Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-04-18

Dear friend you must forgive me for
this intrusion, but felt that I must see
you, must condole with you in your try
ing situation. You are very pale, my
dear, looking wretched / may say, but
you bear up well, remarkably well, /
think, considering everything"
Mrs. Winans invited her visitor to a
seat with freezing polteness and hauteur
Then she went back to her place on the
music stool.
Il was playing when you came in she
remarked. coolly. IF you will tell me
what music you like, Miss Laginia, l will
play for you"
mot for the world would I lacerate
your feelings so much," sighed the old
maid. putting her lace handkerchief to
her eyes to wipe away tear that was
not there "What, when all Norfolk is
sympathizing with you in your distress
and modification, and commiserating you,
shall [ be heartless enough to beg you
to play for me, even though you are
bearing up so sweetly and wonderfully.
No, my love. don't exert yourself for Inc.
| understand your feelings, and only wish
to sympathize with you-not to be a
source of annoyance"
Il beg your pardon, Miss Lavinia "
the soft eyes looked gravely at her, the
fair face keeping it's chilling calm, the
musical voice it's polite indifference-"I
did not know myself so honored by the
good people of Norfolk, and really, must
say their commiseration is wasted in Il
! bad cause, and 1 do not know what has
given them occasion for it's exercise"
Dear me! how high and mighty Mrs.
Conway's companion has got to be-"
thought Miss Lavinia, spitefully, but she
only said: "My dear, I am glad to see
you bear up so we'll. Your strength of
mind is quite remarkable. Now, had
such a thing happened to me l feel sure
should have been extremely i'll from
shame and terror. But" with a shipper.
Il am such timid, nervous girl. With
your beauty and notoriety you have no
doubt grown accustomed to this kind of
thing. and do not mind it. But my sym
patty is truly great for your little boy"
Miss Storyn'-her hostess whirled
around on the music stool, an ominous
fire blazing under her long dark lashes-
Il pass over your contemplate innuen-
does to myself as unworthy my notice,
but will you kindly inform me what you
are talking about-that is if you know
>
What superb anger there was in her
look and tone. 1t was scarcely like her
to be so irritable, but she was not herself
this evening. The tanned leopard, when
goaded too hard, sometimes turns on it's
keeper, and the gentlest heart has a spark
of fire smoldering in it's depths that may
lie rudely stirred into destructive flame.
Miss Lavinia recoiled tinorously from
the fire that blazed in those wondrous
dark eyes.
81 beg your pardon, Mrs Winans," she
answered, smoothly. Il did not know
YOU were so angry about it, though, of
course, you feel irritated about it, as cv-
cry right-minded person must feel.
think myself Mr.. Conway has acted un-
becomingly. You had right to change
your mind in his absence if you liked, and
it was silly in him to make such ado
about it all, when the best plan was to
let it blow over" -..
DO you mean to insinuate that l was
affianced to Mr.. Conway during his alb
sence, and threw him over for a wealth
Ter rival, Miss Story?" demanded Grace,
Indignantly.
THAT is what rumor assigns as the
cause of the late 'unpleasantness, to call
it by mild name," returned the perse-
vering spinster, carefully taking down
mental notes of the conversation to re-
port to her gossips.
Then rumor is, as usual, mistaken.
Mr. Conway never has been, never can
be. more than the merest acquaintance to
me-" answered Mrs. Winans, briefly and
coldly.
Indeed! Thank you, my dear friend,
for reposing such implicit confidence in
me- | am glad to know the truth of the
matter. and 20 be able to tell people that
YOU are not the heartless firt they try
to make you out. Mr.. Conway's folly
is indeed reprehensible, and he no doubt
deserves all he suffers. The foolish fell
low To come all the way home to be
shot down for a woman who never even
cared for him, and a married woman at
that"
ITO be shot down, did you say. Miss
Story? I confess l do not understand
YOU VIII you explain yourself? You
have been talking in enigmas all this
time"
Mrs. Winans rose from her seat. and
taking step forward. looked at the in
corrigble old gossip, her red lips half
apart, her dusk-blue orbs alight, her
whole appearance indicative of eager,
repressed excitement.
why, you seem surprised" said the
spinster. maiciously. Why Mrs. Wi
mans, didn't you know of the almost ia
tai termination of the duel? All, that
accounts for your calmness and compos-
ure l thought you were not utterly
heartless. l see it all. They have kept
II, from Won -
'The duel! What duel?'
.'Why. the duel between your husband
and Bruce Conway, to be sure" answer
ed Miss Lavinia. in surprise at Graces
apparent stupidity.
Miss Story. do you mean to tell me
that there has been a duel between these
two-my husband and Mr.. Conway
why. certainly there has. Haven't
| been talking about it ever since | came
in here? And is it possible that you
knew nothing at all of the affair."