Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-05-24

1 80 al NlONiNNly 1AdiO
possessed herself of the blue one,
which always played directly after
the red, and from many fine posi-
ton was Royals ball sent spinning
by the aggressive blue Sometimes
| thought caught an amused CLEAN
10 Royals brown eyes as be watched
Kate from under the brm Of his straw
hat; but it quickly gave place to an
expression of absent Indifference when
Kate turned to him, saying, coolly,
Your ball is under the honeysuckle ;
| knocked it there some five minutes
ago.
1t occurred to me sometimes that
these two might be playing al cross
purposes, and growing to dislike each
other simply for want Of an under
standing. There was always some
thing commanding bout Royal
Payne's presence. It was not wholly
in his face, which was one of those
ciear-cut. regular featured, faces, with
STRENGTHENING, earnest eyes, and
q frank, rather boyIsh mouth, which,
it was easy to imagine, could frame
tender words. Nor was it, | think,
wholly in his manner, which was free,
without being familiar, and always,
through the fun that often bubbled up
to the surface, courteous and deferen-
tial toward women. STILL there was
a sense of power in his presence
which Kate, with her quick sensibllity,
perceived and armed herself against.
| ain quite satisfied now that it was
this quick perception on Hates part,
and her quick action to show herself
untouched by such an influence, that
| first commenced the unaehnowledged
hostlities between them. One little
instance showed mo that Kate felt
this power; and having known her
disposition from childhood, and her
Impotence of anything like authority,
| knew how strongly it must affect
her to cause her to yield to it so
quietly.
We were coming slowly home from
a long ramble one day, when shower
overlook us; one Of those sudden
showers that seem to come from the
four corners of the heavens and dis.
charge themselves from the zenith
without moments notice. We all
took shelter under the lea Of large
rock and some oYerhanging trees-all
but Kate, who stopped deliberately,
with the large drops falling Oh her.
Il am going to run for the house,
she said, half defantly, as if expecting
opposition. i am a good runner, and
[ can get there in three minutes.
No, don't, Kate | cried; you will
get drenched Come up here quick
please, and you shall have my UNI
brella>
/ think, if RoSal had not been there
she would have found it three easy
steps up the rocky bank to our shell
ter; bat Royal was standing in the
rain with outstretchcd hand, waiting
to help her; and, after measuring the
distance to the house again, she turn
ed her eyes back to US with petu-
liant nod, which was one of her ways
of expressing her displeasure, aud
said:'
4 can never get np that steep bank;
beside, you are getting rained on just
the same the rain blows over the
rock
BAT you shall have my umbrella,
| repeated, land Royal will help You.
Royal gave me look of mingled
amusement and vexation, with a
Sight disgust. I thought, for her
childishness But he turned back to
her, and there was that peculiar ac-
cent of command in his voice as he
said, You had better take your aunt's
advice, Miss Kate; give me your hand
please.
For an instant, just the shortest in
slant, Kate hesitated. Then she bit
her lips, and the bright color rose to
her checks as, putting her hand in
his, she let him lift her up the bank
and lead her TO where we were stand,
ing II may have been my magma
ton, but l thought Royals manner
toward her during the rest Of the af-
ternoon AID evening had little less
OF its usual formal politeness. 1t this
was so, however, Kate either did not
notice it or did not choose to.
The mex. afternoon, sweltering
August day, we were all out on the
lawn, eagerly waiting for the first
cool sunset breeze. The four o'clocks
were waiting for ii, too, with their
| yellow cups UNFINISHED and upturned.
The corn.crack's piercing note came
up from the field, and the monoton-
Gus murmur of the bees lowering
about the honeysackle was almost
lulling us to sleep.
eOb, for a shower like yesterdays Y
said Royal, who was stretched out at
full length on the grass, regardless Of
his white linen suit. There's not a
cloud In the sky. Is there cool
place in CawIey, do you think, Miss
Silver 2
4 should think the Sibyrs Cave
might be ceol,' said, laughing; 1T
was freezing when we went into it
the other day. 1t is great pity it
was not nearer the house, and then
we could have used it for refriger.
ator, and Daniel would not have to
cut ice every winter.
Lets take lunch down to the
cave and spend the evening there,
suggested pretty Alice Logan, who,
with her fair brown hair, and deep,
shining gray eyes, was to Kate what
starlight is to sunlight.
1T would be the death of us all, |
said. There will be breeze coming
up directly, and We shall get the first
Whit of it here
Meanwhile, l shall go off in q
trance cried Kate, throwing down
her work and going over to the four
o'clocks, There is some mesmeric
influence at work in the air. What
shall we do to relieve the stupidity OF
the evening"
Tell each others fortunes said
Alice. MY colored nurse used TO
/ 4niI ~, For4pra bx, q taa.ann