The Irish standard., 1888-04-21
CHAPTER XII.
A LITTLE KEY.


Miss Everleigh, asking her to make the lat
ter weeks visit.
'Tell your brother am not selfish enough
to take you away without expecting him to
spend the evenings with u.s." ran one clause
of the mlssive. and Carol smiled knowingly
to herself, thinking that this would make
disrnay, Lyman seemed to regard the plan
unfavorably.
eve must not presume too much upon her
goodness" he said. sIthinlz, Carol, we had
better keep to our own quiet life !"
''Now, brother Lyman, you don't think
any thing Of the kind. At least don't,
What would be the use Of good fortune com
ing to us IL we were not to take the pleas
ure oft? 1t would disappoint you as much
as ME not to co. and you know it,"
"Would it disappoint you, Carol:'' asked
: Lyman, almost wistfully. "Well, i'll that
case, go. I'll sec as to myself"
Carol was greeted most warmly by Miss
Everleigh, and kept for a half-hour's chat
in the room which was to be hers during
her stay. Then they went down to the
dravying-roon, but Althea turned back at
the door,
500 in,,'' she said tsYou will lind a
friend of yours there. Excuse me mo-
ment, please. l must lay out papa S dress
ing-gown and slippers. I really had no
idea it was so late.''
So Carol entered alone, and g. young man
VINO rose rather llstlessly out Of a deep
lounging chair. flushed suddenly radiant in
the genuin sss of his surprise.
$50, joW are the expected visitor!" he
exclaimed. GLOW delightful Do you know,
I was half dreading the meeting with
Althea's young lady friend, aud felt in
clined to beat q retreat without ceremony.
I am not drilled in the ways Of society, as
you probably know, and am very easily put
out of countenance. You don't know what
a relief-what a pleasure this isl
81 can imagine" laughed Carol, mentally
deciding that he was handsnmer for the
state of invalidism he had passed through
He told her that he had been gaining every
day, and only submitted to Althea's de.
nunds upon him because he had nothing
definite in view-not that he felt the need
of further rest.
Still. it was proved that he was not averse
to petting, and the two girls Wed in max
ing the time pass pleasantly for him. Mr..
Everleigh was we'll pleased at having the
young man there: Norris caught bis eyes
on him now and then, with a speculative
look in them, and the young man found
himself blushing as he tried to decide what
it meant.
f'If it were not too presumptuous to sup
pose, should say he thinks I am making
love to Althea and is not averse to it; but
then he would not be unkind to q coal
HEAVIER if she We're to fancy him. Now,
know she is only kind to me as q sister is to
brother, but-but-I wish she did not
show it quite SO much at all times"
This thought came when Carol began to
draw away from them in the evenings.
Norris thought he read a suspicion of some
thing which did not please her in her looks
and, ic truth, Carol wsss disappointed that
Miss Everleigh manifested no great interest
in her brother as the days went by. Ly:
man had not availed himself of his invita-
ton, and when Carol made inquiries, Mr..
Everleigh reported him stepped in business.
taking more on his shoulders than there
was any need in fact, yet it was evident
that the senior partner was pleased at the
enterprise OF his young associate.
However, toward the end Of the week he
came, and if he was annoyed at finding
Norris there, he did not show it. The in.
evitable business was not out OF his mind
yet, apparently, for he and Mr.. Everleigh