Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-08-04

for a few Jays; brr it never struck lac
till now that Thu chance acquaintance
could be more to you-more than l-Who
have known you and loved-you all
your life"
His voice broke little over the words,
Kitten turned away her face and sss
silent.
1T seems that am mistaken, he
said wistfully, framing the words feat
should have been an assertion uneon-
sciously int l question.
No answe-. Oh, how he longed to hear
her refute with the indignant denial or
affection the charge which he maze
| against her! Why did she not turn round
eagerly and cry: "Oh, Roy. Roy, you
are first and dearest always" But she
said nothing, only stood with. ayerted
eyes, stripping the little green branch
she held in her fingers; the tiny pointed
leaves dropped to the ground one by one,
just like Roy's own hopes and longings,
lying there prone, ready to die and With
er at her feet
''No one will ever love you az l do"
he said at last, very bitterly; If he has
told you So"
She turned away from him and went
back into the house through the half
open window that stood behind them.
Roy went away slowly and sorrowfully;
he was unhappy, but he was young, and
consultations come easily to the mind OF
a man who has his life before him.
Meanwhile, Margaret was not wom-
an to let the grass grow under her feet.
| When her young brother had made that
| passionate speech to her three days ago
it had seemed to Miss Grantley that the
| time had come when something must be
| done to put a check upon the headstroug
| passion of boy who was ready to rush
| upon self-destruction.
When Roy had left she went straight
| into her fathers sitting room. Sir Hugh
| Grantley was an old man, and very
| selfish old man. When his daughter
knocked at his library door, he was
asleep-dozing in his great armchair by
the side of the fire, which even in June
he caused to be lit upon a damp or
sunless day.
He looked up irritably as she entered.
Dear me, Margaret, how you startled
me; what do you wantW Her presence
usually betokened some business of an
annoying nature.
'You were asleep, father? I am sor-
ry. But l came to speak to you about a
serious matter-about Roy. He has ex-
pressed to me a very decided opinion
about that little girl of Mr.. Laybourne's
at the White Cottage. He says he will
marry her.
Bother these children; what nui-
sance their love affairs are! What is the
good of you, Margaret, if you can't stop
| it! Women ought to manage these mat
| ters."
$50 I can stop it, if you will let me-
Let me ask Uncle Gregory and Felicia
down here"
The old man frowned. "Your uncle
would not enjoy himself. Mrs. Knox
can't cook for him. He had a Frencl
cook once his name was Hyacinth Great
| heavens! what a cook that man was:
| His soups were poems, his entrees a
dream! His sauces were Incompatible!
Gregory is used to all that he's rich
man. I'm poor one. How can l ask
him down here to be poisoned by Mother
Knox and her heavy-b1nded expert
ments.'
''But Felicia, father! Has not Uncle
Gregory said that he would consent to
her marrying Roy? Think what a ia
nous thing it would be for him. She
will have so much money, and Roy will
| have none. She is handsome and lively,
he likes her already. If she were to
stay in the house she could soon put this
village girl out of his head. He can't
marry her, can hep"
Marry a village girl? What fools
you women are! Oh! send for Gregory's
girl if you like, but you had better send
too for somebody from town to cook for
your uncle, if he comes. | do wish, Mar
! garet that you would not worry me
this way" he added whinIngly.
Father, surely when it is a matter
Roys prospects in life you ought to take
some interest" said Margaret reproach-
fully, almost contemptuously. The feeble
old man and his selfishness called forth
no chord of sympathy in her cold heart.
When Roy came back three days later,
heart-sore and wounded from his inter-
view, with Kitten, Margaret met him
smiling on the door step, and said to him:
eco change your wet clothes, Roy. and
come into the drawing room. Uncle
Gregory and Felicia are herev
(To be continuedD
Fad for Spurious Gems.