewell only put on my cover coat
little while ago. l say, is BERTHE eros
venor still in Washington"'
"Bertie GrosvenorW puzzled Tazewell
''Surely you don't mean Lord Grosvenor
Of the English legation? What do you
know of him, young man?
every little harm, l assure you. He Is
a cousin, you know and said if he didn't
go home he might be down this summer
to see me-"
LET me have the pleasure of enter
tanning him." Tazewell said, completely
off his balance at the thought * having
peer in his house; for Gen. Tazewell
had so long lived in the atmosphere Of
Washington that in him the politician,
with his reverence for place, had entirely
supplanted the Virginia planter, with his
proud democratic belief in being born the
equal Of the best. He stepped towards
Maude with beaming cordially: You
must be wet I insist on your accepting
a coat. At least come into my room and
put yourself to rights. You must Ger
tainly break bread with u.s."
Curious, these Americans" Maude
thought, as he walked home after tea,
"prating Of democracy and the equality
of men. What a start it gave the old
fellow He must think me a snOb, too,
to lug in my relations. Perhaps Madame
la Duchesse might grant Grosvenor a
smile or two She's a sumner for looks.
I never saw a woman wet through ap-
pear anything but drab before. People
say she's fond Of Darlington. I don't
believe it. 1t is her majesty myself that
she worships, I'll give odds"
CTo be contlnued.)