Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-10-30
CHAPTER /.

CHATTER i.
Herbert Marsden, the wealthiest bank
er In Easton, stood, one morning, at the
fireplace OF his magniticently furnished
and adorned dining room ready to open
the letter he held in his hand. His fea-
lures wero gloomy as he adjusted his
glasses and scanned the address. Turn
ing his head from the entrance no ala
not notice the presence of beautiful girl
whose steps had been muiiled by the
heavy Smyrna carpet
'From Victor Il. Raymond, Of course,
no said, impatenty. Ills handwriting
10 quito familiar; but | wonder what
in the world the young man has written
In this letter to my step-daughter, ana
what will be the outcome Of this AFFAIR."
Either this Mr.. Raymond Is present IN
person or no fills his absence with let
ters. This must be changed Wero he
get the son Of n millionaire father
wouldn't object; but now-~no! Harold,
my partner, gave him lucrative position
In our banking firm; nevertheless, pre-
fer to keep him ut n distance now. How
ever, Harold, who is nm old and expert
enced business man, knew only too well
what he was doing. But how shall /
dispose of this letter? Shall | give 1t
to Beatrice? No, 1t may induce her to
commit some foolish act-~to upset some
OF my matrimonial projects for her. As
the matter stands, this correspondence
seems too intimate--it doesn't suit mo at
all. will keep the letter"
Suddenly no was aroused from ms
monoiogue by n hand which lightly, yet
firmly, touched his shoulder, accompanied
with the words:
"Pnpa, please give me my letter.!
''SVho told you 1t was yoursT asked
the banker.
az know It's minc," tho girl replied,
gazing untlinchingly upon him.
Herbert Marsden was OF haggard,
though robust, stature, with strong,
piercing gray eyes and commanding tea-
lures. His smooth shaver chin, under
the bloodlcss lips and bristling eyebrows,
and his cynical expression rendered his
features almost severe. lnvoluntarily his
presence cxhaled an icy atmosphere, but
this did not deter Beatrice Albenson,
who, though young, possessed iirmness OF
will and character and the mild luatcr OF
her dark brown eyes revealed such n
warm, deep>souled expression that even
ahe most obstinate anger usually became
soothed Not so with Herbert Marsden;
ne hnicd his stepdnughtcr because she al
ways reminded him of the past. Besides
the attitude of her form and the beauti-
full Iincnments Of her face called to his
mind n hated rival.
Before the bankers wife had died
two years previous to the opening OF our
Story-~sho entrusted to his care her IT.
year-old daughter. but she did not real
lze the full Importance of the trust
she Ind given tho N3an who had loved
her from early youth with an mistaken
affection Nlnrsdcn had conferred his
hrst love upon her and had asked for heI
hand; but Laura Trevor was then en-
gagged 10 nm artist whose acquaintance
she had made quite by accident, and she
could not oppose the ardent impulses oil
Aer heart Marsden's honest proposal
his prominent and secure position in the
social world, vanished before the roman
tic nimbus of her hearts idol, whose
future was utterly insecure.
Thus she married Otto Albenson the
artiat, and Herbert Marsdcn, until then
happy and merry man, became earnest
and gloomy. The change in his dispo'
sition was at first scarcely pcrceptihlc
but It became fully apparent in the
course of time He began to avoid the
eompanionship of other people his pre-
vlous Kindness and warm affection grew
rusty IN consequence of solicitude, and
made him perfect misanthrope.
Step by step Marsden took cogni2ance
Of his rivals life-battle to secure an ex'
sstence free frem care, but the artist
soon succumhed. Otto Alhenson did not
succeed IN climbing the ladder Of fame
a A IA, Is .,l, Il va
and n profitable market, aud soon he
stood with his wife and child, tho little
Beatrice. on the brink of misery's terri
Die abyss The words once sweetly whis
psred were realizcd: kiss often being
the substitute for supper. This con
Aition of domestic affairs naturally un
derinined the hcal,h of the couple, and
later. Otto contracted II severe cold, from
anprudent exposures, and died.
Then It was that MarSden rroffered
his assistance to the poor, grieved widow
and her 3-year-old child, which was
Anally, though reluctantly. accepted
When one year had rolled by they were
married Herbert Marsden had still loved
Ais.wife with the same fervor rs in the
pastp although from the start he enter
Salned such an aversion toward his step
daughter that he could not endure hei
presence any longer, and had urged his
wife to send the girl to n seminary: and
notwithstanding he saw his wish full
alled, he remained gloomy,
The death of her mother was severe
misfortune to Beatrice; and, during hei
stay at the seminary, which was extend
"a TO her eighteenth year, nobody felt
snclined to console her. Nevertheless
with her last breath her mother hat
whispered Reatrice's name, and haG
made her husband solemnly promise tt
take care of the child Her last thought
AsA not fingered on the husband. wht
ARa loved her alike in misery and atilu
snce for more than score of years, ant
new could he forget this when Reatriee's
presence constantly reminded him Of the