Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-03-09
Mr.. CARROWAY'S POSITION.

begins to shed old lovers for whom she
has nc further use as naturally and PAIN
lessly as the seed.pod sheds its outer
husks. At least, that was my case.
| Of all the men who had vowed always
! to be my friend, if ever / had need OF
them, they remained-by the time that
my engagement had ceased to be an en-
tirely new delight to mc-only Mr.. Am
bic (short for Ambrose) Carroway; and
he, as will presently be shown, continued
to dange merely because he was pain
fully ignorant of the change that had
taken place in my condition. He called
on me a few dsFs after the proposal, and
as I liked him we'll enough, in a way, l
had him shown up. l must tell you that
my fiance had only Just left me-indeed,
| the two men met or the doorstep, L be-
| lieve.
We exchanged the usual banalities, and
he sat down
Il say" he blurted forth suddenly,
"who was that chap met on the step?
Do know him?"
"That was Basil Cosnett," | replied,
Odd-looking person." he remarked.
'Where's he from?'
HE is from-from all over the world,'
l replied, depreca tingly.
HE looked bit all over the shop"
said Ambie, tittering.
Il suppose you have never been to the
far west, have your" asked him.
'N-not exactly" said he. But how
do you mean? Earl's Court?''
'Nor to China?'' I went on.
"Well. no. said he, looking somewhat
surprised.
Nor to-let me see-Brazil?'
He stared at me with a slack mouth.
Cant say l have" he replied. ''Why ?"
Mr.. Cosnett has," said I. and to
heaps of other places, too
| He laughed unpleasantly. "You make
me feel horribly INFERIOR" he m,rmured.
"You haven't travelled much, have
your" said /.
"Oh-well-Paris, you know. And the
Riviera. And so on he said.
Everybody goes to those places" I
rejoined scornfully. And l added, Il
think man ought to travel
A dull flush overspread his face as he
| forced a smile. 'Shall | travel now 2" he
| asked, rising.
Don't be absurd said /, picking up
my palette again to paint flowers ON
satin. Il only meant-you don't mind if
/ go ON working? What / meant was
| that man who has travelled has always
so much to talk about"
II should have thought that was rather
fatiguing characteristic" he drawled.
1T would be--in a stupid person. But
Mr.. Cosnett is an exceedingly clever
man." retorted.
There was lengthy pause.
"Why don't you talk to mc?" asked,
at last.
Il haven't travelled he said.
Would you like some tea?"
THANK you," said he. ''Shall / ring?"
eff YOU please said I, and the spirit
of mischief being still in me, l went on,
teasingly "Mr. Ccsnett knows all about
tea. Visited plantations in China and
Ceylon, and saw it growing, you know"
Il believe things to grow very fast in
the tropics" observed Ambie. Saw it
growing, did you say?"
This ! ignored. "You mustn't think it
odd if / seem to quote Mr.. Cosnett a
good deal,' said l. THE fact is, have
seen so much of him lately"
That reminds me- said he. Il am so
| sorry ! could not get down here last Sun
day"
''We got your wire," said I. 1T didn't
make any difference Mr.. Cosnett was
here, you see. He was most entertain
ing. Told us all about the Maoris. Such
curious people. But I'll get him to tell
you about them himself"
Ambie rose in disorder and crossed over
to the window. Then he came and
glowered down at me. / gazed up at
him with pathetic eyes.
"You are not at aii-nice--today" l
pouted.
II have the misfortune to be con
trast,' said he. Compared with this
Cosnett fellow"
Il hardly think you should speak of
him in that way" said Ia man to
whom you have never been introduced
l hardly expected this sort of thing from
you, Mr.. Carroway."
Nor / from you," he retorted saw
agely
| felt bit frightened. "You are very
disagreeable today" | faltered.
"And you are-not too ingenious, Miss
Lacey"
s'Now. don't let us be horrid to one
another 1 said brightly, and smiled my
prettiest.
He sat down again. THAT brings me
to the object of my visit" He looked
owlishly solemn.
Am l not the object, them" I asked
lightly, contracting my brows.
II mean" he replied, that | called
with certain specific purpose"
That sounds exciting, rather said l.
He eyed me in a way that made me
feel slightly uncomfortable. 1T is not
very pleasant thing | have toto say
to you." he went on, clearing his throat
noisily.
was utterly mystifed. Was he going