Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-04-08

| Did you come here solely to ask ,ne
this! This house is mine, and admit to
my presence what guests I please.''
Mr.. Paulton's look when she said this
was an evil one; but he answered pleas
antly enough, you are justified in re-
! preaching me for neglecting business.
However, there is no hurry; / have
changed my mind about the opera / in
tended to put into rehearsal. l have de-
| cided to revive The Queens PAGE with
| you as Raou.
Il will not play the part of the pagew
Mr.. PauHon raised himself in his
| chair, and answered imperatively, "Chut!
you must-you shalt I will not have the
| opera spoiled by your caprices. A few
| successes have turned your head You
| have the airs in yonder folio. Practice
| them"
Il will not play the part Of Raoulw
Lestelle said again, her bright, dark
orDs flashing with angry determination.
MT. Paulton sat for a few moments
humming an air, and looking at her as
| he rocked himself to and fro.
Are you wise to defy me? What
are your objections to this piece? You
| have donned the pages @jerkin before
this, and brought down the house by the
way you wore it,"
But | hated myself all the while"
| she answered. "It was unfeminine; I
felt it so then; and now-and now"
She painted, her bosom heaving con-
vulsively, and Mr.. Pauton mockingly re-
peated her words.
And now you will assume it once
more, and achieve fresh triumphs The
first rehearsal shall be on Thursday
next. Take care that you are well up
in your part.''
Lestelle came step nearer, and stead
lily met his gaze.
"Mr Paulten, you said but now that
we could not afford TO quarrel just at
present"
He nodded.
"Then you must withdraw your opera,
or find another Raoul. | do not intend
to play the character. Hitherto | have
yielded my will to yours, because felt
that | owed you something, even while
my heart told me that your motives for
what you have done will not bear the
light. But l will not sacrifice my sense
Of what is due to myself simply to serve
your interests!'
"Girl, you have always been unfath-
enable; but you play with edged tools
when you pit your puny wits against
mine. What ais you? Are you medi-
tating some scheme based on nothing
more tangible than your own foolish
fancies; or are you wavering between the
lote-sick boy, Percy, and his more intel
lectual cousin? In either case, you must
submit to my better judgment, and be-
lieve me when l tell you that marriage
with either of them Is an impossibility."
Lestelle's color came and went.
"Tell me whyP' she exclaimed. II am
no longer an ignorant child, to whom the
knowledge might be dangerous. 1 know
something Of what I ask; more, indeed,
than you surmise. Tell me the rest"
Paulton started, and looked little dis
turbed while she was speaking; but he
had recovered his equanimity when she
paused, waiting eagerly for his reply.
"Your question must be asked in a
different tone and under different cir
cumstances, before l answer it," he said,
significantly. "But content yourself;
your interests are as dear to me as my
own"
Lestelle made gesture of impatience.
"If you would but speak plainly, so
that I might both comprehend and be-
lieve you! Is it that you set price--an
exorbitant price-upon your revela-
tions?"
Money will not buy my secrets" he
answered, mysteriously, and with pro-
voking degree of dissatisfaction in his
accept.
"Then under what circumstances will
you be induced to restore the paper OF
which you robbed-yes, look as angry as
you will, the term is rightly applied
robbed the defenseless girl who trusted
in your"
"Where are the proofs Of my guilt?
I stole into your room at night, and you
saw me! Bah! You were dreaming;
that Is ALL"
She was beginning passionate pro-
test but he stopped her.
at grieves me to leave you, but
must l had almost forgotten to say that
T have heard it rumored that another of
those bills Of Percy's is in circulation.
Shall buy it inn?
"The rumor is a false one" Lestelle
promptly replied.
Mr.. Paulton coughed obviously. "But
if it is not false!
She turned from him without reply,
and sitting down at the piano, began. TO
rattle off noisy Tarantella. When she
came TO the last note and looked round
he was gone.
CTo be continued.l
---------------------