Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-10-06

not Of com pasgon, but of abnorrente
''What is he dong-is he looking for
her." was all he said gloomily, after q
pause.
mo, he seems stunned, l hear, you
know, Observation-Disclosures Raikes, his
cousin, is with him."
Felicia spoke of Edgar Raikes with
little tellta!e confusion Of manner, which
Roy was far too much absorbed in his
own troubles to observe.
'Raikes.'' he said sharply. ''Srrely
that IS his agent, who lives ut Keeping
ton! Is he in town. them!
1t had been Roy's secret hope that
this gentleman might recognize Kitten.
and be the means of restoring her to her
husband.
Eyes, he went to Lowndes Square at
once, and has been there ever since,
answered Felicia, who thought her hero
very prince among men for this act of
charity. MIR. Desmond has kept him."
He is going back to Keppington, |,
suppose?" inquired Roy eagerly.
mo l don't think he is. Mr.. Raikes
ran in this morning, knowing l should
be anxious" added Felicia, coloring
little, ito tell me that Brian Desmond
has asked him to go abroad with him
at once.
'"To go abroad!'' cried Roy, aghast.
''Do you mean to tell me that he is go
ing to make a search for his wife? That
he is content to give her up WITHOUT an
effort? To leave her without even know
ing what has become of her, OF whether
she has got enough to live upon? Good
heavens, the man cannot be such a brute
as that!'
''Mr. Raikes certainly told me he was
going abroad at once. l know nothing
more"
"Felicia!' he cried, sit cannot be. Do
you think that he-her husband-be-
lieves in this wicked SANDER against her,
which Mrs. Talbot and venomous women
of her description have set afoat?'
"No, no. l hope and trust he has not
heard of it," she answered eagerly. Il
| do not think he has yet. But at any mo-
| ment it might get to his ears. Oh, Roy,
| if only it could be stopped!'
| And that was what Roy, too, said,
over and over again to himself, as he
| went slowly back to his sisters house.
''If it only could be stoppedr'
But how can the voice of scandal be
stopped? 1t is often hard to make peo-
pie believe in an absolute truth, but to
| believe in a lie, that seems to come easily
| to everybody; and once fairly started on
| its way, lie is as hard to stop as is
| that magic fiddler of German fairy lore,
who has been dancing his way over the
| world ever since the Middle Ages.
Io,o o,1I 1bar,
she flung himself YEARLY into a deep
| armchair in Miss Grantley's drawing
room. Margaret was adding up her
weekly bills.
''Wcll, Roy?"
"Well, it is as you said" he answer
ed gloomily. you were right and ]
was wrong. 1t is not | suppose, for the
first time in our lives that have been
forced to acknowledge as much
| There is, of course, one thing you
could do, Roy, which would effectually
| stop this uncomfortable scandal at once
and forever"
II wish to goodness you would say
what it is, them he answered. God
knows, 1 would do anything"
eff gyGu were to give out at once that
you were engaged to be married to some
girl, everybody would perceive instantly
the impossbility of there being any truth
in the reports which have coupled your
| name with Mrs. Desmonds. s."
Engaged to be married." he cried,
contemptuously; chow can that be done,
| pray? What utter nonsense. To be en-
gagged, must ask some woman to marry
me. How can l go out and do that at
a moments notice? If that is your plan,
| Margaret-
'There is always Felicia" said Miss
Grantley, quietly, without venturing to
| look at him.
Roy did not answer, and Margaret con-
tinuel, after a pause; "Felicia would
marry you tomorrow; there is no prelim-
| mary lovemakng to be gone through
with her Uncle Gregory is SO sick of
London and parental cares that he will
bestow her gladly upon the first conner,
| and you above all others. Felicia her.
self is fond of you-'
Here Roy rose violently from his chair,
| and with an exclamation of angry impa-
| tience went out Of the room, slamming
| the door after him.
| Go We continued)