Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-12-25

see, she had initiated his hand so
closely that | failed to detect the diff
ference. If possible was more than
usually pleased to receive 1t, as 1t was
several days later than on former oc-
casions. and l was beginning to chafe
at the delay
"Humming that sweet old love song,
Annie Laurie l fastened to my room.
| always wanted to be alone when l
read Johns letters You understand,
my dear? How my fingers trembled as
l opened 1t, and with Il sense of happi-
ness, too great for words, bent over the
closely written pages! Alas, how diff
ferent from the other missives l had
received from him. He loved me still,
but it grieved him to say, only as q
sister. In Eunice he had found his
ideal Would l not release him from
an engagement which, If consummat-
ed in marriage, would only terminate
in the ruin of three lives. He begged
me not to mention the affair to my
parents, as he would tell them himself
and thus spare me the ordeal Spare
mel All, my child, that would have
| been nothing In comparison with what
suffered then.
From that hour my whole being
was changed. No longer happy
hearted child, but grave and thought
full woman. How little l knew that
at that very time, John was having
fierce conflict with his own emotions,
"a hA A "a
posed to have come from me. In the
fur West 1t told him, i had found
another, and by the time he received
| that | would be wife. Would he
forgive me for my tickleness, and could
| he not find some one to fill my place?
There was Eunice. / was sure she
cared for him. and would make him
happy.
"You know the rest, child. He mar
ried her. She was ready ana willing
to give him every encouragement; ana
not until she lay dying did she con-
fess herself the author OF these two
letters, and how fearful she had al
ways been that we would find out her
guilty secret. and by mutual con-
| fession learn that in our hearts we
had always been true to each other.
or course he wondered why l had
never married. But she told him had
been terribly disappointed, and nor To
mention the subject to me. The letter
| 7 wrote releas sing him from his engage
ment she received, instead OF him.e
Eunice was clever, very clever. It's
n pity SO many clever people don't put
their talents to better purposes.
ION the day she died, she called
him To her. john she said, my life
has been spared many years, but !
have not been happy. Knowing at last
tbat YOU would never care for me, As
YOU did for her, l was wretcheV--a
citing punishment for my sin-but you
have always been kind and faiEaSui
husband. and could not die without
+el,ing YOU ALL When l am gone may
YOU be happy together. 1t Is my VAST
request. John, promise me you viii
heed It
"Well. as you know, child, we were
| married In June, although he is past
three score years and ten, and / was
spventv instead of twenty as 1t was 10
haye been. That is all dear. ana mere
| In John"
Later. MS I wandered In the glen,
picturesque bit of rustic scenery, !
found them sitting In an ideal spot at
the foot of beautiful waterfall the
grand yerdure-covered hills towering
above them. Dear old people; young
in their hearts as on that spring day
when they plighted their troth beneath
tho blossom-laden boughs OF the ola
annie trce.--Wnyerley.