Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-06-21
CHAPTER XVIII.

Winter dwelling therein was the same
woman. The same strong, finished grace
attended her movements, but her eyes
lacked repose. They were the eyes Of
one who has waited and waited in vain
None need search very far afeld to finc
such eyes as now looked up nervously to
ward the door at the sound of the large
old-fashioned bell pealing in the basement
"Who is that?" said Agnes Winter Il
herself. who can that be?'
She rose and set. one or two things II
order about the room, and after glancins
at the clock, stood motionless with hel
tired eyes fixed on the door, listening IN
tentIy. While she stood there the door
was opened, and the maid announced:
"Mr. Easton."
Matthew Mark Easton came into the
room Immediately afterward. He shooE
hands rather awkwardly, as one sees {
man go through the ceremony whose fin
gers are injured.
How do you do, Miss Winter?" be
said. gravely.
Well" she said in a sharp, unstead!
voice, ignoring his question, what new
have you?"
Il have no news of the ship, Miss Win
ter" he replied.
Tell me-" she said, what you hav'
done"
Il haye," he said, explored every var,
of the coast from the North Cape to tn
Yana river"
And why did you stop at the Yam;
river?" asked the lady, with an air o
knowing her ground.
Il will tell you afterward," he said
when Miss Grace is with you'll
she does not object to my presence"
She drew writing materials toward he
and wrote: "Mr. Easton is here; come a
once" She read it aloud, and, ringini
the bell, dispatched the note.
81 presume" said Easton, slowly, "tha
the admiral is still with us?''
Yes; he is alive and well. Helen is
you will find her a little changed"
He raised his eyes to her face. Hi
glance was as quick as ever, but his eye
did not twinkle now; they were grave
and the rapidity of their movement, be
ing deprived of brightness, was almos
furtive. Then they sat waiting, unit
the silence became oppressive. Suddenl.
Easton spoke with a return of the quaint
narrative manner which she remember
ed as characteristic.
Zone evening"" he said, 'as we wer
steaming down the Baltic last week
dull warm evening, Tuesday, l guess
was standing at the stern rail with m
arms beneath my chin, when somethin
fell upon my sleeve. l looked at it curl
ously, for | had not seen such a thing TO
years. 1t was q tear-mOst singular!
feel like crying now, Miss Winter;
should like to sit down on that low chat
in the corner there and-cry. There ar
some disappointments that come like tn
disappointments of childhood-when
rained on ones birthday and put a sto
to the picnic"
Miss Winter said nothing. She merel
sat in her gracious, attentive attitude an
looked at him with sympathetic eyes.
1T shows" he continued, presently
chow entirely one may be mistaken il
ones own destiny. / never should hav
considered myself to be the sort of per
son into whose life a catastrophe was in
tended to break"
She still allowed him to continue, an
after pause he took advantage of he
silence.
"Some men," he went on, "expect t
have other lives upon their consciences-
| but their own lives are more or less a
equal stake, and the risk is allowed TO
in their salary, or is supposed to be.
have thirty lives set down on the deb
side of my account, and some of thos
lives are chips off my own"
Thirty? questioned Miss WHITES
There were only eighteen men on boar
all told
Yes; but there were others. l shaI
tell you when Miss Grace comes. 1t
not a story that one cares to relate NOR
often thar necessary"
| In few moments they heard the SCUM
of the front door bell. Easton rose fro1
his seat. He did not &C toward the dool
| but stood in the middle OF the room, loot
ing rather breathlessly toward Miss Wiz
ter. She it was who moved to the dool
| going out to the head of the stairs t
meet Helen.
Dear" he heard her say and her voic
was smooth and sweet, mfr. Easton
| here: he has come back"
! There was no answer, and a momen
later Helen Grace stood before him. A
| he took the hand she stretched out t
him with an air almost of bravado, b
saw at once the difference limited at b
| Miss Winter. 1t lay in the expressio
| of her face, it lowered in her eyes. 1t
to be seen in most ball rooms, and tn
faces carrying it are usually beautiful
! The striking characteristic of such won
en- is their impregnability.
| II am glad, Miss Grace" Easton sai(
that you have done me the honor of cou
ing"
And she smiled exactly as he expecte
the hard, inscrutable society" smil,
which never betrays and is never infec
tious. She did not, however, trust hel
self so far as to speak. There was S
! lence for a moment-such silence an
such moment as leave their mark upo
the entire life. Easton breathed hare
He had no doubt at that time that b
was bringing to each of these wome
news of the man she loved.