Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-03-24
CHAPTER u.-(Continued.)

AS w thIeFDOurne passed lueLu, ue CouAU
not but think of Yolande's complaint
that she had never even once been in the
House of Commons. These were, no
doubt, the daughters or wives or sisters
of members; why should not Yolande also
be sitting there? John Shortlands had
sharp eyes; and he instantly guessed
from his friends manner that something
Rad happened.
More trouble?" said he, regarding
him.
Yes" said the other. 'Well, don't
mind-I don't mind, as far as I am con-
serned 1t is no new thing"
Il have told you all along, Winter
Bourne, that you brought it on yourself
You should ha' taken the bull by the
Aorns-"
ut is too late to talk of it-never mind
chat now" he said, impatiently. "1t is
about Yolande l want to speak to you.'
"Yes?"
You won't guess what l am anxious
Cor now" he said with a sort of uncer-
tain laugh. "You won't guess it in
month, Shortlands. l am anxious to see
iYolande married"
Faith, that needn't trouble you" said
che big ironmaster bluntly. "Therell be
40 difficulty about that. Yolands has
grown into a laundering handsome girl.
And they say" he added, jocosely, that
her father is pretty well off,
''She cannot remain longer at any
school, and I don't like leaving her to
herself at Oatlands Park or any similar
place. Poor child! Do you know what
her own plans are? She wants to be my
private secretary"
Nonsense, nonsense, man. Of course
a girl like Yolande will get married.
Yc.1 private secretary! How long would
II last? Does she look like the sort of
girl who ought to be smothered up in
correspondence or listening to debates!
and if you're in such a mighty hurry to
get rid of her-if you want to get her
married at once, III tell you a safe and
sure way-send her for a voyage on
steamer"
81 think I shall take Yolande away
Cor another long trip somewhere, l don't
care where; but the moment I find my
self on the deck of a ship, and Yolande
beside me, then / feel as if all care had
dropped away from me. | feel safe; I
can breathe freely. Oh, by the way, /
meant to ask if you knew anything of a
Sol. Graham? You have been so often
to Scotland shooting. I thought you
might know. Inverstroy, I think, is the
name of his place"
"Oh, that Graham. Yes, l should think
90 lucky beggar. Inverstroy fell
plump into his hands some three or four
years age-quite unexpectedy-one of
the finest estates in 1nvernesshire. I
don't think India will see him again"
His wife seems a nice sort of wom-
an" said Mr.. Winterbourne, with the
slightest touch of interrogation.
81 don't know her. She is his second
wife She is a daughter of Lorn Lynn
'',They are down at Oatlands just now.
Yolande has made their acquaintance,
and they have been very kind to her.
Well, this Col. Graham was saying the
other evening that he felt as though he
had been long enough in the old country,
and would like to take q trip as Tar as
Maluta or Suez or Alden, just to renew
his acquaintance with the old route In
fact, they propose that Yolande and
should join them
The very thingr' said John Short
lands, facetiously. What did l say?
voyage will marry off anybody who is
willing to marry
Il meant nothing of the kind" said
the other, somewhat out of temper "9o-
Eande may not marry at ALL 1t L went
with these friends of hers, it would not
be to get rid of her"
81 hope she'll find young fellow who
is worthy of her. for she is laundering
good girl. that's what l think, and who
ever he is he'll get a prize-though I
don't imagine you will be over-well dis
posed toward him, old chap"
'If Yolande is happy, that will be
enough for me-"
By this time the terrace was quite de-
serted; and after some little further chat
shey turned into the House, where they
separated. Winterbourne taking his seat
below the gangway on the government
side. John Shorthand depositing his mag
aiiceut bulk on one of the opposition
benches.
There was general hum of converse
ton. There was also some laborious dis
course going forward.
What dreams visited the member for
Slagpool as he sat with his eyes dis
eraught? His getting up some fateful
evening to move a vote of want of con-
ddeence in the government? His appear
ance on the platform of the Slagpool Me-
ehanics Institute, with the great mass of
people rising and cheering and waving
their handkerchiefs? Or perhaps some
aay-for who could tell what changes
che years might bring?-his taking his
place on the Treasury bench there?
He had got hold of blue book. 1t
was the Report of Royal Commission;
but of course all the cover of the folio
volume was not printed over-there were
blank spaces. And the member for
Slagpool began idly and yet thoughtfully
10 pencil certain letters up at one corner
of the blue cover. He was a long time
about it; perhaps ne saw pictures as he
slowly and contemplatively formed each
Better; perhaps no one but himself could
have made out what the uncertain pen
cling meant. But it was not of politics
Ne was thinking. The letters that he
Fad family penciled there-that he was