Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-03-31

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some notice of her arrangements. What
shall you do' anything
"Yes, indeed, but not in too great n
hurry, lest We rouse the lady's suspi-
cions. Your cue, dad, is to De the polite
host, and leave the rest to me. If don't
rid you of your visitors before a fort
night is over I'm not Keith Lorrimore.
The young man had not much time
for maturing his plans. That same even
ing lust az lie and his father were sitting
down to dinner, one Of the hired car
riages from the railwft hotel drove TO
the door, piled high with feminine lug
gage.
Mr.. Lorrimore put down the fish knife
and looked at Keith, who shrugged his
shoulders, and caustically observed:
"Your fair friend has her wits about
her; she saw the folly of waiting till her
visit was either evaded ar declined out
right. SO here she is. But courage, dad!
I shall be match for the widow, even
though she is backed by her two daugh-
ters."
There was not time to say any more
for, closely followed by the damsels in
question, Mrs. Burton was entering the
house. She was pale, faded and anxious
looking. and as soon rs Mr.. LorrimOre
advanced to greet her she hid her face
In her handkerchief, leaned on her COM
pnnions and gave signs of becoming
hysterical.
While one of them assisted her to a
chair, united her Grape bonnet, and beld
vinaigrette to her nose, the other
gracefully addressed herself to their
host.
Mamma had suffered horribly during
the three days and nights they were at
sea. II Mr., Lorrimore would kindly ex-
cuse them they would take her I'd her
room At oHce. Tomorrow she would be
better, and then she would make her
own apologies.
The bell was rung for the house
keeper, who was in high state of indig-
nation at such demand on her resour-
ces. To be expected to have everything
in apple-pie order for the reception OF
three ladies', of whose very existence she
had been in ignorance until they arrived,
was too much.
However, a whisper from Keith in
duced her to stihe her wrath, and Mrs.
Burton was led to the chamber he va
Gated for her, the daughter who had al.
ready spoken lingering behind to intro
duce herself.
81 am Aveline, my sister is Mona.
, You do not seem like a stranger to us,
dear Mr.. LOrrimOre, because We have
| heard mamma talk of you SO much, and
, ! often road yoNr oSsayS y
. REALLY now? You surprise, that is,
, you flatter me-" said the sarant, .fut
{ tered by the very sweet smile that &c
r companied the speech. II am sorry
that is Keith, why don't you come
3 and speak to your consin 2"
AAre We cousinsl" demurred Miss
Burton, eyeing the younger man with
more reserve, and not appealing to see
the hand he offered her. I'VE did moi
3 know that mammals kind old friend had
, a son residing with him."
{ 81 am but bird of passage" Keith
|, told her. "My home is with my regi
| ment which has been stationed for til,
last three years in the Bombay presi
i dency. My father deputies me to ex
press his regrets that he was not aware
| YOU would be here tonight.
, "You think that we ought to have tele
: graphed," said Aveline. detecting thu
, hidden meening in his ffigid tones; "bu
as DR.: Hayton had written to you. We
thought it unnecessary. You had re
ceived his note 2
ooh, yes," Keith ac1uiesced; but she
waited in vain for him to say more, ami
hot flush mounting into her pale
cheeks, she turned from him to conyers,
with his father.
, Aveline Burton was not as regularl,
r beautiful as her blonde -tressed animated
sister Mona, but she had expressive eyes
, large fund of witchery lurking abou
? her dimpled lips, and conld infuse into
her manner pretty winning deserenc.
that had q great effect on an elderly
man.
3 $50 you are in the nets of one of th,
/ trio already" Keith told his father tina
night. Take care, or you will be will
3 ing victim, and my attempts at your res
e cue will be made i'll vain.'
Mr.. Lorrimore rubbed his nose vex
S edly.
, ''Nets or no nets, / cannot study un
less / am left in peace. What with tn,
= hustle and fuss, the running up an,
5 down stairs, the humping Of trunk
against the walls, and the walking t,
I and fro overhead, all my ideas are pu
1 to flight can neither read nor writ.
. with my mind and my house in confusion
1 shall go distracted if this state of thing
t is to be a lasting One."
, Patience, dad-patience! As yol
T brought this on yourself you are no
justified in grumbling. For one weel
I you must endure with your tormentors
1 After that you may retreat into you
r shell, and leave the field to me"
S Mrs. Burton soon shook off the effect
o of the NAL de n,er, regained her spirit
with her health, and proved herself
e very chatty, agreeable person.
} Keith smiled cynically when he say
G her slip her hand through his father
!. arm as he stood summing himself in TIN
g bay window, and begin to talk to him O
the old times when both were young
: This clever widow ccntrived to max
her conversation 30 interesting that Mr.
!. Lorzimore neglected his favorite pursuit