Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-12-20

OlTl hlndneSS M
anu oliuo1slailu- was the best
ing Appealed to catch" in VIII
Handsome Young Evansville. At
Dick Barnes iedsl Ina. ~ "n 10
~
Aunt Sophia f there - told them
Played Clever selves and some
Part by Supplying times each other.
a Dinner Party But what IS more
the maidens them
selves thought so. And Vlolet Mar
tin, who was neither the prettiest, Eor
the richest, nor the cleverest of the
maidens, agreed with them in their es-
innate IF the big handsome, wealthy
fellow. But 1t was, With her, not MS
riches, or his good looks, or ever his
great popularity that gave her this
thought. No, it was a feeling she
had for the whole two years sine he
had come to Williamsville, that he
would make one of the best comrades
in the world. She understood his spe-
cial sense Of humor. She loved his
laugh. Violet Martin was honestly in
love with this big, congenial boy.
Richard was in love with Violet, too.
He was quite certain of that. But he
was spoiled. Anyone would be spoiled
who was adored as Richard was
adored, You see, it was not only the
girls-there was his mother who had
spoiled him from infancy. That is
why Richard although he knew he
loved this gi who wasn't the prettiest,
nor the richest, nor the wisest in Will
liamsvtlle-no, not by far, had not
quite come tc the point of proposing
For Violet, who was honestly in love
with him (rot like the others who
we're in love with the idea Of perhaps
being loved by this hero) dared not
show her alteration. No, she dared
Only be as frank and comradely as a
boy, and treat him like an equal.
And Richard was little put out
with this Any reflection Of himself
in girls eyes short of hero's refec-
tion made him feel strange.
Besides, he wasn't sure it was pos
sible for a man to be in love with a
lady unless she was in love with him.
He had pride, too.
But Christmas night the drama
came to its crisis.
Violet had agreed to go to musical
comedy with him, a good show that
had been a success in New York, and
was in Williamsville just this one
night. All the Williamsville youths
would be there with their ladies, and
Richard, deep in his heart, was glad
that they were to see him with Violet.
Il don't know why | feel this in
ordinate pride in her." he told him
self. There are prettier girls, and as
jolly. And girls that are nicer to me,
too. But it's Violet I'd rather be seen
with thai any of 'em."
When he called for her the whole
family was sitting around the open
fire in the big front parlor. Evident
ly they had had family Christmas
dinner, for Violet's aunt and uncle and
her cousins were still there, and I'M
married AUNT Sophia.
"Time to start for the theater?'
Violet's father exclaimed in amaze
ment when he saw Richard. ''Well,
we'd better get our things on, too"
1t seemed that not only youth was
going to the musical comedy. But
Aunt Sophia was not going. She had
not thought to get herself ticket, and
apparently no one had thought for her.
Aunt Maud was going with her hus-
band. The young cousins were going
with their beaux. Mrs. Martin with
Mr.. Martin. And Violet was going
with Dick.
Aunt Sophia until this minute had
not realized how lonely Christmas
night she had in store for herself at