The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-08
MRS. lANCASTER'S RIVAL.
~ THE AUTHOR OF "a FRENCH HEIRESS
IN HER OWN CHATEAU"
Continued

20 the occasion, which was that of find
ing themselves not quite so welcome as
they expected. She felt little angry
with the General, and he with Mabel;
but in her, good temper and good man
ners alike kept any sign of this being
shown, and as to Dick, he was only a lit
tie more talkative than usual. General
Hawke, remembering him a rather
dreamy boy, was surprised with which
he described his station life, and laughed
heartily at some of his anecdotes. Kate
exerted herself at intervals to talk to
Mabel, who had not very much to say in
return. Her visitor did not take any
fancy to her, and thought her an odd
hammered little thing Once or twice
she caught her eyes fixed on her rather
curiously. Kate's beauty was mot of a
kind to strike girl who could be much
impressed by Mrs. Lancaster's; it per-
haps needed an educated mind to under
stand her air, her unconscious grace, the
perfection of all the lines about her,
Kate was the modern expression OF an
oldrace, which had been distinguished in
courts and wars for many hundred years.
Flora Lancaster was lovely animal.
sneak of their looks, not their minds,
nor do not wish to be hard on Flora
without good cause. :.
General Hawke, as l said before, had
a very strong admiration for Miss North
cote. His eyes wandered towards her
many times as he listened to Dick, and
when tea came in, and was set down near
Mabel, he got up, crossed the room, and
took his place beside her.
Dick got up too, and came forward to
make himself useful at the tea-table.
His wish to have it out with Mabel had
been growing all this time, till it was
stronger than his discretion. The Cen
eral was a little deaf, and he and Miss
Northcote seemed quite occupied with
each other. Dick, STOPPING to take his
aunt's cup from Mabel, gave her look
that the stupidest girl could not have
misunderstood, but the like of which
she certainly had never received before.
Dick had very good, expressive eyes;
they were the best feature in his face.
They asked Mabel plainly what he had
done to offend her; what was the change
from yesterday; and good deal Of re-
proach and sadness, more, perhaps, than
he quite meant, added to the effect of the
question. Mabel only answered it by
blushing crimson, dropping her eyelids
very low, and putting a lump Of sugar
into the cream-jug instead Of the Gen
erals cup. This was not unsatisfactory
to Dick, and confirmed him in his resolu-
tion to know all about it. AT any rate,
it was not mere Indifference. Having
handed the cups, he came back and sat
down near Mabel, and said something
about their Journey Of the day before.
"What has become Of your chap
eronT" !.
$50, I don't know; she is somewhere, u
said Mabel. "She is going back to-mor
row morning" e
s'Then YOU will be left aloneW
81 shall bo left with the General" sale
Mabel.
"To be sure" 'Yti.ta5t
Dick was silent for a moment, ant
chen went on:
"You must get the General to TAX
YOU down the river in his boat. Yol
have no idea how jolly it is. Make hin
land under those woods l was telling yo1
about yesterday" ,n"
sHas he a boatw
"Of course he has. 1t is kept dow
IN the Combc. These summer evenings
after dinner, the best thing be could DO
~ do not know whether he would lik
it."
"Certain to like it, isn't he, if you asl
himT'
Mabel shook her head and smiled
Dick was pleased at having softened tn
grave little face at last.
"This is a charming old place, ism
III" he said. :.
ayes; and believe it really was bull
BY the Britons; for Mr. Strange was her
this morning, and said 80"
"Of course. He told me all / kno,
about it. So you have made the NJ
quaintance of Anthony Isn't he an cd
hllow" .,,,
Il don't know. I think he is wonder
fully nice"
ESQ he is. There is not a better fello,
on this side of the world. / am yer
glad You like him. You will like Mr.
Strange, too, and Carweston perhaps bel
ter than both of thetn, if you like place
better than people" s
"But don't" as
care you sure about thatT'
ri don't know what you mean" sal
Mabel, rather coldiy. ae
She was determined not enter into an
Jokes with Dick, or to let him be in an
way Intimate. He had no business
trouble himself about what she liked Q
, did not like. She meant him to see, q
any rate, that she disapproved Of hin
Itwas rather hard, with his easy mar
ners, and those laughing, dark blue eye
watching her all the time. 1t seemed I
bscome harder every minute, for Ger
eral Hawke was Inconsistent enough t
take Miss Northcote out on the lawn I
rhow her a rose, before Dick and Mabt
had finished theirtea. It would perhaf
have been unreasonable to expect Ne,
Zealander not to seize thissoppoftunit,
"May Ihope that you, have forgive
l.... n - ,s,x.x.. AZ. AL 4. !,