Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-03-28
CHAPTER H.-(Continued.)

his footstep she turned slowly and look
ed at him carelessly, then looking again,
threw up one hand. Was she going to
faint? Not shel Her face whitened,
Aer pansy-violet eyes grew black with
intense emotion, but without tremor
she offered the little cold hand he had
dashed away from him so long before.
It was as cold now as it had been then
had it never been warm since, he
wondered.
Welcome home" he heard in the re-
rmembered music of her voice.
"Oh, Grace, my darling, my wronged
little lovew He knew his own mind at
Ilast, and was down on his knees before
she could prevent him, passionately en-
treating, "My darling, will you forgive
me, and give yourself to me2 l have
come home to make reparation for the
past. l never knew how dear you were,
how entirely l loved you, till the ocean
rolled between u.s."
For n moment the silence of unspeak
able emotion fell between them; she
struggled for speech, waving her hand
for him to pause, while over her pure,
pale face a flood of indignant crimson
warmly drifted
Rise, SIR" she answered. at last. In
tGow, proud tones, such words are an in
suit to me!'
"And why7 Oh! Grace, can you not
forgive me, can you not love me? You
lBoved me once, l know. Don't send me
lRway. Promise that l may still love
you, that you will be my worshipcd
wife,
She did not laugh at him. 1t was not
i'm the nature of the girl Bruce Conway
a 4 I.
laughing but sweet and merciful. She
looked at him, still family flushed and
Ipxcited. but answered with unconscious
by Strengthening figure, and a firm but
gentle dignity peculiar to her always:
Possibly you are not aware, Mr.. Con-
way, that your words of love are adj
dressed to one who is already Il wife
and mother
Mr.. Conway had never tainted IN his
fife, but with a feeling that sense and
strength were giving way, he rose, and,
rfiropping into Il chair, white as death,
booked at the young creature whose quiet
assertion of matronly dignity had fallen
on his ears like n death-warrant. And
as he looked, with that strange power
we have of discriminating details even
IN the most cventful hours, he noticed
many things that went far to prove the
truth of her words. He had left her
poor and almost friendless, her richest
$iress a simple white muslin, and scarce
ty another piece of jewelry than the SIM
pie trinket of gold and pearls that clasp
%d the frill of lace at her white throat.
Tonight she wore n sweeping robe of
costly white silk, with flouncings of real
2nce. that was worth small fortune in
Hsef. There were diamonds on the wa
vering swell of her white bosom, depend
ing from the pearly ears, scintillating fire
iron her restless taper wrists, claSpinS
gAer statucsque throat like sunshine glow
Wig on snow. She was we2 thy, prosper
Gus. beloved now, he read in the restful
reacc that crowned her innocent brow;
aud bittercst thought of oil to the man
who had loved and deserted her--an-
ether man called her his wife-another
atan's child called her mother.
While she stood with that flush of
offended wifely dignity burning holly on
her pure cheek, while he looked at her
with souls despair written on his hand
some features. Il gentleman entered the
room carrying an ice. lie was tall and
splendidly handsome. his countenance
frank and pleasant, but a slight frown
contracted his brow rs he took in the
scene, and it did not clear away as the
lady said, distantly:
MIR. Conway, allow me the pleasure
Hf presenting to you my husband, Senator
Win0ns."
Both gentlemen bowed tremendously,
But neither offered the hand. Mr.. Con-
way hated Wiuans already, and the gen
Sleman thus honored felt intuitively that
ne should hate Conway. SO their greet
ing was of The briefest. The discoln-
flied traveller turned and walked over
so the Hon. Mrs. Winans.
Il beg your pardon" he said, in low,
earnest tones; Il did not know-had not
beard the least hint of your marriage"
Tie was gone the next moment. Sena-
sor Winans looked inquiringly Mt his
Beautiful young wife. She did not
speak; he fancied she shranz little rs
ne looked at her. but as he set down the
See on a small hower-stand near by, she
took up the little golden spoon and let q
Siny bit of the frozen cream melt on her
ruby lip. while a faint smile dimpled
the corners of her mouth.
My love" he said, lifting the small,
white hand. aud toying with its iewcled
singers. are you i'll? Your hand is cold
SIS ice"
never teit better IN my lIte, smli-
ang up into his questioning eyes. and
neStling the small hand still closer in his.
The cold cream chilled me after dane
sag so much. or" her natural truthful
ness asserting itself, Il may be little
aeryous. aud that makes my hands cold"
And what has made YOU nervous to-
RiGhtf his tone unconscously stern and
his thoughts full of the dark. despairiag
sace that had looked up from the depths
of the armchair at his queenly looking
wife.
Nothing" she answered. dreamily,
while a swift flush burned on her cheek.
and she turned away little petulantly
and began to trilie with the ice again.
1 beg your pardon. but it was some
shng. and that something was the man
who has just left us. Who and what is
hep"
Mr Bruce Conway. nephew and heir