Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-05-25


and came into the drawing room.
gentleman, please, miss a Mr. Eas-
tom she said
Mr.. Easton," repeated Agnes Winter.
or a moment she forgot who this might
be- Show him up at once"
Matthew Mark Easton had evidently
devoted some care to the question of dress
on this occasion. Some extra care, per
maps, for he was a peculiarly neat man.
lie always wore a narrow silk tie in the
form of bow of which the ends were
allowed to stick straight out sideways over
the Walstcoat. His coat was embellshed
by an orchid.
L am afraid" he began at once, with
perfect equanimity, that l have made a
mlstake-a social blunder. | came to in
form you that l have secured a box-the
stage box-for Wednesday night, at the
Epic Iheater. 1t will be doing me a
pleasure if you will form one of my
party. L do not know exactly how these
things are managed in England, but
want Miss Grace and her brother to come
as my guests, too. Miss Grace was kind
enough to ask me to be one of a theater
party, and mentioned the Epic, so l went
right away and got box"
"OsWin has just gone to procure seats
Tor the same night" said Miss Winter,
quickly.
No." replied the American, 81 stopped
him. l met in the street."
Miss Winter knew that they must have
met actually on her doorstep, and she
wondered why he should have deliberately
made misstatement. She felt indefinitely
guilty, as if Oswin's visit had been sur
reptitious. Suddenly she became aware
of the quick, fitting glance of her COM
panlons eyes, noting everything each
tiny flicker of the eyelids, each indrawn
breath, each slightest movement.
How am l to do it," he asked, limo
Gently. "a note to Miss Grace or a YER
bal invitation to her brother?"
"A note" replied Miss Winter with
a gravity equal to his own, ito Helen,
saying that you have secured the stage
box for Wednesday evening, and hope
that she and her brother will accept seats
in it."
He nodded his head, signifying comprc-
hension, and rose to go.
That" said Miss Winters, skipping
away from the subject under discussion
with all the inconsequence of her sex and
kind, reminds me of something l heard
said of you the other evening. 1t was, in
fact. said to me-
Then" replied the American, with
CHEEKY gallantry, Il should like to hear it..
Had it been said to any one else 1 allow
that 1 should have been Indifferent"
He stood with his hands clasped behind
his back, looking down at her with a smile
upon his wistful little face.
DO you know Mr. Santow?'
The smile vanished and the dancing
eyes at once assumed an expression of
alert keenness, which was almost ludi-
crous in its contrast.
THE Russian INTERCHANGEABLE
he replied, giving back question for ques-
ton. Moo" he said, slowly, Il do not :;
| think know him by sight"
81 have met him on several occasions.
[ rather like him, although l cannot I'M
derstand him. There is an inward Mr..
Santow whom l have not met yet; / only
know a creature who smiles and behaves
generally like a lamb"
''Santow," said Easton, deliberately, sis
altogether too guileless."
Miss Winter countered sharply.
II thought you did not know him."
81 do not" answered Easton imper-
turably.
Except by reputation?"
''Precisely."
He is reputed" said Miss Winter, ito
be a great diplomatist."
80 l beieve-hence the lambIike man
ners"
Easton's face was a study in the art of
suppressing curiosity.
do you think that he is wolf in
lambs clothing?" asked the lady with a
laugh. Il will tell you what ne said about
you"
Thank you
1--WE were talking about Russia-it is
his favorite topic-and he said that at
times he felt like the envoy from some
heather country, so little is Russia
known by us. By way of illustration, he
asked me to look around the room and
tell him if it did not contain all that was
most intellectual and learned in England.
I admitted that he was right. He said,
And yet there are but two men in the
room who speak Russian Then he point
ed YOU out There is one, he said; he
knows my country better than any man
in England. If he were diplomatist
should fear him.! What is he" I asked,
and he merely shrugged his shoulders IN
that guileless way to which you object"
Matthew Mark Easton did not appear
to be much impressed. He moved from
one foot to the other, and took consider
able interest in the pattern of the carpet.
And" he inquired, did he mention
the name of the second accomplished per-
SOM"
''No."
81 wonder what it was?" said Easton.
"Mr. Tyars, suggested the lady, calmly.
Possibly. By the way, thought of
asking him to join US on Wednesday at
the Epic"
81 hope" said Miss Winter. with
gracious little bow, that he will be able
to come"
"'Dear Miss Grace began Easton,
{ -. how