Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-12-21

post vigorous utterances of the most
far-reaching tones.
One afternoon. toward the end of
June. Rupert, Margaret and Louis sat
alone in the school-room. Mrs. Las
celles had set off on one of her unfre
quent rounds of afternoon calls, and
had taken Damaris with her. Louis had
lunched with them, and since their re-
turn TO the schoOl-room, had been busy
explaining To Rupert, whose appetite
Tor Information was Unsuitable, some
new geological theory. They both
listened with the deepest interest while
Louis piled books in different ways, SO
rs to show the position of the strata of
which he was speaking. Margaret re-
joiced in the sweetness of the moment.
The only thing about which she had
ever heard Louis express any earnest
desire, was, that he had only the means
to forward certain branches of scientific
inquiry, and she was thinking at this
moment: How could help him! And
how delightful il would be To do so''
Louis was on his knees on the floor.
and Margaret lent helping hand.
holding up one book while he propped
others against il. She leaned sideways
over low chair i'm which she sat, and
rs they were all thus occupied. the door
was opened, footstep paused, and
then voice said:
Il fear | disturb; is Mrs. Lascelles
not imp"
Margaret started violently, changing
color. Not so Baldwin,
'Halloa, Jackl is that youP Thought
YOU were in London" he said. deliber-
ately.
"Mr. Mallabarr! II also thought YOU
were in London was all that Marga-
ret found TO say.
Mallabarr had paused on thu thresh-
hold, his whip and hat in his hand. He
looked the picture of fine young En-
glish gentleman-proud, erect and
handsome; but the smile which oftener
than not relieved the darkness of his
face, was absent. Something more like
y frown-still more like pain and dis
iress-a Disconnected expression sat
upon his brow and looked from his ewes:
his nostrils were little dilated, his
head thrown back. Margaret had new
or seen him look like that. and the ex-
preston caused her much uneasiness;
but mastering her first embarrassment,
she said:
"Will YOU not come and sit down? 1t
Is true Mrs. Lascelles has gone out; but
perhaps she will not be long, and she
viii be disappointed il she misses YOU"
Mallaharr hesitated for n moment.
looking ut Margaret in n manner which
she did not quite comprehend, and then
aaid. reluctantly:
"Since | am here, will wait short
time, at any rate"
lie laid his hat and whip on n side
table. pushed his fingers through his
hair, and sat down beside Rupert's
couch.
"Wcll, old fellow. how are you getting
on?' he asked. in tone which sounded
rather weary, and his sentence ended
with n sigh.
Mech just rs usual" said Rupert.
listlessly. studying geology, with the
aid Of books as strata. But what brings
you back so soonP thought you were
so fond OF London"
He could not we'll have asked n ques-
ton more ungrateful to the ears of the
three grOwn-up persons who were his
companions. Mallabarr did not imme-
diately answer. Margaret sat notion
less. looking steadily forth from the
window; but her heightened color.
which she could not cOntfol, annoyed
herself, and was perfectly visible to
Louis Baldwin, though he appeared alb
gOrbed in further experimental combi-
nations Of imaginary movable strata.
At last John said:
- i used to be fond of London, when
i was young. Now every place bores
me. 1 was bored TO death there, so
came away
IL should think you'd be blessed
lot more bored here" answered Ru-
pert, who was not too well pleased ut
MallabarPs return, and who spoke
GROSSLY.
John laughed little, and replied:
Perhaps maybe. Ii So, | can 90
somewhere else. / wonder you're not
out Of doors this fine afternoon"
I'VE should lie, if you weren't
here --"
"Rupertl'' cried Margaret.
"Well, | mean. Miss Percival prom
ised to go with me rs soon rs Louis had
gone"
That is the first have heard of
such n PROMISE remarked Louis, de-
liberately. while Margaret's face famed
again. I'm take the hint, and high
time did 60, too. had no idea tiine
had flown So fast
1t does go very fast in some places"
said Mallabarr, throwing his head back.
and intcntly studying the pattern of the
cOlOred beams and holdings on the cell
ing.
"Will YOU come too, or you'll cen
tinue To wait for Mrs LaScellcs?" asked
Louis, and there might have been in his
voice some accent not quite usual 10 if
touch of sarcasm, or mockery, or
some similar feeling. Mallabarr. usual
~ the most cheerily, prompt and de-
cided of men, seemed TO find the said
question somewhat difficult To answer,
cleared his throat, gazed out of the win
dow, and hesitated. Margaret, unable
TO sit still any longer while this yelled
sparring was going on. had jumped mp.
carried of the books which strewed the
1oOr, and was now employed. her back
turned To the young men, in arranging
the volumes in their places in dwarf
bookcase. Louis stood TRANQUILITY lock
ing ut niallabarr. with something like
the shadow of n smile lowering about
his lips. Mallabarr caught the glance.
and suddenly frown. black rs night,
took possession OF his brow.
"Since you are going. and Rupert,is
going out, think 1 shall 90, too, The
answered, coldly.
"All right" said Louis; "only 1
have some papers to- bring from the
drawing-room. Good afternoon. Miss
perciyal."
Good afternoon. " replied Margaret.
not even turning To look Mt him.
Louis sauntered out.
Mallabarr made n couple of steps
across the room TO the bookcase, and
said:
Miss PercivalI''
She started. and let book.fall. They
stopped simultaneously To pick it up,
and their hands met. His voice had be-
come quite gentle when he spoke again
evil you give my love To Mrs. Las
cellas, and say l will do myself the
pleasure of calling again some day soon.