Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-10-18
CHAPTER XIV.

IN q
s sSoraau. By the provisions II Nine. Rou-
ar,s will, in the absence Of other claim
po +. her fortune was equally divided
Lo+,reeD her nieces.
mas lovely June morning. The
.,rls had received no one since the death
.boir aunt Harriet, however, did not
sighr Of the fact that she owed
,,.- IN the living. 1t seemed selfish and
tLod to pass the precious hours in
.,~rtnr for one whom she could not re-
LII while a fate so dreadful hung over
[,r lovers head. Emily, who readily
I.,r,,;sad the state of her sisters feelings,
s~, ror backward in administering what
fort she could She had written re-
raoredIv to DR.. Paul Mason, urging him
81 =, snare neither labor nor money in his
ST s,.5,avors TO extricate Van Lith from his
81 terrible position.
nro morning, looking out of the win
s,r Harriet presently espied the sturdy
e,,ra of the doctor coming at a swinging
rofr across the park under the great trees.
II, had arrived in Villeneuve by the
morning train. and made a short cut
cross the fields. instead of coming by the
rord through the village.
For the first time since the death of
bor amt Emily Weldon was in tolerable
.,,;rits The cloud which had lowered SO
heavily over the future seemed lifting at
last According to the report Of DR..
Mason. there was at last a possibility of
+ba terrible mystery which enshrouded
al their lives being cleared away-some
home that her sisters lover, whom she
believed to be innocent, would be freed
from the awful charge which hung over
him.
As they walked along following the
ro+h which led them through the forest
of Villeneuve, much of Harriet's usual
eaietv and sprightliness of manner also
returned. Her cheeks regained their
color with the unwOnted exercise; her
puIse beat quickly again the soft June
6reeze famed her brow, and her dark
ewes regained their luster.
Emily was similarly affected. Her
spirits rose with every step tn took.
She even laughed when a little rabbit,
startled by their approach, sat upright
to look at them for a moment, and then
dashed off into the underbrush. Il had
a
eyer rabbit showed surprise, that did;
why. his expression was almost human"
1T is possible he may be, according to
Hans WerIow," remarked the doctor.
And who is Hans Werlow?
He is a German friend of mine who
has Just revived a peculiar theory in re-
gard to the SOUL His idea is that the
spirits Of men and women who have mis-
behaved themselves on earth, will at
death enter the bodies of animals, there
to uusIorgo a certain penance for the sins
they h-1i/ committed on earth. 1t is quite
the talk of19sris, where it has become
the fashion t. int out an old cab horse
and say That is M2rat or Robespierre,
working out his destiny,'"
Here Harriet was compelled to laugh
outright.
How should like to meet your friend
Hans Werlow You must contrive to
invite him to visit us some day."
Perhaps I shall, when all is bright
again" replied Mason, land it shall be,
if l can make it So or rather, if Monsieur
Cassagne cal, for the matter is in his
hands now All 1 can do is to wait and
hope"
You seem to have great confidence in
your friend" remarked Emily.
Yes, l have. In times of great
trouble We are apt to lean on someone.
One is glad to have somebody in such
a crisis who can be trusted. 1t is the
special mission of the strong to support
the weak"
AS we lean on YOU" said Emily,
quietly, for comfort in our hour of
need"
Her arm was within his own, and her
fair white hand was temptingly near.
lie placed his own upon it, with gentle,
reaSsuring pressure. The action was elo-
Quent of assurance that she could trust
10 his friendship to the last. A brother
might have done the same, yet strange
thrill went through her. He saw her
momentary embarrassment, and height
eDe3 color
For Harriet's sake and for yours" he
said gently. Y
Then to his surprise and delight, ner
fingers returned the pressure of his own.
They seemed to say, Il understand you"
The sun was high in the heavens. 1t
was very warm. They were yet some dis
lance from Nertiers. They sat down on
the messy bank under the shade of one
Of the grand old trees. Taking no credit
To himself. he told them what he had
learned Of NJ. Cassagne's doings; how
thoroughly impressed he was with the in
lo2enye of Van Lith how indefatigably
he had worked. and what skill he had
displayed in unraveling as far as he had
gone the cause and motive for the crime.
Il don't see much to eat around here"
remarked the doctor. finally.
No. not here. of course" said Har-
f17C. But there's a cottage up there by
HE edge Of the wood. where l dare say
W. can get some excellent milk and per
maps some white bread. Let us go there
al once. I'm perfectly ravenous."
Without giving the others time to an
S"er Harriet Weldon at once began to
P2d the way. Gathering her dainty
SKIRTS about her, she leapt lightly across
ditch which interviewed between the
PEASANTS holding and the edge of the
Wood, and turning around, cried gaily:
Now. monsieur lie docteur, you can
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