Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-12-25
CHAPTER I.


v-,trsfar ia all alive, simmering, bub
Ming eve. with excitement; the magnates
.rs adjusting ribbons, fitting wreaths,
ming nocket handkerdhiefs, stretching
',s,,,s tring white neck cloths, and 9th
S.r;se nrenaring for the momentous even
mo The inferior clay of minister hover
,bort the gateway of The George hotel,
!, I'll that eyhlaration of spirits that
,-sutous sightseeing is wont to produce
among the multitude. 1t is but momen-
hry glimpse of some hundred or so OF
ladies' and gentlemen in evening attire
thot ia destined to be the reward of their
stience: but then, you see, Xminster Is
town In which the stream of life runs
~ sluggishly. Circuscs. conJurers, lee
trrers monoIogue entertainers, etc, are
rstber shy of Xminster the little town
IA 50 thoroughly habituated to retiring to
rest at An early hour, that even the visits
Of some Of these talented and adventur-
ous beings have failed to tempt the in
hsbItants to forego their beds or to ex-
pend their silver.
BIT the dullest village In England rec
ogni5es some occasions in the year on
which drearv mirth takes the place of
melancholy stagnation. They were two;
the fair and the dispensary ball. 1t is
the latter carnival which is at present
causing the pulse of minister to beat
with feverish rapidity, and the popula-
ton are already waiting to display their
critical QCumen on the bellies of town and
country.
The dear old country fiddles are playing
their somewhat superannuated dance mu-
sic with all the wonted animation and dis
regard of the niceties of tune which is so
much the characteristic of provincial
bands There is no lack of pretty girls,
tascfully dressed, in valse and quadrille,
IN the queer old room with its still queer
er attempts at decoration in those gaudy
feStoons Of artificial flowers. But a state
ly young lady, dressed IN white, with
grcenand-goId trimmings, seems to bear
away the palm. More than one murmur-
ed tribute to her beauty escapes the lips
Of the lookers-on as she whirls by.
Who is she? She moves like queen
amongst the rest, and they are cookbook
Ing girls, too, some of them" And the
speaker. a rather coarse-looking dark
man, a little the wrong side of thirty,
turned for information to the knot OF
men he was lounging with at the door.
Haven't you ever seen her before,
P@rman? No, l suppose you hardly
could have done, She goes out but little
that's Maude Denison."
What! daughter of old Denison of
Glnn?"
Just so-former owner of all those fat
acres which have since fallen into your
respected progenitor's possession" and a
slight infection of voice just italicized the
splthat for Gus Brisden was of good
Old county family, and had little rever-
snos for the Pearmans of Mannersley.
Yes, very handsome was Maude Deni-
SON. She was q beauty of the regal or
Ger and her stately carriage alone would
cave suticed to make men ask, who is
@ei even without the rich brown
Uesses, proud grey eyes, and regular fea-
lures
I must know her :" said Pearman.
lan You introduce me, Brisden?"
No; | barely know her myself" re-
piled Gus.
l must so and find somebody who
@n and pearman hurried away.
Apparently he was successful, for,
shortly afterwards he led out Miss Deni-
Sn for Il quadrille, during which Mr..
hea'man did his uttermost to make him
%I agreeable. He was q very earthly
Y.e'e OF clay, but he had enjoyed the
a0Vantase Of n good education, and was
W no means deficient In ability. He had
achieved q certain amount Of tact while
Undergoing the friction of such society as
-O 1sd encountered, and proved himself
%p( pupil IN worldly knowledge. This
l'Vu 0lm In good stead Just now. When
Nv "o Maude Denison back to her chap
S'"s She certainly thought he was by
S to 4oops the lonst agreeable partner she
s10 mad thag evening. She had but just
,ss0'ned her seat when tall, fair man
t nIs 0y aer SIDE His brow was slightly
.-IH and his eyes sparkled nngrily as he
say@med, My dear Maude, how could
W. aahce with that MANI"
n Nhlch Grenviilo?" inquired Miss
DS"'ohr smiling, II have danced with
r,, so0a many tonight, including your
"est self, cousin mine"
,o. ION 30 absurd, Maude; you know
w., Wv well whom I mean-thnt dark man
'0aE last partner"
v,,t p % Wherefore should I not dance
80 ~, ~mT' Inquired Miss Denison.
,,.nF hundred reasons. His name
wv saouId have suficed to prevent It,
n., pSeF me- laughed the young lady,
~ ~s'H'y' You have plqusd my woman's
AZ E" TV Do tell me who this monster
N. IQatty Is, for, truth to say, l did
d.. @teh his name when he was intro
10a didn't know who he was?