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

to listen to her, and wnen he did 90 to
his study, Mrs. Burton carried her work
basket there too.
She looked back to say n few words to
her daughters.
"You will not mind me leaving you.
OF course you will want to explore the
country. You are always such walkers.
| daresay your cous: Keith will be your
guide"
"This is throwing both the demoiselles
at my head with vengeance" muttered
Keith to himself. "But ollons' they
shall be fooled to the top of their bent.
1t is only for six days; after that-it will
he my turn.
With these thoughts in his head he
PLAYED the gallant cavalier to the sisters,
escortiry them morning after morning
to the prcttiest spot, i'll the vicinity,
Irving out after lunchdon with them
and their mother, and reading, chatting
or singing in Che delicious twilight Of
the May evenings, with ready acquies-
ccnce in every arrangement they sugges-
ted.
at was quite too pleasant" Mona de-
clared, gushingly. She was more for
eign than English in her manners, en-
phasizing whatever she said with lively
gestures and CALCULATIONS. England
must be detestable i'm the winter; but
now. and in this dear, home like house,
and in such agreeable society, why. it
was adorable''
And she kissed the tips of her fingers
to Keith, laughing merrily as he laid his
hand on his heart and made theatrical
bow in return for her praises Of the
Cedars.
Aveline, who was graver than her sis.
ter, and often gave him 4 questioning
look when he was encouraging Mona to
talk in this style, shook her head Mt the
pretty coquette.
GAS if it were always summer and
sunshine anywhere, 1t is very nice here,
and mamma is glad she availed herself
oft; but Isuppose we shall only stay till
we see whether"
But sign from Mona made her stop
short and blush furiously, much to
Keiths amusement: Aveline had habit
of thinking aloud, which sometimes be-
trayed her into revealing what PASSED
at the family consultations.
"You have not told us" said Mona,
fastening to introduce another topic,
''if there are any races, or ruins or show
houses in this neighborhood. Take lis
to see them all. mon cousin! BY moon
light, and In drag. as if we We're hero
ines in Il novel. Remember, this is our
first visit to England since we were wee
children. and we want to see everything. u
"You foolish chatterbox, smiled Mrs
Burton, indulgently, She had just en-.
tered the room to search for a book in
which there were some passages she had
volunteered to copy for Mr.. Lorrimore.
"You must not impose too much on
dear keith's good-nature. He does moi
know how delightful it is for you to be
domesticated with one whom you can
regard as brother"
If Keith Lorrimore laughed cynically
at this speech, it was not till he was
alone.
"This maneuvring mother is show
ing her hand already" he said. "The
sooner ! can be induced to turn my fail
sister Mona into bride, the better she
will like it; and, if 1 am not very much
mistaken, she has designs upon my dear
simple minded dad for herself. Bah
why is their no sincerity in woman !"
Then he soothed himself with cigar
and thought af Aveline.
Snow, there is girl whose natural
tendencies are good, am sure. She,
with gravely-opened eyes, and the deer
bushes that betray her whenever Mona
or her mother say something more poll
tic than true, might have become
charming woman under other circum
stances. l wonder whether the Other
two snub and lecture her after she has
done her best to spoil their game Z"
1t was with his face averted from those
questioning eyes that Keith broke in up
on the gay chatter at the breakfast-table