Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-03-14
CHAPTER XVIII.

a grave difference. 1t was the old line
IF argument cropping up afresh in Sarah
8astbelPs mind with no Reuben Culwick
at hand to laugh down her logic--with
Reuben CulWick's power to laugh it
down, perhaps, wonderfully diminished.
John had told Of Reuben going to find
Mary Holland at Worcester. Lucq had
predicted evil would come Of it, and
Sarah was WreCched.
| She must give him up-shc must not
gemain that weight upon his life, that
elog upon his industry, Which she had
Away thought she was, when her love
twas not bewildering her too much. Reu-
ben loved her, she hoped stlll-she did
not put faith in those strange suspicious
OF Lucy Jennings-but Lucy was right
IN one thing; that she, Sarah Eastbell,
could not add to the happiness Of Reu-
ben Culwick's life. She could only add
20 the expenses,-she could only keep
aim poor. If she stood apart now, per-
aaps he would marry Mary Holland, and
So master of his fathers house again, just
asst he father had wished from the first.
She had no right to bind him to his
Song engagement, to shackle his energies,
So keep him from "bettering" himself
aoy that she felt herself as p0or-mor-
ally, if not legally as poor-as when he
game in search of her to Potters Court.
It was a very quiet morning at one of
those strange Sunday services; those who
game to pray were not disturbed by those
,who came to scott; but the evening was
Aoisterous and stormy, and made up tor
81
Lucy Jennings read the signs of 1t IN
the noisy crowd about the door, and COM
pressed her lips and held her breath at
abe strong language which echoed from
ahs street IS she and Sarah approached,
ander the escort of two policemen, who
were waiting for them.
''YOu are trembling-you are afraid"
said Lucy Jennings to her companion;
will you turn back nOwT
''Why?"
There will be but little religion there
Tonight" said Lucy, "and you are not
strong woman"
II was not thinking of the crowd--or
She service" answered Sarah.
'Of what then?" was the sharp in
qairy.
''Of all shall say to Reuben present
2y. It's very wrong, | know, Lucy. but
you must not blame me for thinking of
RsEn so much l can't help it," she said
plRintiycy.
They passed under the arch, where
4?,e service commenced, and was inter-
xupted-where the old uproar went on,
and the police were t0lerably busy for
an hour and a half. The service came
80 an end; the stormy elements subsd-
I'd: men, women and children went their
various ways, and Lucy Jennings and
Sarah Eastbeil came out together, and
confronted Reuben Culwick, who was
waiting for them.
''Xou have come back thenw cried
Sarah in her first delight at seeing him,
"a her new forgetfulness of all that she
lad resolved upon.
"Yes-it was no use stopping longer in
Worcester, Sarah. Well, Lucy?"
well" answered Lucy i'll her old
short tones.
Il congratulate you on your sermon,
Sut l wish the surroundings had been
nore orthodox, and the congregation less
auarrelsome; for some of these days
Lucy was gone. She had suddenly
doubled" and disappeared down one of
she dark turnings. and Sarah and Reu-
aen were left looking at each other.
Sarah Eastbell took his arm and sigh
ed. This might be for the last time that
Yhey would ever walk together thus, who
e0gld tell? She had made up her mind
NOW, and the sooner the truth was told
aim the better. He gave her the oppor
&unity to speak at once, and her impul-
aiyeness leaped toward it, indiscreetIy,
desperately.
Il saw Miss Holland this morning--I
gave her the willard you are as poor
IS old job girl!'' he said.
'Yes, Reuben; | have been waiting for
this poverty to tell you that you must not
share it with me-"
'Indced!" was his quiet answer.
THAT you and | are not fit for each
sther. Oh, Reuben" she cried, Il am
suite certain of it now!"
Because Lucy Jennings-charming
iLucy!-has been at her old work, reck-S
sning after her old style, fashionins out
human lives after her own purposeless
way, choosing for others a path ahead
.ahat no human being out of BedIam could
follow, doing everything for the best and
isor ones good, but scattering dust and
ashes right and left like violent Vesu
,vius Come, is not Lucy Jennings at
she bottom of the resolution?"
Il have been thinking of this for
seeks. l have been seeing the neces-
,sity for it"
"Ay, through Lucy's spectacles.''
you would lose money by coming to
;Hse." said Sarah mournfully.
Nonsense! l have begun to save
lEsoncy again"
All. Reuben, let us understand each
ether at last; don't ask me to say any
.shing. do anything, but end this unnat-
'Nrai position between us. l am unhap-
ipy"
Because of this engagemertT.