Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-04-29

one but this night nes maiG found hei
even more difficult to :.lease shan usual.
Twice her beautiful hair was taken
down, and arranged after some newer
fashion, and never had she been more
careful in her choice of the natural flow
ers that looped the gauzy skirts of her
dress. Darcy gazed at her admirlngiy
as she swept into the room.
what makes you look so grace, mon
sieur?" she gaily whispered, as he led
her to the carriage. Has foreign traVel
made you critical?"
'.You are, and always have been, peer
less in my sight, Ida. Be but as gentle
and generous as you are lovely, and who
could ask more?'
Ida frowned slightly. Il have never
aimed at perfection. | don't know wheth-
er / am not too fond of my faults to
care to mend Them"
Darcy did not make the 1attering re-
ply she anticipated Closer companion
ship had not endeared them to each 9TH
err Beneath the outer destinations OF
Ida's LIQUID voice and winning manner,
there was something hard and antago-
nistic, which often Jared with his best
impulses. On two or three occasions,
when he had been on the point of asking
her to fulfill their fathers wishes, and
become his, some scarcely defnable feel
ing had arrested the words on his lips
He watched her now with an almost
painful scrutiny. looking and longing for
some sign of that womanly softness, that
clnging tenderness, which was all that
her exquisite beauty needed to make him
eager to win her
Young Iechlade met them on the
stairs at the concert, and, to Darcys
modification, Ida moved away with her
admirer, while he was seeking COM
Portable seat for her mother 10 add
his annoyance, the latter was evidently
we'll pleased to thwart his haste to join
her daughter, for, on one pretext ana
another she detained him till hush
fell upon the throng surging around
them, and it was whispered that Les
telle, the queen Of song, the star of the
evening was about to sing. Then Oar
CIV contrived to effect his escape, and,
the next minute found himself close to
the piano, by which the singers were
grouped.
A little apart from the rest stood Les
telle, her rather peculiar style Of beauty
heightened by the deep crimson Of the
| half-blow roses nestled in her Wavy
| dark hair and formed the only orna-
ments Of the black lace dress she wore.'
| Her companions had fallen back just
| before Darcy drew near; the accompany
| ist had played the opening bar of her
| sing Lestelle, after a few uncertain
notes, paused, and commenced again;
| but only for the music to die away Oh
| her pale lips as completely as before.
''She is illr' some one exclaimed; and
| two or three gentlemen sprang forward
| to support her to chair. Only Darcy
| saw the actual cause of her indisposition.
| Ida had stepped little in advance Of
| her friends to catch the eye of the sing
err. on whom she bent a look of such
deep. baughty scorn that the impression
able Lestelle quivered beneath it. Twice
| her dark orbs shot a swift glance at
| the implacable lady, as if to entreat her
| compassion; but in vain. Ida was mer-
! CHESS, and pursued the victory without
a pang Of pity for the misery she was
inflicting To Darcy there was some
thing so degrading in such a triumph,
that he hastily stepped forward, and
| placing himself so as to shield Lestelle
| from that pitiless stare. replaced in her
|
| dropped
! AS their hands met the blood rushed
| back into the cheeks of the young ac-
tress, and, with an effort, she recovered
| her composure. Gracefully thanking
| those who had fastened to her assist
| ance, she made a signal to the player,
| who once more struck the opening chords
| of the song she had selected And now
| Lestelle's clear, sweet notes rang
| through the crowded saloon, and every
one was constrained to listen; for there
was joyous ring in the strains she trill-
| ed out, that entranced her hearers That
Lestelle was exceiling herself! that she
was unrivalled! was declared on every
side No one but Darcy knew and felt
| that she was singing as she had sung
that morning when the efforts were made
for him alone; and he comprehended the
mute appeal that lurked in her glance
whenever he seemed about to move
away. 1t said, ''Stay near me yet little
while longer. Your sympathy consoled
ME; it restored my courage; but | shall
lose it again if you Depart" And he
| stayed.
| Go be continued.)
/ --