Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-09-04

sitting with modification, and not until
she reached the landing was she able to
regain her breath.
The figure of a man came lightly up
the stairs and confronted her, and, too
late to conceal her identity, she found
herself face to face with Dr. Gresham.
''You-herew he exclaimed. starting
back in surprise.
"Sience." she breathed, passionately;
81 never witnessed such pride and mis-
cry! But the girl is dying-you may
safely marry her to my--to Lucian!'
While this brief but significant inter
view was taking place upon the stairs
beyond the closed door a scene of hys-
terical relief was being enacted. The
moment their routed benefactress had
disappeared, Philip Burgess exclaimed,
proudly:
.'You see! ! am not such a spendthrift
after all. l have kept a dollar by me,
and though it was the last, it has saved
us from a great humiliation"
Throwing her arms about his neck,
Claire cried, with sob in her voice:
'It was your noble heart, dear father,
that has saved u.s."
$50 to your rooms, both of your! ex-
claimed Mr.. Burgess; '.she may return,
and if SO, she shall not depart until she
has satisfied my suspicionsv
Scarcely had Claire and her mother
vanished when the door openeds to- admit,
DIR. Gresham. With an EXPLANATIONS e..
surprise and pleasure, Philip Burgess
turned to the scarcely closed door.
Where are yoht geing| demanded
Gresham. abruptly. 80
ITO call the ladies' baclSs .raplicd ~.
Burgess; they have just left ME. !, 4s
DO nothing of the kia<ak@ 1t liz. you
whom I wish to see first of al, upon
matter of the utmost importance-tt
your daughter. have already informed
you that I fear that all that can be done
| for Claire is to render her declining days
comfortable. Stay. hear me out. She
| requires other quarters than this mis-
ercble tenement; she needs luxuries. at
| tention, Il carriage. l will place them
at your disposal, and you have only to
accept them"
"What do you mean? What must
| do? Command mev
"Do you recall a friend of former days
of the name of Russell Courtlandt?"
Certainly 1 do; he died some six years
since"
Leaving a widow and one son. For
| while their property was deprecated, but
recently it has come into value, and Lu-
| clan Courtlandt is one of the wealthiest
young men in the city"
"Wel, well-go on"' urged Burgess,
eagerly.
"Unfortunately, Lucian became fasci-
mated by a young woman in the South
and hastily married her. il now trans
pired that his supposed wife is the daugh-
ter of slave is no wife at all. Conse-
| uuently he has come to his senses, and
is looking for a wife III his own station
in life. lie has commissioned me to ask
the hand Of your daughter in marriage.
1t is also understood that unless he hears
from me within an hour he will present
himself here during the morning, and
the wedding can be arranged to take
place within a fortnight"
Philip Burgess rose like one rousing
from dazed dream.
"Arc you mad, or making sport Of
me?" he muttered you cannot have
forgotten that even in my abasement l
am still gentleman! Do you speak the
truth? Why does he demand the hand
of dying woman?"
because he has a son who cannot
bear his name, since its mother is a
| slave"
Il understand" retorted Burgess, with
whitening sarcasm; "since the present
Mrs Courtlandt has the prospect CT be-
ing freed some day from slavery. her
| husband does not wish to be too long
hampered with second wife, and he has
commissioned you to select a wife for
him from among your most hopeless pa
tents, and you have chosen lis becauee
we are dying of hunger Well. my dear
sir, so to Mr. Courtlandt and tell him
that l am his servant, but that, though
my poor child may be lost to me, she
is not to be soldt"
MY good friend" said the doctor,
calmly, Il do not doubt you have the
right to condemn yourself to misery, but
question your justice in condemning
your family to death. I offer you renew
ed health for your wife and peace and
comfort for your daughter, who is al
ready spent by the privations which she
has suffered"
'Al of which I reject in tho name of
my wife and daughter" cried the old
man. excitedy; ''stay! here is my wife
ask her if she has the courage to accept
! the terms.
ITO be continucd.i