Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-06-25

"nen Cnefe was peace In the land. Many
Things happen In SIEGE"
Many delightful things. One minute
and I'll be down at the door,"
l hurried downstairs, but before I
could open the front door I heard Bar.
bara's voice crying, "Wait, wait p
Rodney jumped from his couch and
Joined me. he as we'll as I had slept in
his clothes. What is it, Felix2" he
asked
Miss Graham is outside and wants to
come in, but she's just called to me to
wait. I'll open the little side window
first"
l slid the window-bolt and looked out
Two men, the disagreeable chap of our
first meeting and another surly-faced indi-
vidual, stood some twenty feet back OF
Barbara. I placed my revolver on the
window ledge.
Nov, then, what do you men want?"
I demanded.
I'VE don't want the lady to go in," the
disagreeable-looking one replied.
Does the lady want TOT" I asked.
She Does" said Barbara, in most de-
termined tone of voice.
''1'hen she shall. Slide back the bolts
Rodney" l whispered. "Now if any one
chooses to interfere with her entering my
house, he can reflect that he's looking in
to a straight steel barrel"
The door opened, and Barbara, her
head high, walked in. 1 shut the small
window and put the revolver in my peck
ct. "There's a pretty mad-looking pair
out there" l said welcome tc the log
house ~
But Barbara was not regarding me.
"Why, Rodney" she exclaimed, what
has happened to your arm? They didn't
shoot you, did they?" She had caught
sight of Rodney's arm in a sling.
Its nothing, Barbara" he said, beam
ing "olly a scratch. I might have been
potted by that badly shooting snipe."
She looked at him, her face all admi
ration Its like you to speak lightly,
but you've been in danger, and partly on
my account, for you'd never have laid
eyes on Monsieur Duponceau if it hadn't
been for me-"
would have drifted out of the room II
/ could, but l was caught between them
and the door.
Rodney smiled I could imagine how
pleased he must be feeling.
We've had several scraps on the
Ship" he explained land when our food
gave out we came up here"
"You poor dears !! she exclaimed, and
this time I was included in her words.
I've been thinking Of you every minute
of the last two days, and wanting to
come over to join you. Well, I've stolen
away at last, for morning ride, and now
I'm going to stay here with you"
"Stav here with us !' we both exclaim-
ed in amazement.
Until after breakfast. I'm going to
set your table, and pour your coffee, and
fix your rooms, and show you in general
what a woman can do in house"
We both had had visions of that al
ready, l fancy. 1 caught Rodney's eye
he smiled, and the color rose to his face.
''Where's Charles?" Barbara demanded
I led her into the kitchen, where Charles
was busted, and Rodney and I sat on the
dresser tand watched while Barbara roll
cd nm her sleeves, pinnep a napkin over
her dress as an apron, and proceeded to
diract Charles as to the cooking things.
Either one of us would have been SUI
nremely happy if the other had not been
there.
When the table was set, and the break
fast on it's way from the kitchen to the
dining-room, Duponceau appeared, for
the first time free of the cloak he had
worn on the Ship, but still all In black,
save for his gold chains, and still envel'
oped in that peculiar air OF mystery
which instinctively set him apart from all
ordinary beings. Barbara curtsied to
him and he raised her hand to his lips
ond Kissed it with the grace of the old
time school.
eve are not quite forgotten by the out.
s;da world" he said, with almost tinge
Of ROYALTY in his voice, very far indeed
eror, FORGOTTEN. when so charming an EMS,
sary joins us"
barbara looked pleased; I could see
.ho+ Dunonceau was still her paragon OF
romance.
"Wi,i YOU take the head of the table,
,,,u,siaur?" she asked. He carefully seat
al her behind the coffee-urn, took his own
~,1oce and Rodney and I sat at the sides,
+ was the first state breakfast my cot
taSe had ever known.
Barbara contrived that we should all
forget that we were cOOpeu up III d AoS'
house. She smiled at Rodney and at me
invariably, and listened attentively to
everything Duponceau said. Even Charles
felt her influence. / could see him Hnger
in the doorway on the alert to serve her
breakfast came to an end, and Barbara
insisted on bandaging Rodney's arm /
think he was sorry that she should know
how slight the wound really was, for he
demurred. though with a look Of great
satisfaction; but he finally consented to
roll up his sleeve. | drew Duponceau
away TO my den, and the two were left
alone for a long half-hour. Monsieur
pierre and I discussed matters Of defense
When we returned to the living room
garbara's face was flushed, and Rodney
obcoks were red His arm was wound
Nth . new bandage and little gold pin
fastened it. a.,
.UiIl YOU take me over to the house ]!
asked Barbara, jumping mp; and now II
was nv turn to gloat, for she insisted on
noking into every nook and Granny, on
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