Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-09-10
CHAPTER x.


.o,ta A confdante had always been
racassitv to her, as it generally Is
>. ,arsons much taken up with them
..,vas Her last devoted friend, the
1anosi4arv Of her secret troubles, pro-
data and love affairs, had lately mar
rj.d brutal husband who had taught
hls brIde to laugh at Mary Dacre's
,.orrns IN a teacup and two-penny-half-
nanny tragedies; so her heart was
amptv swept and garnished, and
ready for the occupation Of another
faithful friend and counsellor" when
Y,ta threw Hope Desmond In her way.
IN Miss Dacre's estimation, she was
amInently fitted to fill the vacant post
Mere was just the difference of station
bstween them which would make the
condolences Of the future Baroness Cas-
tleton 1attering to their recipient, to
whom also her friendship might be
useful There was a short pause. Miss
Desnond's eyes looked dreamy as If
shs we're gazing in spirit at some dis
tant scene, and not as II she were
qutyering with Impotence for the
revelations about to De made to her.
The silence was broken. suddenly by
a somewhat unconnected exclamation
from Miss Dacre: He Is certainly
very nicelooking."
Who? Lord Everton?" asked Hope.
Lord Everton! Nonsense! He
might have been forty years ago. |
mean Captain Lumiey There Is
something knightly in his look and
bearing: one could imagine him go
Ing down into the lions pit for ones
glove, and that sort of thing"
Il do not think I could smiling.
Il do not fancy Captain Lumley or
any other logical modern young man
doing anything of the kind. He might,
II oxtra-chivalrous, bring you a dozen
new pairs to replace the one you had
dropped"
All, my dear Miss Desmond, l fear
you are not imaginative Or perhaps
you have only known prosaic men"
q have only known very few of any
kind"
And I have had such a wide expe
renCe!" said Miss Dacre, with a sigh.
You can see I am no beauty; yet
have the fatal gift Of fascination in an
extraordinary degree. Yes, really it is
quite curious" Another sigh. Il feel
In something of a difficult position
just now, and I have no friend near
with whom to take counsel. Now,
dear Miss Desmond, feel attracted to
you. I am certain you could be a
faithful friend, and silent as the
grave"
4 should be very happy to be Of
any use to you," said Hope, seeing she
paused for reply.
I knew you would I am so tired
Of feeding on my own heart! I want
friend. Now, dare say you are sur
prlSed to see how earnestly | advocate
Hugh Saville's cause All, there is a
little tragic story which will color my
whole life
Indeed" with awakening interest.
l trust your life will be free from all
tragic Ingredients"
All, no; that it cannot be. You
must know that I saw great deal of
Richard and Hugh Saville when I was
little girl; my father worried great
zeal about politics, and used to live
al the Court all the summer, that he
might see me sometimes (my mother
uSed when | was a baby, you know.
well, as soon as I left off playing
with dolls and began to feel I was in
love with Hugh; and he was very
lohd OF me. Then he went to sea, and
we did not meet for years. until after
mad been presented and had refused
""Ii dozen men. | shall never for
get our first meeting when he return
Cd IFom-oh, | don't know where. He
was so pleased to see me: but soon.
very soon, | saw that he who was the
Asnt OF my eyes was the one man of
Gil mad met who resisted the attrac-
'oU generally exercise" Here she
paused IN her voluble utterance and
-A~@ AAf1AAAACA ChlCA W ACA Sy CS.
nope was so amazed at these unex-
pSeted revelations that the bright col
:" rose IN her cheek-it seemed to
us' delicate nature almost indecent
g." mus lay bare ones secret expert
e"CeS to a stranger-and q look of
embarrassment made her drop her
Sss' but these symptoms were lost
" ner companion, who thoroughly
ss"!oyed holding forth on the delight
AL topic Of self and exhibiting her
own fine points.
mat must have been very try
.s' said Hope, feeling that she ought
u say something.
Awful, my dear Miss Desmond. BY
sue 0ye, may call you Hope? It Is a
SOoo omen, your name"
certainly, Miss Dacre."
well, my dear Hope, I nearly went
i3o' but It is curious that I never
,SOAea better. I fiirted wildly with
- .y one; still of course Hugh knew
E"I'e well that I was desperately In
love With him"