St. Landry democrat., 1884-08-16
4 TALE OF THE BED PIKE.

az thought 1 should find you with
the girls, Mr.. Goodwin. You should
have been with us. We've had. such a
scramble over Honister Crag, and
brought back no end of flowers for Ger
trude. But one thing / must say-that
fellow Losford is a Jolly muff, though
he doesn't look it. just a funk, girls,
and nothing else. VIII you give me
some TEA, Mrs. Godwin?''
''What nonsense you talk, Bob!'
cried his sister, conscious by some femi-
nine instinct that her friends face was
hotter than a moment before: You
are perfect mGAUG6s e9gfd99t bursting
in like that. wish Mr.. Losford would
teach you manners
''I'd like to see him try. 1t would
take pluckier man than he is. Why,
he wouldn't come within yards of the
edge, Mrs. Godwin!"
s'He showed his usual good sense,
Master Robert, - was the lady's tart re-
ply. She had her reasons for
looking favorablY upon Walter Los
ford, of Losford Court, Mon
mouthshire, by no means the least
honored guest at Mr.. Godwin's lake
and pleasant party, the pleasantest set,
Gertrude thought, that her mother had
ever got together, and Gertrude was a
young lady OF decided tastes and some
what difficult to please. Even Bob
Marston, when he was not saying mall
apropos things and appearing where he
was not wanted atinopprtune moments,
was as amusing as any other Elton boy.
Nevertheless, at this moment two peo-
pie at least were ardently longing to
make his ears Jingle.
And what is the programme for to-
morrow, Mr.. GodWing' resumed the
young gentleman, not whit daunted
by the unfavorable reception of his last
remark. ''Can we picnic on the Red
Pike? 1t would be jolly fur
The host hummed and hawed; he
rather preferred an open-air entertain
meut at a place accessible in an open
carriage. But if you have house
among the mountains, up them YOU
must go. The climbing disease is in
fictitious, and there is no evading it un-
til by a permanent residence you be-
come proof against its attacks. Mr..
Goodwin would have to succumb sooner
or later.
Yes, Bob,'' said Gertrude, sudden
ly laying down the fan with which she
was playing, eve will 90 to the Red
Pike tomorrow.
And Bob, who thought that in his
own language, he had rather put his
foot in It, /" was comforted, and knew
that to the Red Pike he would go.
Gertrude's face, as she went up TO
dress for dinner, was thoughtful, "He
showed his usual good sense Mrs.
Goodwin had said, and the words kept
ringing in her daughters ears until her
lip began to curl with scorn. IF there
was one thing which Gertrude admired |
it was courage; was she beginning, |
almost more than beginning. to like a
man who could be called a coward /
even by boy? 1t made her cheeks
tinge with shame and anger. Proud |
and high-spirited herself, good sense
Of the kind Mrs. Goodwin meant was /
not in high esteem with ner. And,
alas, the insinuation chimed in with
other things. Walter Losford was
hardly one to please a romantic girl at
first sight. Cole, sensible and wanting
in enthusiasm even in his ambition,
trying nearly everything by the argu
ments of reason with impartial sever
ity, he would have made just and not
too merciful Judge. Living BY rule Of
thumb, no wonder that he looked older
than his thirty years, or that he re-
PEELED chance acquaintance who
called him prig. Generally reticent,
he would sometimes tell the truth with
rude abruptness. Altogether. his
friends said. Q little wanting in charitTiI