, 1888-10-23


on Tom than on any one else. So Aga
tina went forward, at Harry's suggestion,
to see what was going on, and also de-
termined to make a good impression on
Tom, whom she knew by reputation.
GLOW do you do, Agatha2" said Kate,
affably. "Won't you sit here with us
awhile2 This is the coolest place on the
boat, and the most pleasant, too. We
have such a charming companion; look
at him, Agatha-isn't he handsome2 He
is a little sunbrowned, but that's because
he travels; he hunts and fishes and flirts,
and leads a very happy life. He has
money, too, invested beyond the reach of
failure, and he is of stalwart, manly
build, and eyes-Milly, there is another
ship, there somewhere; 1 can't see it yet,
but / will look for it-and, as 1 was say
ing, he looks self reliant and d~ignifed,
and kissabie and adorable"
why, Kate, are you crazy2" said
Agatha.
mot that I am aware of, Miss
Agatha" replied Kate, loftily.
"But, Milly," continued the new
conner, chow dare she talk SO in his
p~resence2"
"Oh, Kate means no HARM" said
Milly, blandly. "He is a gentlemanly
fellow, and doesn't care what we say,
and he is sunburned and dignifed; Kate
was right"
'.Is he a friend or relative of yours?"
asked Agatha.
"Relative? No." said Kate. "Friend2
1 do not know. am his friend, and his
name is Tom. Whether he is my friend
or not, remains to be seen."
"Well, young ladies'" said Agatha,
lg,-O,,r NA~1,,a@ - k~ 1Nr tkn lAAr% ,-A-
plicable. 1 certainly should grieve to
hurt the feelings of this gentleman or of
any person. Perhaps you may not be
giving offense or doing anything uncon-
ventional. 1 do not wish to misjudge
you-there is some mystery about it that
1 cannot fathom. But 1 must go below
with mamma"
"Well," said Kate, after Agatha left,
''that was a curious position for her to
take; as though we were possibly doing
anything wrong-the ideal Her whole
speech is unlike her; there is, as she
says, some mystery here"
'Indeed there must be-" replied Milly.
''She have feelingl She has none for
anybody. Something in her voice re-
minds me of the day when she told the
madame how she had been inveigled into
that excursion, of which she was the
promoter"
Eyes, 1 remember Just how she
looked" said Kate. II tell you there is
treachery here. Let us go to the cabin
for a while. Some way 1 feel uneasy"
When they had gone, Tom rose, walked
to the side of the boat and seriously con-
templated jumping overheard. His
cheeks burned at the position in which
his folly had placed him, and he was so
angry at his friends as to have given
them little grace had they appeared just
then. 1t had been awkward, terribly
awkward and distressing. Why hadn't
he left when first they began to talk7
He had placed one of the brightest,
sweetest, most beautiful girls he had ever
seen in q false position which would al
ways mortify her, make her hate him,
and make him hate himself. He had
been q ~dishonorable spy, an eavesdrop-
per; he had listened to private converse
ion. Thoroughly vexed and chagrined,
he went below, and meeting his friends,
said, very sternly:
"Boys, through your amazing idea of
a joke 1 have disgraced myself. Unles9
you do just as 1 ask you, and help me
out, l never want to see or speak to
either of you again"
The boys, who had heard something
Of the facts through Agatha, laughed till
the tears streamed down their faces
laughed, in fact, until Tom became SO
enraged that they dared not irritate him
further. So they readily promised to as
sist him in any way he might desire.
Tom remained below, sullen and reti-
cent, until they reached Rockledge land
ing. There he and his friends left the
boat, and when once on the wharf he
saw to his dismay that q party, includ-
ing the three young ladies, had also
landed, and that the steamer was al
ready under way. He must keep up the
farce for a little longer, at least until the
next boat back. Reaching tho hotel
and there was but one-he took
the landlord into his confidence and
evolved the following ingenious plan Of
action: He was Mr.. John Baird, who had
come in over the mountains to meet his
twin brother, Mr.. Tom Baird, who had
come up on the boat. To this notable
scheme his two friends heartily assented;
but once away from him, they fairly
roared when they reflected that Agatha
was in the secret, and would probably
disclose it at just the wrong time. In
pursuance of the plan, however, Mr..
Bennett, the landlord, begged of Kate
and Milly that he might Introduce Mr..
John Baird, who just came in from the
Rockkill Valley.
When Baird was introduced, although
he had changed his clothes and appear
ance as far as possible, Kate's stately
chauffeur" and Milly's whitening scorn
almost froze his blood.
Il believe we had the pleasure of see
ing Mr.. Baird on the boat this after
noon," said Kate icily.
'One Mr.. Baird, 1 have no doubt
said Tom recklessly. Mr.. Tom Baird,
my twin brother. Poor fellow; you
doubtless noticed his infirmity, only of
recent date, too-very recent, in fact; he
wouldn't come down to-night-he avoids
society, naturally; he's a great hand to