Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1914-07-31


By this time Sarah's fingers had torn
OF the stout paper wrappings. and the
hamper stood uncovered. Beneath
the lid which she lifted was a mass
of plums-yellow, purple, and Grim
son-rows of luscious peaches and clus-
ters of golden pears. An envelope lay
on top of the fruit. / glanced over
Sarah's shoulder as she drew forth
the card it enclosed. The words
leaped up to me:
For the dearest Of little sisters
from Brother John"
turned away abruptly and entered
the house. Sarah ran after me.
Isabel" she exclaimed, you are
not angry, are you?"
"Of course not" asserted, trying
to speak indifferently "Only, it is
amusing to see how John remembers
your hints for fruit, and forgets my
requests for It,"
'But, dear, this is for you, too
all that you want Of it. You know
with a laugh-"that could not eat all
of that stuff in month. And I know
John would want you to have some"
Her words angered me. That my
sister was telling me what my own
husband would wish irritated me un-
speakably. / jerked myself away from
her OBTAINING hand
when want you to interpret
Johns wishes so far as / am con.
cerned will tell you. Sarah. am
aware that had you not almost asked
for the fruit he would never have sent
! it to you. As you are our guest, he
could hardly refuse to comply with
your suggestion, especially when you
prefaced 1t by the information that
in our home you missed the delicacies
you craved"
Sarah's temper, too, rose at this
slur. "And yet you suggested few
minutes ago that John had gratified
my desires and sighted yours!" she
retorted. "You are trife inconsist.
ent, my dear sister!"
A guest coming up the walk inter.
rupted our alteration, and, leaving
Sarah to greet him, ran upstairs.
Alone, I tried to face the situation.
How should / meet it? / could not
deny that had put myself in the
wrong by showing my sister that my
husbands action had angered me.
But, since recognized this, could
be on my guard not to let John sus-
pect that / was hurt. ] called on my
pride to help me, and, at dinner that
night, it stood me in good stead, for
I chatted and laughed gaily with two
| young men, Sarah's friends, who were
dining with US. More young people
called in the evening, and, after a
while, Mr.. and Mrs. WEIGH came by
in their automobile and sat with US
for a ha1f-hour. When they left, ]
fingered to talk for a moment with the
girls and their escorts, who. in ham
mocks and rockers, half filled our
veranda; then, explaining that, as
had slight headache, would ask to
be excused and leave my husband to
chaperon the party, went upstairs.
There the depression of the afternoon
returned, and I went miserably to bed
/
merry voices below until / fell asleep.
l awoke with a start, conscious that
all was still. Sitting up in bed, lis
tened. Had the young people gone
home? Where was John?
Slipping my feet into my bed-shoes,
and throwing wrapper around me,
stole downstairs. The front door
stood wide open, and the veranda was
| flooded with moonlight. I heard two
voices in low conversation-my sis
ters and my husbands. Creeping
into the living-room. outside the win
dow of which the pair sat. I stood
and strained my ears. Sarah was
speaking in plaintive tones:
ut spoiled my pleasure in your
beautiful gift. brother. Perhaps you
ought not to have sent it, since Isabel
feels as she does"
Johns feet moved impatiently on
the floor. Isabel is ridiculously
iealous!" he exclaimed. PAY no at
tention to it. My giving you fruit
takes nothing from her. She has her
place, and she knows it. Don't be q
foolish child, but let me make be
lieye that am a real brother. And q
real brother would have the right to
kiss you and tell you to cheer up
Which shall now proceed to do"
I watched him as he carried out
his threat, and I saw Sarah's white
hand steal up and caress his cheek
before he Strengthened himself with a
sigh of WEAKNESS or repression.
"Come!" he said abruptly. This Is
too lovely night to go in yet. Let
US take turn down to the gate and
back, and look at the moon"
AS they passed beyond earshot
| / went back to my room and, crouch
ing at my own window, saw the two
stroll up and down, chatting with ap-
parent lightness. for Sarah's laugh
rang out more than once. At last
they entered the house. and Sarah
started upstairs. / sprang into bed
and pretended to be asleep when she
passed my door, As she went into
her own room heard the clock strike