Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1915-03-19
CHAPTER lv-continued.

the dTy-goods shop. His social redemn-
ton was on the way, if vanity went
ior anything. 1t was stirring and
tlngllng with life again. With the
money advanced by the purser he
bought shirts and collars and ties. and
as he possessed no watch, returned
barely in time to dress for dinner. He
was not at all disturbed to learn that
the inquisitive German, the colonel
and his fidgety charges, had decided
to proceed to Rangoon by rail. Indeed.
there was bit of exultation in his
manner as he observed the vacant
chairs. Paradise for two whole days.
And he proposed to make the most
OF 1t. Now his mind was as clear of
evil as forest spring. He simply
wanted to play; wanted to give rein
to the lighter emotions so long pent
up in his lonely heart
The purser. used to these sudden
changes and assertions in his passen-
ger lists, gave the situation no
thought. But Elsa saw mild danger,
all the more alluring because it hung
nebulously. What harm could there
be in having little fling? He was
so amazingly like outwardly, so aston
ishingly unlike inwardly, that the stu
alton had for her subtle fascination
against which she was in nowise in
clined to fight. She was not wholly
ignorant of her power. She could bend
the man if she tried. Should she try?
They were like two children. setting
out to play game with fire.
She thought of Arthur Had he gone
the length of his thirty-fve years with
out his peccadillos? Scarcely. She
understood the general run of men
well enough to accept this fact. Whom
ever she married she was never going
to worry him with questions regarding
his bachelor life. Nor did she, pro-
pose to be questioned about her own
past. Besides, she hadn't married Ar
thur yet; she had only promised to.
And such promises were sometimes
sensibly broken. These thoughts
flashed through her mind, disconnect-
eddy, while she talked and laughed.
1t never occurred to her to have Mar
tina moved up from the foot of the
table. Once or twice she stole glance
at the woman who had in the olden
DAYS handled her on her knees. The
glance was mixture of guilt and
mischief, like child's. But the glance
had not the power to attract Martha's
eyes. Martha felt the glances as
surely as if she had lifted her eyes to
meet them. She held her peace. She
had not been brought along as Elsa's
guardian Elsa was not self-willed but
strong wilIed, and Martha realized that
any interference would result in es-
arrangement. In fact. Martha beheld
in Warrington a real menace The ex-
traordinary resemblance would natu-
rally appeal to Elsa, with what results
she could only imagine. Later she
asked Elsa If she had told Warrington
Of the remarkable resemblance.
Mercy no! And what is more.
do not want him to know. Men are
vain as a rule; and should not like
TO hurt his vanity by telling him that
/ sought his acquaintance simply be-
cause he might easily have been Ar
thur Ellison's twin brother"
1.-THE man you are engaged to marry"
'sWell, Martha?"
81 beg your pardon, Elsa; but the
stranger terrifies me. He is some
thing uncanrlv"
Nonsense! You've been reading
tales about yogi
ut is a terrible country"
st is the East, Martha. the East.
Here a man may wear a dress suit
and a bowler without offending any
one"
she pleases.
.sYou have been with me twenty
years" began Elsa coldly.
"And love you better than the whole
world! And / wish could guard you
always from harm and evil. Tnose
borrid old EnglishwomeB
ooh: SO there's been gossip already!
You know my views regarding gossip
So long as know that | am doing
no wrong, ladies may gossip tneir
heads off. I'm not q kitten.
ssYou are twenty-five. and yet you're
only child.
what does that signify? That !
am foo young to manage my own ar
fairs? That must set my clock as
others order? Good soul!" putting her
arms around the older woman Don't
7, -, about Elsa Chetwood. Her life
l. her own. but she will never misuse
~Oh If you were only married ana
settled down!
you mean if | were happily Maliisu