Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-09-22
CHAPTER XVI.

Felicia had learned goou biaHS l0S
sons of life since the month OF Septem-
Der, when she and Mrs. Talbot had Kill
ed time and pursued health together at
the Yorkshire seaside village. she had
gone through her experiences and they
had not been pleasan ones to undergo:
but, at the same time, they had Deeh
Beneficial to her, in that she had by now
completely got over her fancy tor the
wicked man" with whom she had I'M
agined herself to be deeply in love.
Lord Augustus Wrag had not come
well out OF his love affair with Miss
GrantIey. After an infinite amount OF
trouble, Felicia had persuaded her tath-
er to give a reluctant consent to her en-
gagement with this penniless scion or
needy aristocratic house He had con
scented Professionally, that is TO say, II the
young people would wait two years, ana
were in the same mind at the end OF that
period of probation, then, Mr.. Gregory
Grantley agreed that he would give them
his blessing, with something substantial
added thereto. Felicia was overJoyed;
this concession upon her fathers part
seemed to her to surpass her widest
hopes. Two years to young and enthu-
6iastic girl who loves seems but small
khing to secure the whole happiness OF
her future life. She embraced her faith
Ell joyfully, and was overwhelmed with
gratitude at his goodness"
Not so Lord Gus. The state Of his
finances was such that he could in no
way afford to wait two years for the
realization of his dreams. His debts
pressed upon him daily; duns pestered
and pursued him from morning till night
he had raised the last shilling he could
xealize; he was, to use his own words,
Sstone broke" To request such a one
30 wait for two years for the fortune
which was to come to him with the lady
of his affections was like asking starv-
ing man to do without food for another
month, and promising him a good dinner
a the end of it.
Lord Gus kissed his intended very af-
fectionately wrunk his future father-in-
laws hand, and professed himself deeply
impressed with his kindness. Then, haV-
ing got in the good city of Bath a second
string to his bow, he put himself into
train and betook himself to that ancient
town.
Il should have preferred Felicia, Of
course" said Lord Gus, to himself. ''She
is young and she suits me; but [ can't
wait two years, not two months in
fact for any woman; and there is al
ways Mrs. Cogger-I don't much like
the debut two years! Oh, no,
couldn't do it at any price-not good
enough
So, a week later, Felicia received a
Better from her lover, with the Bath
postmark upon it. He was afraid she
would think him a great brute, he wrote,
but then, he had never been good enough
for; she was sure to meet with some one
far more worthy. AS for himself he
had thought it wisest and best to offer
his hand to q lady whom he had known
for many years, and who was good
enough to take him as he was in all his
unworthiness. Mrs. Cogger had consent
ed to become his wife, and they were to
be united early in the following month.
He ended by piously praying that heaven
would watch over his dearest Felicia
and make up to her for all the sorrow
he felt constrained to bring upon her.
That was Feicia's lesson. She suf-
fered very keenly at first, but she got
ever it, being chiefly assisted by the
facts concerning her rival that came to
her ears. Mrs. Cogger was so; in stat
are she was short and inelegant; in fea
ture, plain and uninteresting; her man
ners were said to be vulgar, and her tenn
per violent and excessively jealous Mrs.
Gogger, however, was undoubtedly rich;
she was the widow of Bristol merchant
who had left to her an income of six
thousand a year. Having purchased
Lord Gus, she proceeded to pay her
money down for the doubtful acquisition
IN a truly liberal fashion. She paid his
ments upon him. so that he derived some
substantial consultations from his mar
riage in exchange for the lack of those
personal charms that man is apt to
ahink desirable in the wife of his BOSOM
Perhaps the one soft spot in her heart
was the feeling that she had for Roy
Roy, who had never wished to marry
her, and whose heart was still constant
so the love of his boyhood. She felt
that she would do good deal to save
aim from pain, and yet she feared that
certain amount of suffering must newt
ably be in store for him.
Perhaps it will be better that he
should see her and realize that she has
forgotten him and is happy in her new
life; it may be the best cure for him in
the end" she said to herself, and at this
moment her brougham drew up at the
door of her fathers club in Pail Mall
As it did SO a gentleman was coming
slowly down the steps of the club. He
glanced at the lady in the brousham.
snce quite idly. and then again more at
tentiyely. Felicia, too. looked keenly ar
him. Where had she seen that face with
the pleasant gray eyes and the refined.
regular features? Suddenly there came
back to her mind the breezy hill slopes
above keppington Hall, the Pickering
sunshine through the branches of the
beech trees, the blue distance in the val
ley below and the great stone house
sleeping in its solitude near by; and then
the stranger who came strolling up the
Hill to address them. and whose persist
ent attentions to Gertrude had somewhat
mortified and ANNOYED her