The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-08-28

! Tor tncy We're lliyIlS C"lN'' -.
"Passl No; III order it NJ, Now, MIS-
HnIa," and he looked brightly over at ms
partner Nothing yentured, nothing GaIHed'
| you know r.,,..,
I'm do the vcnturing," replied hlida' ana
| being third in hand, followed suit, playing
very low
Gregory took no notice Of this loss OF a
trick "Of course we don't expect ocean plIh'
ing" he continued; "but you VIII want 10 90
there again always think OF thar IN gong
to n new place. IL isn't so much ones enjoy
ment the first time, bat the practical kho"i'
EDGE one gains. II helps you IN making up
your mind the next thne-adds another bead
TO your rosary, rs il were.
"Euchred," said Arnold.
"Now, isn't that Just my luck" exclaimed
Gregory; ",nd hadn't bad hand either.
And then. =" be continued, although be was
now mt another table, and had to look over
his shoulder to address Arnold, 1T IL such 8
comical idea, thi, clubbing arrangement, ahd
not n bad ono either. II works well al
around, helps fiji uP the hotel, and provides
YOU with company of your own choosing.
1--WE do not all get our board free, said the
widow.
mo. of course not Only the one who gets
mn The club. or-and this Is the best piazza
club can invite guest instead, -Four Of u'
couIl take ono extra person, and eight OF Us
two, and 50 on IL is what might be called
the hospital plan. No one sat extra expense,
no one under obligations You have just the
same rates, the same rooms, the same board,
as member of club that you would nave
if YOU went alone, bat there IS the extra
guest You can go rs IA third story party or
a first floor 1t is share and Share alike, 10
one knows which is guest and which one pays,
So there is no discrimination l call II cap
ital plan"
"You are sure it is n good house' Wei!
kept"
First rate. Oh come now, Mrs. Lyons
know won't get the BOBBY prize. | am not
playing for prizes tonight. If | were should
not try for that"
you must have them strung up ike scalps
around a wigwam, Gregory Tell us how
many have you got"
One for each tally card asked the widow.
Gregory laughed mysteriously. 81 am
going 10 play for n prize, he said, and am
going to get it, What kind OF prize 1t will
la YOU shall Judge when you see it..
Thus far Gregory'slttie scheme had worked
fairly. He had interested the party, and had
almost persuaded the Arnolds TO promise to
90. The widow needed no persuasion. She
wanted solitude, she said, 50 as TO practice her
Spanish and she was from the first on Greg
ory's side. To Hilda he said very little. This
was the delicate and difficult part of the mat
ter He was quite sure that she could not
afford the holiday, and he knew she would
not accept the position Of guest unless the
affair was managed with great delicacy.
IF appear in tiff | propose inviting
her he said to himself, she is so shy, 50
proud that she will refuse at once. must
suggest, but must never say it,
To this subtle and embarrassing task he
thus addressed himself. He talked as if both
Stefano and Hilda We're going; he suggested
that he himself might he invited as guest.
He did all that he could TO show that the po-
stion was most honorable and desirable lie
spoke of the rest, of the oXhilaration in the
air, of leaving the city behind, and yet liv-
Ing in friendly circle. What were they not
to do at Coast Cove! He bought books TO
read there; he collected photographs and
games for the one rainy day they were to
have, and finally sent Hilda a volume of
Coast Cove, Easter week, 1SSj' After n
time his persistence persuaded them all that
they were going, and they fell into the habit
of discussing their plans before they were
really aware that they had seriously formed
any.
Stcfano took but little interest in all this
English talked around him He lived in his
lagoon of French and Italian, and the out
side waves did not disturb him. His plans
for Florida did not please him as the time for
leaving drew near, but he promised himself
that he could soon see all Of the south that he
cared for, and he would speedily return. In
the mean tmo ho devoted himself to talking
to Mrs. Lyons and practising with Hilda. He
shrugged his shoulders at the idea of the
northern sea coast in March, and told them
that he preferred thinking of them as at home.
When tho second week in March came,
Gregory had summons To Chicago, and had
to leave New York at once.
at is the most unfortunate thing, " he said,
"but have written TO the Coast Cove house
AMI made provisonary arrangements Ar
Holt, can see how they suit | have n copy of
my letter for him. will certainly get back
during tho week and will join you there.
have said that there will be at least club Of
four and guest"
"But the guestl Whom are VIC to invite
inquired Mrs. Lyons gayly.
Gregory hcsitated. 1t was a breathless
moment to him. He did not dare to look at
IIilda He did not dare to mention her, nor
yet to pass her name over II she did not 60
the sea would be only bowling wilderness Of
waves He looked at Mrs. Lyons; there was
world of entreaty in his eyes. Surely,
surely she must know who ought to be the
guest
I'VE have had ~ pleasant n winter together,
our party ought not to be broken now. No
ono has so much influence as you. You
choose the guest, make up the party, Mrs.
Lyons, and if persuasion fails, try coercion"
Then he laughed, his handsome face flushing.
"A great deal may hang on this Let us do
unto others"
II seer cried the widow; you are n wicked
fellow. But see through it all. You may
depend on me, and the party shall be to your
mind
Are we limited to fourf' asked Mrs.
Arnold.
leave it to me-" replied the widow; 81
have made my plans, l know Just how to
manage it know just what we want. But
you, Gregory-oh, l shall envy Chicago
every day that she keeps SO charming a
schemer from us and then she arose and
swept Gregory the lowest OF bows.