The Penn's Grove record., 1886-03-06

to his cost, and admire me too before
he leaves the house"
But Alice shook her head.
''I,m afraid Mrs. Lord is already in
possession of the fed. What will you
do aboat herP"
THE widOw2 Leave her alone to be
surel Yo don't suppose l am gong to
lower myself by quarrelling over any
man with any woman. AS long as Mrs.
/ Lord a keep HIM, she may:butI have
taken his measure, as | said, and l
think-recollect l have the reputation
of a beauty, and, though he may not
admire me, that goes a long way a man
I rather think ajudiclous mixture of
politely-Yelled indifference and a small
amount Of skIlfully-spread butter to-
gether with a studi0usly-concealed ten
| dresSe for somebody else, unknown, will
settle him.
This struck Alice as being nonsense
but 1t also had a worldly ring in it that
Flora not being there to do so, she felt
it her duty to reprove.
"You talk SO wildly, Ethel dear. l
cont think mamma would like to hear
you"
"Wel, she doesn't hear me-" replied
the incorrigible Ethel. "And nowgood
night. Ican't afford to lose my beauty
sleep; for | want to look my best to-
MORROW
And she did look her best the next
morning, though her dress was only a
plain dark serge; for Ethel was an or
phan, without a relative In the world
except her grandfather, with whom she
lived, and who was by no mean over
buidpned with this worlds goods:
therefore she had not the mean of
dressing smartly; but she had the knack
of making everything she wore look
nice.
Even Captain Crawford, in spite of
his ~professed antlpathy to '6fse eyes,
could hardly have helped being pleasea
with her appearance, when, on coming
out, he found her standing on the door
step watching the party'mount.
Are not you going to ride, Miss
Rainr' he asked.
mo; Pm afraid.n
"That's a pity. You lose a great
deal of pleasure"
500 II" she questioned listlessly, all
her interest apparently ceatered on the
horses; then, glancing indifferently at
him-"I see you are got up for riding.
| shouldn't have thought you were a
hunting man.
"NYhy not?'-a little CLEAN of tri-
umpl coming over his face at the re-
lection that she must have been observ-
ing him pretty closely.
But she had no idea of allowing him
to cherish this pleasing delusion, and
answered carelessly, her eyes still idly
rowing round
"Oh, | don't knowl Everybody, if
only for a moment, leaves some sort of
an impression on ones mind. l sup
pose that is the one you have left on
mine"
''That l am not a hunting manP Gu
rious, isn't it?n
"Yes;n then. a. if suddenly aroused
to consciousness of what she was say
ing-"Oh, dear, what am Isaying? Pm
ure l don't knewl"
"Yhere is your horse, Captain Craw-
ford2" cried Mrs. Lord, WHO, mounted
on a zine animal lent her by a friend in
the neighbOrhood, and attlred in an
exquisitely' fitting habit, looked remark
ably handsome.
Coming" he said laconlcally, and
then, to Ethel, with a glance towards
the widow, admire her?"
He looked down at her with evident
curiosity for the answer.
Il do indeed; she is very handsome"
There was not a trace of reluctance
or pretended enthusiasm in her tone
1t was simply the natural statement of
a fact. His horse being led round at
this moment, she disappeared within
doors without seeing him mount; never
theless she noted from the window that
lie rode down the avenue besides Mrs.
Lord.
The party returned very early, all
more or less cross, having had a bad
day. About five O'Clock Captain Craw-
ford stroiled into the drawing-room, in
search of amusement. There was Mrs.
Lord ready for him, arrayed in her
most fascinating of tea.gowns; but per-
haps he had had enough of her society
in the hunting-field, for he Gid not take
the chair beside her, AID, declining tea
went on into the inner room, where he
found Ethel buried amongst the cush-
ions of a huge arm chair, reading a
novel, from which she merely looked
up on his entrance, and then took no
further notice of him,
~ GA seem very comfortable" he
said at last, when he found that she
had no intention of starting a CONVEX
sation.
al am, thank you," she replied, just
glanctng at HIM over the top of her
book, as he leaned against the mantle
piece, and then continued to read.
Captain Crawford was beginning to
have a notion that this little lady,
though she was small, fair, and blue
eyed, might be abba to amuse him if
she chose; but she evidently did not
choose, and he was much surprised
thereat.
"What have you been doing with
yourself all day?"
"AIeditating"-this time not v e
raising her eyes.
"Meditating2n
"Yes-on my ball-Iress for to-mor-
row."
Then there was silence again, till
Ethel looked up with an impatient air
that said plainly, 81 wish you would go
away and leave me in peace" which
reused a spirit of opposition in him,
determining him TO stay; but he could
not make up his mind to 60 so far as
to offer another observation. After the
silence had lasted about two minutes,
Mrs. Lord came in, addressed herself
20 Captain Crawford.
"We are going to play billiards; won't
you come, Captain Crawford? Indeed
you mus we cannot do without YOU"
Can't you2 Miss Raine, do you
play bIlliardsP"
Sometimes"
lyon Lad better come too.n
mo, not this evening""
"Oh, you mustp' said Alice, who
had just entered. "You really can play
we'll"
Il can't my heroine is being pursued
by a Wild bull, and the hero, who has
only one leg, is looking on helplessly
over the hedge. | really can't leave
them in that d~eplorable position with
out knowing what becomes of them"