St. Landry democrat., 1884-08-16

at dinner, the hauteur she assumed
melted away and she blushed and
smiled at his glance; for what is SO
fascinating as the homage of one who
seems utterly, almost c0ntemptuously,
careless of all beside2 Ii Walter had
spoken shat evening he would have as
suredIy gained his object, and Mrs.
Goodwin been made happy woman.
The Red Pike was red indeed in the
evening sunlight, every light that but
tressed its rugged top FURNISHED to
ruddiness, and yet the party fingered.
reluctant to abandon the view of sea
and land from Forth to Windermere
that held them entranced. Tea was
over and the servants had started
downwards with the baggage, yet the
party, which all day had wandered
separately or in pairs at their several
wills, still sat together on the top. Bob
only was ON the move, skirmishing
hither and thither untiringly.
81 say, Gertrude, here's a specimen
for you! Here's blue gentian grow
ing on this cliff, and rare good climb
it will be to it.
The party fastened to the edge of the
cliff; in Granny of the rock about
twelve feet down grew the flower Ger
trude had been long seeking to obtain
A slight open Dg in the wall of the Cliff
made it just feasible, if somewhat dan
gerous, to reach it.
''Robert, don't go too nearr' cried
Mrs. Goodwin.
Gertrude turned with her face little
flushed to Losford .'Can you get it
for me, Mr.. Losford?" she said gently,
and with something of appeal in her
voice.
s.Not without rope" he answered
calmly; 1--WE will bring one up to-mor-
row"
Tomorrow % cried Gertrude, with
sudden heat. ~ want it now. Bob
would get it for me in moment, if I
asked him, Mr.. Losford."
"Bob's head is perhaps steadier than
mine,' answered the other, keeping at
a safe distance from the edge. He was
in no way discomposed until, as he
finished, his eyes met the girls full of
contempt and anger. Stung by the
look he took a hasty step toward the
edge of the cliff and bent down to make
the attempt. For a moment he re-
NAMED in that position as if entranced,
scanning the depth below, sheer three
hundred feet, and then q green ledge,
and then, far beneath, pale-blue Crum-
mock Water. With a quick shudder
he passed his hand across his eyes and
recoiled, white to the lips.
81 can't get it for you," he said
hoarsely falling back, while the others
looked at one another in establishment.
"And quite right, too, Mr.. Losford;
don't try any such foolhardiness, beg,'
cried Mrs. Goodwin loudly. Loudly, but
not so that he failed to hear the one
word Coward" or to distinguish the
tone of contempt in which it fell from
her daughter s lips, as she turned away.
The next instant he was his old calm
self again, but be knew that he had his
dismissal.
As for the bit of blue gentian, Bob
brought it up in twinkling, and chat
tered on in such way as 10 earn every
ones gratitude. Yet it was dull party
that wendell its way down the hill, and
clear twas to more than one that bud
ding romance had come to all end over
the little blue flowers which nestled so
harmlessly in Gertrude's fair hair. Yet,
mothers are sanguine, and Mrs. Cod
win s face grew scarlet with anger when |
the spray appeared again at dinner con-
spicuously fastened in the bosom of her
daughters dress.
If it was only an awkward hour at
dinner that Mrs. Goodwin feared, Fate
was to save her hospitality from, to do
her Justice, an unwonted slur.
Where is Roberto she asked, pet
,ishly, after helping the soup. "Do you
know, Violet?''
Miss Marston did not. Bob was not
wont to be punctual, and she was about
10 say so, when the butler, who had |
oeen called from the room, entered |
hastily and whispered something in his
ear. Mr. Goodwin rose quickly. |
my dear, this is bad news. There
las been fall at the lead works.
'tHoW unfortunate! / am thankful
he men were not at work. Or even
worse, we might have been viewing
hem, as Robert had been plaguing us
o do, and been all crushed together,
ike any common laborers! Shocking!
But where can Robert bepn
81 am afraid, ma'am," put in the
,utler in a low voice VIII Oh every one
leard well, with preternaturaI distinct
less. ''that Master Rohert-leastwise he
vent that way when he came backs
n there. John has gone to the village
Or help"
There was dead silence round that
air show of linen and glass and CLEAN
ny silver, as if the hand which warned
'elshazzar had appeared upon the wall.
hen Gertrude glded to her friends
Idle and put her arm around her. The
entlemen hurried from the room. But
lmnst az SOON as thew reached the