Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-08-23

| bye. In vain she had pleaded lack or
wardrobe; he was ready with the largest
check he had ever proffered. And Hugh
proved an exasperatingly uncertain cor
respondent, nor did his letters atone in
their warmth for their brevity. Now and
then, when very low in spirits, Hugh
would fill four pages with lOnglngs and
signs and the sorrow unspeakable OF
separation. She received one so morbid
ly tragic in tone that, for half IN hour,
she considered fleeing to him; but the
next was fippant and commonplace and
labored; its sentiment, too, seemed fore
ed. She had no other correspondent in
Eastover.
These were idle, long days for Hugh.
To kill the hours between sunrise and
sunset called for the exercise Of daily
ingenuity. After the wheat and hay
harvest, for the ordinary farmer, during
the long, hot summer, the days have lit
tie enough of occupation. To see his
teams led out at dawn to make one visit
to the scorching corn field, to overlook
the distribution Of feed to the plough
men at night, hardly filed up the four
teen hours of day. But Hugh, with
nothing to do whatever, slept, and went
to town, and got slight amusement out
of it all.
One still night in August Hugh was
riding home, his coat on the saddle in
front of him. His feet were out of the
stirrup irons. He was hot from neck
to heels, and there was not a breath
of air. He was nervous and irritable,
and when his horse stumbled badly he
grumbled violently at the discomfort. The
animal went dead lame, and he was fore
ed to walk the last mile, steaming, and
entirely out of temper.
Morning came, and with it a little
freshness.
"l'm going away for a few days." Car
rington said, over his egg at breakfast.
'Where?' Maude asked.
ooh, up the river" Hugh replied, care
lessly.
His companion eyed him curiously.
Cant you let the girl alone? Not but
what [ think you'll come a cropper."
perhaps you think you could go over
the course without a fall" answered
Hugh. Neither of them was in an agree
able humor.
"Oh, we'll, what's the odds?' Maude
said. "Just the same, I'll give you five
to one you don't get in"
''I'll take it," said Darlington, and went
out and took the reins of his horse off
the rack. He mounted; then got down
and came into the room again.
'Maude," he said, 81 won't take that
bet" He went out and rode off.
First sign Of decency the beggar's
shown this SUMNER" Maude commented,
and went on with his mail.
Darlington took the river road to Major
| Tazewell's plantation. He met no one
| but a few stray darkies; stopped for
| luncheon at Terry's house; and passed
/ his aunt's place late in the afternoon.
The mules were coming in from the days
working the corn. their great ears hang
| ing, the hair rough with dried sweat.
| There was no sign of life about the house.
| The negroes passed by, sitting woman
fashion on the mules. Several touched
the rags of their hats respectfully.
Hugh found Maj. Tazewell in the sta
| Bile yard, leaning on his stick and round
| ly berating a sullen negro. The major
was old, but his voice was fiery and his
| temper shorter than ever. Mamie Taze-
we'll was sitting on the front porch, sew
ing. Hugh lounged down on the steps,
after greeting her, and famed himself
lazily.
"What have you done this wecll?' she
| asked.
| "I?-nothing worth mentioning. WhyT
Her brOWs knit into q froWn Isn't
there something worth doing?"
as there? What, might 1 ask, have
you done|
ooh, am a woman; we do nothing, ex-
cept little things. Have you no ambi-
ton, Mr.. Darlington? Are you content
| to sit down and idle away your youth?
| Oh, am very glad to see you. Your Wis
it's are a great pleasure to father and me,
you know that; but it seems to me you
might fill a higher role than that of an
agreeable guest. l don't mean to be I'M
| civil, but l hate to see you throw away
your life"
"As 1 understand political economy"
Hugh said, ''the ordinary man labors be-
cause he must that he may live. l can
| live without labor, so why should I toll
| in the heat of the day."
81 know nothing of political economy"
| she answered; but | should think the
man who labors for that alone must be
very Indifferent laborer. Surely there
is the desire to labor for the accomplish
ment of something more than the mere
| living You were once a progressive
| hard-wo lg planter. You were the au-
thority on tobacco raising in this section.
Once you could have been county judge.
1t was no great honor. but it might have
| led to something. What has changed
your know, if you don't"
"Do me the favor of letting me into
your secret" Hugh said, the suggestion
| of a sheer in his voice
She looked at him, sprawling ON the
steps. Il have no right to talk to you
this way. | suppose it's very rude, but
you make me so angry, sometimes, L
can't help it. Entire idleness must bore
you-new," she added, after little hes
| itation, with swift glance at him.
There is no great novelty in coming to
see me, or any of your friends. For
your own pleasure, you can't live this
way forever"
NO." Hugh answered, 81 cannot.
can go to Cuba tomorrow. Gen. Taze-
| we'll has kindly Interested hinoSofF fo