Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1920-08-06


he submits, the gates are closed upon
fanciful, romantic adventures. 1t he
has been fortunate. he is content. He
sits at the west window, and his pros
pect is the sunset. He no longer asks
the great question of youth: could |
make that girl like me?"
To me. after that first dinner with
Mrs. Sidney and her daughter, the
ecstacy was romantic folly. 1sobel
had captured me, my sense, my ra-
tionality, my judgment, my mind. fancy
and emotions. Beauty and youth alone
are enough to do this for an imagina-
tive young man, and when attractive
aspects of character are back of beauty
and youth, and when the young man
looks forward to a probability Of that
conquering circumstance propinquity,
he may be excused if his feet lightly
touch the floor I was captured and
knew it after that first dinner-knew
it, and both loved and dreaded it.
was about to make fool Of myself
and be at once a happy and miser-
able fool.
In the exalted state of egoistic emo
lions which have outlined, | went to
! Mr.. Sid1ey's room after dinner and sal
with him for two hours. began to
appreciate how charmingly his life was
decorated A really rare subtlety OF
art was used to bring warm color
into this indomitable but feeble mans
winter of life I did not fully appre-
ciate until later what thought and care
lay behind the unstudied comforts and
sensations Hartley house offered.
Mr.. Sidney was white haired and
very gracious. His manner was a
warm cordiality. 1t was not precise.
1t was robust, but it was benignant.
Later saw how his presence peryaded
the place.
We had q cheerful talk. What he
said suggested to me that my world
could not have been more than a hun
dred years old at the most, and that
his included the period Of inorganic
evolution in which the period of or
Youth is startled by such conceptions
of life, but / had an interesting even
ing.
Before 1 said good night, Jed came
in with two bottles of wine. He stood
and looked at me unpleasantly.
arose to go, and Mr.. Sidney said:
ST think we shall like each other.
At least, hope you will be comfort
able, even happy. And don't be dis
tressed about the wine. | don't drink
it any more Jed drinks it, and en-
joy seeing him do it"
A whippoorwill was reiterant in the
woods at night, a1d its call came from
dark recesses odorous and mystic
riously yelled. Having said good night
to Mr.. Sidney, had gone to my room
with a book from the library. The
night was fresh, understanding and
cool. / had read for several hours
when I heard the cut bolt in my door
! thrown against the piece of metal
! which had been left in the socket.
There was no transom above the
door, and evidently the threshold kept
light from appearing beneath it. had
been reading, as said. for three hours
at least, and whoever tried to bolt me
In had good reason to think was
asleep.
l knew who the person was. 1t was
Jed. Knowing was not locked In,
was undisturbed and continued read
ing.
Shortly afterward heard woman's
voice in expostulation far down the
hall. 1t arose abruptly to sharp cry,
and I had to lay aside my book and
expose the fact that my door was not
locked, a thing had not wanted to
do until the secret of its being locked
could be discovered by revealing that
it was not.
l hurried out and down the hall.
Jed had a woman by the wrist Both
of them saw me coming. She released
herself from his relaxing grip by a
quick jerk and ran. He stood until I
came up.
"What is the matter?" asked.
''What makes you think anything is
the matter?" he asked.
Don't take me for a FOOL" said.
''That was Mrs. Sidney who screamed
You were holding her. It seems to
me it needs an explanation"
"Who are you that you need an ex-
planation?" said Jed.
''You are. drunk again"
81 know am. If that's satisfactory
to my employer, why should it bother
your"
81 doubt that it is satisfactory to
your employer that you should be MAX
ing his wife scream at midnight Look
here: you're servant in this house.
What have you to say for yourself? I'm
going to have an explanation Of this"
Jed had been surly and angry, but
now he grinned.
"All right" he said, shut If you want
to be decent about it, ask Mrs. Sidney
first whether she wants your help and
your asking. That's my advice, young
fellow. And while we're asking, how
did you get out of your room? You're
not supposed to be out. We don't want
people in this house running around
the halls at this time of night"
81 opened the door and came out.
Why shouldn't / come out. I heard a
scream and came"
He looked at me as if he were doubt
ing himself. / think he was uncertain
whether he had thrown the bolt or not.