The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-09-27

Mr.. lllesley had spent the morning
smoking and writing letters, and after
dinner, feeling in a restless mood. he
wandered olffor a walk. On one side
OF the house was the lake with its boat
house, and shady walks leading around
It, and on the other the woods led back
10 The road by which the stages came
These woods did not afford good view
OF the lake, and so were little visited,
and Mr.. Illesley was somewhat sur
prlsed to catch glimpse of white
dress among the trees. A moment
more and he recognized the slender
figure seated comfortably on fallen
Tree trunk as Miss Disbro, although she
old not raise her eyes from the book
she was readinm.
lie stood for a moment irresolute,
then advancing he raised his hat and
said courteously; "Miss Disbro, be-
ieve." Alice bowed gravely.
81 beg your pardon for intruding,
out l am friend of your sisters, and
Yesterday | received letter from Ned
IN which he mentioned your name, say
ing they did not know where you were
spending your summer. So | took this
liberty thinking that possibly you
knew"
''Please do me q favor, Mr.. lllesley"
he looked a trihe surprised as she
pronounced his name, "by not men
.tloning to my brother-in-law the fact of
Aour having met me here. Twill write to
them as soon as | deem it necessary"
III shall certainly regard your wishes
.sSnSS5S 70 ties, ssrft, i'wirtr u bow,
and then as there seemed to be no
further reason for continuing the con-
versation, he lifted his hat again and
passed on.
The week he had spent at L had
somehow bored Mr.. Illesley. He had
expected to meet his sister and her
child here, but for some reason she
had been delayed and he was vexed at
spending more time idly than he had
planned for.
There were not too many gentlemen
at l.. and more than one pair OF
bright eyes glanced curiously at this
handsome fellow who had such an air
of indifference about him. But although
he knew several of the gentlemen and
could have had any number of intro
auctions to fair partners, they looked in
vain for him in the parlors when there
was dancing.
What would these fashionable young
ladies have thought, if they had known
that the pretty waitress, whom they
had all noticed, was the engrossing sub
ject of his thoughts
Alice Disbro piqued his curiosity
while she compelled his admiration, and
he spent good deal of his time think
ing about her, while he tramped about
or fished or smoked cigars at a ruinous
rate.
And the conclusion he usually reached
was that she was INDUCING in a rather
questionable proceeding, although il
was of no consequence to him.
1t was in this frame of mind that he
welcomed his sister few days. later.
Mrs Carter was bright, lively little
lady, very fond of society, and not be-
ing deeply interested in one of the di-
ning-room girls, she meant to have a
good time, and managed to make her
brother little more sociable 1t was a
shame, she told him, at his time of life
to be 50 Indifferent to the society of
ladies, and besides it was selfish when
there were SO few gentlemen; so he
yielded gracefully.
The Carter children were two, boy
of twelve and 6 girl younger, and one
day Alice, who had been for some ferns
to trim the tables, was returning to the
house, and heard the sound of boyish
voices behind the fence in the yard.
otis shame anyway" one was say
ing, "what's the use of being so careful
of a fellow. l am big enough to 90 out
on the lake alone, and it's lots of fun to
row."
81 know it." said another voice, "but
| have been here over a month, and my
mother won't let me 90 alone; they
say certain part of the lake is danger
GUS"
80, bother! everything is always
dangerous I'll tell YOU what we'll do;
there is going to be a dance tonight,
then we can get out on the roof of that
piazza and get down to the lake and
home again without anybody knowing
it."
"But the boats will all be locked"
objected the other voice.
mo they won't, for [ heard that
Smith fellow tell the man to leave one
out. | suppose he is going to take his
sweetheart out on the water to cool of
after the dancing, and we can use it for
them.
And then the owners of the voices
walked away, leaving Alice to wonder
what she should do.
1t was nearly tea time and there
would be no opportunity to let the boys
mothers know of the proposed proceed
ings, even if she knew who they were.
But after thinking it over she con
Guided to try and get down to the lake
before the boys did, and then persuade
them not to go, or if that failed to
threaten them with exposure.
Accordingly donning a dark dress,
she waited until the guests had assem-
bled in the parlor, and then she fastened
down the steps that led from the hotel
to the lake. She was Just q little too
late, however, for she had only reached
the boat house as she saw dark object
turning round the curve and knew
they had the coast clear. Still she
could keep watch until they came back,
and for nearly an hour she walked up
and down, keeping in the shadow of
the trees, and then to her relief she saw