Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-07-26
"HIS WIFE,"

| iSo9Iy oii Iie FSIdLud waiting 1Or some
thing exciting to happen; and such was
my case. [ had been at the hotel a
week, and that week had reason to con-
slider as a dead loss in my life; for not a
solitary thing did I do, but eat my meals,
feel tired and sleep.
[, however. was not the only idler
there; for there were several girls be-
sides me, who were doing nothing but
eat, drink and sleep, and, like me, in full
expectation for something exciting to
happen.
Perhaps you will think it strange that
Il crowd of girls should have no fun; but
what we all longed for was an animating
power in the shape of a being that we
are wont to call man; and | really be-
lieve that, if man had appeared on the
scene, every girl present would have
shown a deeper interest in life.
On Monday, the beginning of my sec
Ond week, of vacation, was sitting on
the veranda reading, in truth, making an
attempt to read, or to become interested
in book, while all the time | was long
ing for a stroll on the white and glisten-
| ing sands. But as there is surely no
pleasure i'll neandering alone, I disconso-
lately, almost gapingiy, turned to my
book
had Just managed to become interest
ed in the beautiful heroine of the book,
when Il carriage stopped, and, imagine
my surprise, a young and extremely
handsome fellow jumped out. My heart
began to beat fast at the exhilarating
sight, but slowed down very suddenly,
. when he CALAMITY assisted 3 most beauti-
full young woman to alight.
Married. Of course" some of the girls
whispered, and l, greatly disappointed,
retired to my room.
However, | decided to look my best at
the supper table, so | donned what | i'm
agircd to be my most becoming gown,
which happened to be a soft shade of
pink, and although / am not vain, which
may appear contradictory because I say
it myself. / am positive that a murmur
of admiration went around the room as
[ entered.
At supper. the young man and his pref
ty wife Glanced 10 sit opposite me at the
table BY his conversation and table
manners he appeared to be a most charm
ing young fellow.
| caught MIN once or twice intently
studying my face, and began to pity his
pretty, young wife. / can't account for
| it that he. at that moment, made the
! impression upon me of being a, mere firt.
The following morning, the girls were
| in a flutter of excitement the hotel man
| ager had promised to introduce the hand
some young man. But girls" | suggest
ed. she is a married man."
''What difference" laughed the girls,
| and all retired to their rooms, where they
prinked for fully an hour.
[ may as well acknowledge that it
took me also about an hour to adorn my
personality with the best I could select
from my by no means rich, but rather
meaoer. wardrobe Richard st. Clair was
duly introduced to us, one and all.
"And where is your wife, pray tell?"
asked one of the girls.
ooh, oh, my wife, she is out with an
old college chum of hers, a college class
mate of mine," he stammered.
Fair, but fckle," whispered one of the
girls.
That night. at the hotel dance, I had
at least one partner, and let me say it at
once. that he was a divine Walter; but,
strange to say. his wife was not present
We girls began to think it rather queer
that Mr. St. Clair had failed to introduce
to us his wife. and decided that the next
one who happened to be with him should
mention it to him. Who can imagine my
establishment. when the evening after the
dance. Mr. St. Clair invited me to go
with him for moonlight row. 1t was
then that | began to think that, perhaps,
| had encouraged him too much; and at
once | resolved to treat him in the future
With cold and studied Indifference.
"Why. Mr. st. Clair" | said, ''you can
not expect me to accept your invitation
in the absence of your sweet partner,
your wife Where is she? 1t is some
what surprising that you neglect her
that way. People are beginning to make
remarks about it"
We'll Miss Courtleigh," he replied,
with an amused smile on his handsome
face, my wife shall surely accompany
us. | should like very much that you
became intimately acquainted with her
and somewhat smilingly, he added, with
an expression on his face whict !, at
the time. could not define, you will UNI
doubtedlv like her then even better than
now"
In the evening he brought his wife
with him. and, after an Introduction, she
impressed me as being the dearest girl L
had ever met. -,
As we parted for the night, Mrs. st.
Clair. with a mischievous twinkle III her
eyes, remarked, BE good to my hus-
band. dear"
I fell asleep that night bordering over
the peculiar remark of Mrs. st. Clair;
The following morning she sent down
,rord that she was suffering from a Sc
we're headache, and that we girls were to
do the best we could to amuse her dear
Richard.
Strange to say, Mr.. St. Clair did not
seem at all worried about his sick wife,
and laughed and talked as if her being Ill
We're Of little or no consequence to him.
That evening we all sat on the veran-
do with Mr.. st. Clair in our midst.
Ona sudden, however, silence fell upon
every one of US, as by the light OF the
moon we beheld two figures, one wom-
on tbe other man. and the mans words
We're waited to us on the soft evening
| breeze.