The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-28

ing myself good for something, am only
too happy" Speaking with laughterful
earnestness) "to hurry toward poor Mrs
Wainwright's succor. But is she not
very suddenly attacked? I saw her less
than an hour ago and she was looking
quite WELL"
Neuralgia comes on quite suddenly
always" responded Mrs. Hoadley.
just now Norman Pomeroy is wonder
ing silently to himself, "How is Mrs.
Hoadley possibly going to manage mat
ters? This headache of Mrs. Vain
wrighfs is myth. Very well; as soon
as Diana discovers it she will return.
That will make altogether too short a
time for my conversation with Walter
Shelton, am afraid. Mrs Hoadley is
rather bungling the affair, it seems"
Diana leaves the room presently, prom
ising to return very soon, and politely
requesting both gentlemen to await her
return. But she has no sooner disap-
peared than Mrs. Hoadley rises and fol-
lows her, calling "Diana, Diana," as
though desirous Of communicating some
important matter previously forgotten.
The two gentlemen left together re-
main silent. Three good minutes elapse.
Presently Walter Shelton makes a
languid remark about the heat, to which
Norman civilly assents. Meanwhile no
Mrs. Hoadley, as yet.
Norman wonders whether he is ex-
pected to begin; concludes yes and is
Just about to do so when he glances to-
ward the soft blue curtain that makes a
sort of arras (and very tasteful one)
between the sitting-room and the ad-
jacent sitting-rO0m. This curtain is
drawn aside now, and servent enters
the apartment.
Mrs. Hoadley is very sorry" the SER
want begins, "but she wants to know if
the gentlemen will excuse her about ten
minutes, or perhaps little longer"
Saying this the servant disappears by the
door leading into the hail.
Norman sees now how Mrs. HOadley
has managed. But he is far from liking
the probability of Diana's returning from
the hotel at any moment, annoyed with
her mother, and interrupting him in his
interview at most nalapropos time.
However, the best plan is for him to be-
gin promptly, Norman decides, and con-
denses what he has to say in as sfew words
as possible.
Immediately after the servant has
quilted the room he glances toward his
companion and speaks these words in
voice of perfect composure:
"Mr. Shelton, desired an opportunity
for some private words with you, and
am glad to see that it has arrived"
Walter Shelton bows cooley. Norman
proceeds, remembering that he has little
time and must make the best of it:
"I am friend of Mrs. Hoadley, and
have known her late husband intimately
enough to feel priviledged even beyond
the limit of most friends. / therefore
ask you what are your intentions regard
ing Miss Diana? Do you mean to ask
her to become your wifeT
Walter Shelton sits the picture of
utter amazement for some few seconds,
staring at the man who has thus dared
to address him. At length he responds,
cooley as surprise will let him:
81 do not consider you authorized to
put that question, sir"
"I have an excellent reason for so
doing"
"What reasOn?"
Norman's gray eye is fxedly levelled
upon Shelton's handsome, rather effemi-
nate face. 81 suspect that you are merely
enjoying yourself with Miss Diana Hoad-
ley--firting with her, in other words
and that you mean no serious results to
come of your present intimacy"
Shelton's lips curled with sneer under
his handsome moustache. "Do you call
that a reason?" he questions, with short,
contemptuous little laugh.
at is part of reason. The second
part is this: / believe Miss Diana to be
rapidly falling in love with you."'.
"That is mere flattery, surely"
"And the third and last part of my
reason" Norman continues, "its most
powerful portion: I hold her in suf-
ficient regard to feel unwilling that
her future shall be made unneces-
sarily miserable. This is why l speak
with you, Mr.. Shelton, on SO delicate a
subject. If you mean marriage with Miss
Diana, and tell me honestly that this is
the case, shall say nothing more, and
apologize for having spoken at all. But
if not"
"Well, 'if not Mr.. Chivalrous~
There is so much insOlent scOrn in Shell
toms tones as he utters these words that
Norman bites his lips to keep his anger
under good control. But he remembers
their place of meeting.
off not, sir, why l shall have Miss
Diana warned against YOU"
"She will not listen to you--dOn't de-
ceive yourself"
"She will listen to her mother, how
ever, who suspects, by the way, just as l
have suspected, that you are merely
trifing with her. Acknowledge that you
mean to marry her---that is all ask. In
deed "--he goes on, his voice suddenly
softening most noticeably--"I beg you to
tell me the real truth regarding your true
feelings"
Beg as much as you please, my dear
sir" is the scoffing answer
Norman's voice rings hard, cold chal-
lenge now. "ThenI dare you to tell me-"
Norman had calculated well. Walter
Shelton's nature--a combination of weak
ness and vanity--has not power to resist
these few defying words.
"You dare me, do your he laughs,
looking bravado to the very finger-nails.
"And suppose 1 should tell you the truth,
my fine fellow, who is going to be whit
the wiserY Do you fancy the fair Diana
would believe any story of yoursY Or,
CNCn IL buOuiu CICult Wndb
you said, how much influence would she
have against meT'
Norman sees very plainly now how
this childish, egotistical nature may be
managed. The truth at which he wishes
to arrive may be reached rather promptly.
No very hard mining required in such
soil as this.
Nevertheless" he sternly states, "you
have not yet dared to tell me what your
intentions are regarding Miss DIANA"
Dared hal hal ha! Dared! hear
the mani Why, / mean to amuse myself
with her society till / am tired of 1t.
And now, my fine friend, dare you to
repeat what say. Much good it will
do you If you attempt such a thing"
There is no necessity for that, Mr..
Shelton. / have heard il already"
Az these words fall unon tho eara of