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


unseIfshness give. Throughout her life
she had been one to whom friends came
in the fullness of their happiness Or in the
depth of their grief. Beside them stood
Mai. Bob Tazewell, one hand On his SIS
ter's shoulder. Darlington coiled up his
buggy rein, by which one end Of the
coffin Of the dead soldier had been low
cred into the grave, and with the rest
of the bearers stood back while the gaunt
rector of the parish opened his prayer
book.
81 am the resurrection and the life"
Death, the great leveller of rank and
honors, finds its counterpart in the I'm
changing words of the rite.
Then the neighbors, one after another,
took a hand in shoveling the earth into
the grave, changing at frequent intervals
in this service to the dead, and every one
standing waiting until it was finished and
the last few words of the minister COM
pleted the ceremony.
Maj. TazewelPs affairs were in bad
tangle. There were no books, only con-
fusing mass of memoranda. His will left
everything unreservedly to the daughter
Hugh worked steadily with the paymas-
ter through several days. AS the first
shock of his grief wore off, the son grew
restless under the dullness Of country life
and the tedium Of accounts. One after
noon they were sitting in the library
which overlooked the lawn, thickly be-
sprinkled with daisies. The windows
were open, and faint breath came from
the river.
Hugh" Major Bob said, rising impa-
teintly, 1--WE got to go back. 1 can't
stand this. Thank goodness, you've
agreed to run the plantation this summer.
This silence and stiffness is too much
1t makes me think, and you know don't
like to think. The past is not such q
pleasant dream that I care to recall it.
There is too much shipwreck in it." He
went on, with a change Of tone: "Of
course, must make a home for Mamie.
She won't go just now, and | swear, Car
rington, I hate to think Of her coming at
all. Not but what am fond Of her, and
will do the best | can for her-but don't
think an intimate acquaintance with her
brother desirable" Hhe sat down and
drummed on the table with his fingers.
II had thought of this contingency be-
fore, but I always thought she would
marry, or something; but now" He
got up and paced the floor. ITS rather
premature to discuss such things, but
your cousin is in love with her. l won
der if" he glanced at Hugh.
Il sayw cried Darlington. in a burst
Of anger, "have you no common affec-
ton? Here is your only sister, as fine a
girl as l know, left with only you as
protector, and you try to shove her off on
any one that will take her"
Equal anger fared up in the majors
face. "Who are you to teach me yir-
tue?' he said, in hard tone; "you, who
never in your life paid an honest debt If
you could escape it, and would, dare
say, be the hero of a divorce court drama
before now, if you weren't afraid Of hav-
ing to spend a dollar or two. You're the
man to talk of proper feelings to me, you
hypocrite What makes me think so?
Because I, too, love Fairfax Tazewell,
and have loved her all my life"
Darlington dropped his head on the ia
BILE as if struck by a blow. Tazewell
went to the window and stood gazing
across the fields, his hard face set in hard
lines. He came back to the table after
4 minute.
Look here, Darlington" he said, "this
is a useless quarrel. We both love the
same woman; you have won; have lost.
At present she is for neither of US; but
don't assume these airs of virtue; they
don't fit you"
'Tazewell" Darlington said, II have
never quite seen myself before as l am.
didn't know l was SO utterly despica-
BILE"
ooh, come, Hugh, don't let's have Il re-
yival meeting. l am not strong on soul
regeneration or leading a new life. You're
no worse than your neighbour
Darlington saw the futility of further
remark. They bent over the papers
again, and late that night the affairs of
the dead planter and soldier were as we'll
ordered as they could make them.
Tazewell stood up, stretched and
yawned. 81 thought you said your friend
Maude was coming here to-night?'
80 he did; but either he has changed
his mind, or come a cropper over some
fence
"Wen, l don't believe he'll be here to-
night. and I'm going to bed, if you don't
mind"
Darlington went to the stable and sad
died his mare. Like many another accus-
toned to daily riding, he could think bet
ter on horseback than on foot. The moon
was high and the big pasture light
enough for good canter. The horse he
was riding was one of Maude's thor
oughbreds, a brown, of which he was
very fond. The galloping" fence. with
its projecting stakes, which bounded the
field, made an ugly jump; but in one
place it had been patched with a rail
Io1s
about three feet from the ground, and
at this he put the mare in collected
gallop. STEADY, steady, girl" he eau
toned, as he approached it, and she
swung down her head to the tightening
of the rein; steady, now" He gave her
her head, and the willing mare rose light
ly as bird Carrington's heart rose
with the spring of the mare. Life is
not hopeless" he thought; there is still
time to change. / have won her friend
ship" The motion of his horse and the
cool night air brought quiet to his mind.
He slowed down to walk, looking out