Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-08-13
CHAPTER VI.


patched with a message respecting
Mrs. SavIlle contributed, she entered
4he drawing-room through one Of the
French windows which opened on a
varanda and thence on to the grounds.
The lady of the house was not there.
but lounging comfortably in her espe-
ciai chair sat a gentleman, who, di.
~sctly Miss Desmond entered, rose and
ynada her @ bow-a bow which proved
that bowling was not yet quite lost
art He was a tall, elderly man Of un
certain age, slight and elegant, with
fine auuiline features and light-blue
laughing eyes that looked as If boy
hood still fingered there in spite Of the
wavy hair that curled round rather
low but well-shaped forehead He was
carefully, admirably dressed, and indie,
scrtbably fresh and cool, though it was
j. burning August day.
Allow me to explain my appearance
here" he said, In a pleasant, youthful
voice. II have taken the exceedingly
uninterest1ng journey from London to
this place, and l now await It's anna
bic mistress's pleasure as to whether
she will see me or not"
Has she been told you are here?"
asked Miss Desmond, taking of large
Rarden-hat, which she continued to
hold In her hand, wondering who this
could be. Mrs Saville's visitors had
e. 20 hofTunon hnT
ac0uaintances at that season being
scattered In remote regions.
Yes, I believe her major-domo has
conveyed my pasteboard to the august
presence" And the stranger, with the
air of being very much at home, drew
forward a chair, which Miss Desmond
did not accept.
Pray, has Mrs. Savills been long
here?"
About fortnight"
And you-have you been here all
that time?"
Not quite"
All! what wonderful resisting pow
err I should have imagined you would
both by this time be extinct from men
tai hamilton" Miss Desmond laughed
"a sweet, well-amused laugh.
And you can laugh like that" he
continued Then your vitality has of
course kept my revered stster-in-law
alive. It must, however, exhaust your
own vital powers to give out ozone
no, what do they call t?-electricity-
to such a degree. There is nothing to
me so souI-destroying, so deadening, rs
suburban rusticity. Won't you sit
down? l can't stand any longer my
self"
Then pray do not. I do not sit
down because I am not going to stay.
I thought Mrs Savil1e would come in
immediately" said Miss Desmond, who
began to perceive in some way that
this pleasant, talkative parsonage was
good deal older than he seemed.
Since you permit 1t, then" And he
sank into his chair with a sigh Of re-
lief You see," he went on, this sort
Of place is just far enough from Lon
don to cut you off from all the con-
veniences of town life and too near
for any Of the legitimate amusements
and occupations of the country"
Here the butler appeared, and said.
Mrs Saville will see you, my lord, if
you will come this way" The gentle
man rose, and made another elegant
DOW as he passed Miss Desmond.
What an amusing person! I won,
der who he IS. SOME relation. l sup
pose, or he would not speak so freely,
thought Miss Desmond. II must not
50 TO Mrs saville ct present" She
100 left the room BY different exit
and assembled to her own pleasant
apartment, which looked out to the
front; a dressing-closet opened from
It, and, except for the bed, 1t was fur,
Nshed like a sitting-room. After lean
ing from the window for some min
ute8 apparently in deep thought, she
went to her writing table, and, un-
locking desk with key which hung
TO her chain, she began to add some
lines to closely-written letter which
lay therein.
time when the sound of wheels and
Aerses' feet drew her to the window,
from whence she saw the gentleman
with whom she had spoken in the
IraWing-room descend the hall door
steps to enter a very rusty fly or sta
ZION cab. He had a comically rueful
expression of countenance, and, look
lng round over the front Of the house,
us quick eye caught sight of Miss Des-
nond. To her annoyance, he lifted his
lat and gave slight expressive shrug
before stepping into his cab, which
drove of Immediately
l wish I had not looked out" she
thought; then, smiling at the idea, II
struck her very like an expulsion.
No doubt Mrs. Saville could be very
seVere-even cruel but she Is good to
Ms. had better give her the vicar
message; yet feel half afraid. This