Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
CHAPTER w
Uncle Jerry.

who had been searching for her-who
had even traced her to The Custard
Cup and then failed to find her. Sew
eral days had passed since Thad's re-
port, and she had heard nothing fur
Their; neither had she the slightest
clue, except that it must have been
someone out of her girlhood, out of
the past from which she had sup
posed herself cut off by the seyering
of all close ties. That past was filed
with painful memories.
It was not an unmiXed Joy to know
that a previous acquaintance might
be near and that at any moment she
might be called upon to talk casually
of those years which were buried
deep in her heart The very sound of
her maiden name had stirred lethar-
gic recollections into renewed life,
into the power of shooting like darts
Of agony through the commonplaces
of daily routine.
Inevitably, since imagination is
more vivid artist than reality, she had
exaggerated the possibilities of the
encounter, anticipating them with
dread which she was far from feeling
when that encounter actually oc-
Cured. She even answered the ring
of the bell with the serene conviction
that a neighbor was calling.
"Good morning." she called bright
iy, as she rolled aside the big door.
man stood on the warped board
that took the place of front steps. He
was about fifty years old, rugged,
weather-beaten, giving the impression
of out-of-doors and hard work, inces-
sanity combined.
He said nothing. Hat in hand, he
regarded Mrs. Penfeld with a smile
of inexplicable significance, which
somehow checked the rest of her
usual greeting-the part about COM
ing right in. Her brown eyes blinked
in question.
cam I supposed to know your" she
inquired at last.
81 was hoping you'd guess me-" he
returned, in deep voice that filed
the narrow alley.
Mrs. PenfeId shook her head.
'Then I'll tell you," he said, in evil
dent disappointment. SIN your Uncle
Jerry"
my Uncle Jerryl didn't know
had one"
He laughed. Wasn't James Win
ston your father?'
srVoc Hor nvoS xuidnun6
''I'm his youngest brother, John Jer-
emiah Winston"
Mrs. Penfeld extended her hands.
"Come right in. l didn't know 1 had
near relative in the world. I'm
ticlzled to DEATH"
Jerry Winston entered, walking
slowly. AS he sat down, he caught
his hand against his side with gri-
mace of pain. "Tree fell on me-" he
explained presently. Lumber camp
in Oregonl 1t was my finish for that
kind of life, but was lucky to get
off so easy"
They sat in silence for several mo-
ments, each absorbed in thoughts
which the presence of the other had
reused. 1t was the first time since
his boyhood that Jerry Winston had
been face to face with a member of
his own family. He had cut himself
off voluntarily, called by the freer life
Of the western woods. Mrs. Penfeld
had never seen him before. During
her childhood he had been mentioned
only at rare intervals, and then With
the reserve that hides all wanderers
as behind a curtain of tacit criticism.
Jerry Winston cleared his throat
Its mighty little l got to tell you
bout myself he began. "Lor', it
makes me lonesome to think of the
life I've had to give up. Seems like
/ can smell the woods in my dreams.
I could smell 'em when was young
ster, and finally couldn't stand it
any longer. That's why I ran away.
But that wasn't why didn't keep in
touch" he added quickly. mo, sir,
that was cause the family didn't for
give me for not staying home and
going into the store, as they'd planned.
So naturally T." He finished the
sentence with a wave Of his hand.
"And now you're living near herew
He hesitated. "yes, a few blocks
over" he replied vaguely. II don't
know whether I shall hang round or
not. Depends !"
Her fine eyes grew deep with SYM
pathy. ''Do you mean you can't find
anything TOTO doY
''I'm trying out one or two things
he answered shortly.
This time the evasion was unmis-
taxable. Mrs. Penfeld was sorry she
had pressed the matter. II do hope
you'll stay" she said. ''It has been
lonely. There amt nobody left
nobody"
He looked at her keenly, pityingly.
"Nobody?"
She shook her head. Neither of
my family nor I had few years
of happiness, and then" She broke
off, her lip quivering.
"Say, Car'line, that's tough" he put
in awkwardly. Looks like your old
uncle might as much as dropped you
a line, but 1 guess he wasn't, realiz-
ing What's that? Somebody COM
ing"
Eyes, She breathed more easily.
A complaining tenant would be a re-
lief from the tension of painful
Renaissance.
mo, 1 can't come in, Mrs. Pen
TA