The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-06-28
MISS MORTIMER.
BY GUINEVERE.

| Beverly was 4 pretty little place on
the coast, favorite resort at one time
for those who desired to spend their
summer in an easy, comfortable way.
without being bound and restrained by
social laws and formahties
Everyone was independent; they
spent their time as they chose and dress
ed without regard to fashion 1t was
certainly the place for one to enjoy
| themselves, if comfort and ease and in
dependence signify enrolment.
This is dehghtfulr' exclaimed Mel
la, when they stood on the hotel piazza,
surveying the scene And what a
number of people for such small
place. Only two hotels, aren't there,
LYNN
Yes, but they are very roomy,' he
answered, land there are many cot
tages
Then, as his eyes wandered over the
moving throng on the avenue below, he
started and his face lit with q smile
Miss Mortimer, father" he said
''Do YOU see herr
a handsome woman in white, with
clusters of deep-red roses at waist and
throat, was passing, accompanied by a
trio of friends She looked up with
! bright smile. her eyes, dark and spark
ling, rest an instant on NelIa's face,
and inyoluNtariiy the latter flushed
slightly and ayerted her eyes
| Lynn turned to her impulsiveN.
Il am GLAD Miss Mortimer is here"
he said, "You viii meet her now, Mel
In, and / know you will be good friends.
She isvery pleasant
Il do not remember having heard of
her before. Is she an old friend?"
Nella spoke carelessly bat with feel
ing akin to jealousy. reused by the
stranger 5 winning beauty aud Lynn 5
unusual interest and delight
AN Old friend? Well scarcely; we
met her last year at Mrs Netnor's She
is a southern lady, but is visiting her
sister in the city; intends to remain I'M
til fall, Ibelieve. Perhaps longer he
added, with a half-amused smile that
] Nella could moi understand.
| Judge Farley shook his head depre-
catingiy over Mrs Verne's shoulder but
Lynn had already changed the subject,
and responded by mischievous glance
from Us dark-blue eyes.
The windows of Nella's room at the
hotel faced the beach and wide prone
made, and looking out half hour later,
She saw Lynn strolling up and down with
the handsome stranger, for whom she
had already conceived strange dislike.
She met her that evening in the par
lor. The white dress and roses had
been discarded, and toilet of back
rrenadine with vivid scarlet trimmings
and ornaments OF etruscan gold lit up
her southern beauty.
Her hair. dark and waving, was coll
ed low in the neck and secured by a
iewelel arrow; a few stray curls fell
, over the low. white forehead; with its
arching, jetty brows beneath which
shone pair of radiant eyes.
She greeted Nella with a winning
smile, but there was no response. =
Lynn was surprised at the girls cold
ness.
Il do not like Miss Mortimer" she
said, in reply to his inquiries; Il am al
ways distrustful of those smooth suave-
hammered persons. y
''You need not distrust her, he an
swered half Indignantly, and she could
not but notice how ready he was in her
defense; ''she is always as you see her
now. | mean by that, she is not deceit
full Her manners may be suave and
smooth but they are quite natural.
Nella shrugged her shoulders and
turned away. With her usual pervers-
itv, she determined then, that nothing
could ever place her on terms OF friend
ship with Miss Mortimer, half ashamed
though she was of her suspicious
OF one thing she was quite certain.
= Miss Mortimer and Lynn might not have
been old friends, but they were appar-
entity very intimate ones.
He never spoke like that of n casual
acquaintance, and she did not bestow or
her other friends the familiarity and at
tentions he received.
Once, when they stood together neal
the low, open window, Nella passing
outside, heard him call her Adelaide
without rebuke.
1t was pretty name, but she did moi
liketo hear il from his lips; she thought
| it should be with him as with others
Miss Mortimer.
Lynn met her in the hall early the
next morning, on her returnfrom break
fast.
..Shall we ride over to Brockport thi
Il morning. he asked.
Yes, / will be ready in a littl'
while
Half way up the stairs he called tt
. her:
Miss Mortimer is going with us. Tel
her we will start in half an hour.
r The frown that would have darkenet
Nella's face vanished at sight Of the la
DIV herself on the upper landing.
She wore becoming costume o
dark Green. with wide hat, whose scar
d let plumes dropped coquettishly over he
e dusky hair, and CARED her gloves ant
T. parasol- :,
) inc. .FIl keep Mr. Farley out OF mis-
chief until YOU return. It's Lowell
morning for drive.
Then she joined Lynn in the hall be
low. and the two went out on the piaz
Judce Farley went'with them to tn
4 station. He could not leave his bus
ness in the city entirely, but promises
to make flying trips to Beverly whenev
err he could spare the time.
Miss Mortimer smiled regretfully a
parting and hoped he would not absen
9 himself long.
We'll be lonely without you, sh
said, which remark Nella nFentally pre-
L nounced an untruth, and frowned unde