Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-11-01
Uncle krchie's Wife.
CHAPTER vI.-(CoNrINuEp.)

his time" said Mrs. Gerard, turning
To me. "Your uncle has not asked
him yet, il seems"
hope the dismay felt was not ap-
parent in my eyes as uncle Archie
muttered polite Endorsement OF the
invitation, for all the time Estelle's
brilliant eyes were fixed upon my face.
/ am sure she meant to read her tri-
umph there; but in that case she was
doomed to disappointment, for Dick
answered with careless promptness-
"Oh, thanks very much, Mrs. Ger
rard! But l have my old quarters in
the village, and have arranged to be
there tonight"
i breathed freely again. Mother
smiled, and Estelle looked rather
taken aback; she bit Ter lip, flushed
crimson, and said sharply
.'At least you will dine with us to-
night? You-Mrs. Walter and Irene
Il mean?"
Mother was about to refuse the un-
ceremonious invitation-she had al
ready made up her mind that Dick
should dine with us; but touched her
hand, and, with swift glance, begged
her TO accept the offer. 1t cost me no
small effort to give up the pleasant
evening i had planned-the happy
hours that my sweetheart and | would
have spent together out in the old
fashioned fower-scented garden, or
here over the piano trying our favor
tie songs. while mother smiled and
nodded IN her chair; but, after all, it
was only a few hours, and we were to
spend our lives together by-and-by.
"Oh, yes-Ne will come" answer
ed cheerily. trying to cover mothers
visible reluctance by my own elusive
ness; and Estelle was. suppose, salts
fed with that concession, for she rose
at once to go.
'Why were you so tiresome. Irene?"
inquired mother, with justiiable i'm
patience, when Dick had gone down
stairs with he visitors and we were
left alone. You know how | detest
going TO the Hall now land we were not
in the least bound 10 accept the invi-
tation-inueed, ii was almost an i'm
pertinence TO ask us in that way; and
so am sure your poor uncle felt but
he cannot resent anything she does.
Did you ever see "a man 50 broken
spirited in your life?"
did not answer indeed, though
heard the gentle murmur of her re-
monstrance, | hardly seemed 10 under
stand the words. From my post OF
vantage in the window | was watch
ing the little group near the ga e-the
beautiful woman in the carriage with
the look OF triumph on her face, and
Dick, who seemed literally unable to
remove his eyes from her.
Even when the carriage drove on he
seemed unable to break the spell that
had fallen upon him, and gazed after
it for quite FIVE minutes, as though
under some strange fascination. My
heart sank as watched him standing
bare at the gate, apparently
unconscious of anything but the
strange attraction that kept him root
ed there. until the last speck of the
cloud OF dust raised by the rolling
wheels had foated away in the sun
bbu VIC llSCIl was OuI
of sight. Then he came back into the
house; and thought he looked pale
and anxious, changed, and unlik I:
himself when he re-entered the rooms
but kept the fancy to myself. 1t wa
so much more likely that | was nurse
ing fantastic ideas, such as mother
often accused me of entertaining. than
that dick was upset by few soft
words or the sight OF beautiful
face.
WELL" mother asked eagerly,
"what do you think of my sister-in-
law, Dick? Is she at all the sort OF
person you expected her to be?"
al do not suppose Dick had any
idea concerning her, mother" inter-
posed, thrusting myself into the con-
versation with a wild desire to cover
what seemed like unaccountable con-
fusion on Dicks part; ''or. if he did
expect her TO be n beautiful woman,
he is not disappointed i am sure"
"No"-Dick's brows were knitted,
his face had n troubled look, and he
seemed a. though be was trying to
solve problem-'.she is very beauti-
'ful-perhaps the most beautiful wom-
an i have ever seen, except"
1--WE all know the exception"
mother interrupted, nodding at me
with well-pleased smile, full of ma
ternal pride; "but we must not let our
Partially mislead us. Dick. Mrs.
Gerard, though 1 cannot say quite
care for her face, is an undeniably
lovely woman; whereas my little
Irene"
Smother, Dick was not making that
compassionate was not thinking of
lme" cried, with a sudden painful
flush, and the pain at my heart was
intensified as Dick acquiesced.
mo. / was not thinking of Irene; !
was trying to remember- Irene
darling. you are not offendedp"
mo, no-of course notm I declared,
trying TO withdraw my hand from his
close and tender clasp-trying to hide
the foolish tears of wounded vanity
that would fill my eyes.
al spoke hastily and without
thought, dear; but there was nothing
in my words to wound you. You