Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-06-03
( LIE S 7 E Il E !
By the Author of" Shamrock"

very exaggerated view OF your case.
You seem to take a cruel pleasure in
frightening u.s." Ida said, reproachfully.
what has Darcy been proposing? May
/ not know"
$40 be as high minded as Lestelle, and
refuse the sacrifice she offers to make"
Percy answered "She has interposed
it appears, to prevent the suit being car
ried on"
Ida curled her lip. "a sufficient proof
that it was an unjust one. Cannot this
creature be punished for her audacity
in attempting such a fraud 2"
Percy raised himself from the couch
on which he had been lying. Il don't
feel up to a wrangle this morning, so I'll
go; but in future, Ida, I'll thank you to
speak with more respect of young girl,
who, in many virtues, is vastly your SUI
perior!
Ida's bright eyes were full Of angry
tears as she turned them towards her
cousin.
"You see to what length Percy's in
fatuation has carried him. He actually
insults me with a most degrading COM
parison! l repeat that this bad creature
ought to be punished. DoI you agree
with mew
Il must first BIO convinced that fraud
has been attempted" Darcy gravely told
her; "and secondly, that Lestelle has
participated in it."
She looks dissatisfied. "You are, as
papa says, too chivalrous. Then, IL the
suit is dropped, you will not take any
more notice of the authors Of this annoy
anceV'
Darcy hesitated 81 must think seri-
ously before / come to any decision. l
cannot rest until l know why the claim
is not to be prosecuted"
rs not the reason patent to every
oneT' Ida demanded with Impotence.
This woman and her advisers are evil
IDENTIFY afraid to pursue their nefarious
schemes any further. Don't you see
this? Is it possible that Percy has In
fected you with his folly?
''If it be a folly to judge less harshly
of the young girl we call Lestele than
you have been doing, | must answer
yes"
Ida grew crimson with Indignation.
"You offend me deeply when you uphold
tho Gle cause of so much sorrow to my
parents. You are the last person who
should view her conduct so leniently. /
am obliged to fear that there Is some
truth in the reports that have reached
me concerning you. You have abetted
Percy in his insults, and named the obi
Gus Lestelle in my presence"
Insults, Ida! l must beg of you to
use more temperate language. / think
both Lestelle and myself deserve gentler
usage at your hands"
'If | am to be constantly teased in
this manner" said the young lady, now
losing her temper altogether, 'our en-
Sagement had better cease"
At this moment Mrs. Lavington came
into the room for a book, and perceiv
ing the flushed faces Of the young couple,
she paused.
you are not quarreling, are you, you
naughty children"
IL never quarrel" said Ida coldly.
"Then let me see you shake hands.
Except matchmaking, there's nothing l
like better than reconciling lovers" cried
the vivacious widow.
Don't be ridiculous" said Ida, snatch
ing away tho hand Mrs. Lavington tried
to put into Darcy's. II prefer to tell
my cousin in your presence that Until
this claim has been entirely set Mt rest,
and it's advisers severely punished, 1 shall
consider our engagement void
Mrs. Lavington looked uneasy, for
she knew how entirely the Generals
heart was set on the match, and she
whispered something to that effect in
Ida's ear, which that young lady an
swered aloud.
Papa will have no right to be angry
with me for refusing to unite myself
to gentleman who shows so little con-
sderation for me as to laud mind
cd actress in my presence"
"Lestele is not low-minded," said
Darcy, controlling his wrath as well as
he could.
Ida turned from him with a disdain-
full gesture. "You hear this, Mrs. Law
inston? My chivalrous cousin, secure,
I suppose, of my affections, does not
scruple to defend himself, and sees no
shame in being on terms of intimacy
with one whom l blush to be obliged to
name.
Darcy was now fairly reused.
"You speak in ignorance of the truth,
or YOU could not say these unwomanly
things. l tell you, as Percy has told
you repeatedly, that you belle Lestelle.
She is as pure ana Boou as yoursell.
A rather garbled account Of this quar-
rel was whispered to Percy by Mrs.
Lavington as they sat at chess together
in the evening; while Lechlade leaned
over Ida's chair at the other end of the
room.
Percy made no comment upon the wild
owls report but it troubled him; and
when his sister came to his side to say
good night he put his arm round her
Ida, dear, / don't like to hear that
you and Darcy are at variance. For my
sake, make up this silly quarrel"
II will not" she answered resolutely;
Eat least, not while he plays the advo-
cate for creature l detest."
a hatred, which. If | remember right
IL, dates back from the time that some
of your school fellows pronounced her
handsomer than you. Oh, Ida, hoped