Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-10-16


kissed them with graceful, Old
World courtesy, which was pleasant to
see. Frank is fishing. of course, but
he will be back early. What an age:.it
is since we met!'
1T is a long time, indeed" jerome
answered in his low, rich voice. "but
looking at you, Florence, lam inclined
to think that itis five months, and not
five years. which have elapsed since I
went to West Point
wait till you see my boys" she
said, laughing, as she turned to greet
the young collegian with pleasant,
cordial courtesy-and the two gentle
men followed her into the hall. a state
~ apartment in keeping with the ex-
terror OF the mansion. ''Most OF my
lady guests have driven over to Ham,
by's Head,'' Mrs. Hurlton said, as she
LED the way across the marble pave
ment towards one of the many doors
which opened into the hall; miss
Viner and l are alone. Mr.. Edgerly.
have good news for you; Miss Dusan
is coming tomorrow.
AS she spoke she pushed open door
leading into a pretty, dainty, rather
sesthetlc-looking room, where tea was
waiting. and which at first seemed to
be unoccupied, but as the door opened
lady who was standing by the open
window, turned slowly round and came
towards them, holding out her hand
to Mr.. Edgerly with smile, which did
not blind him to the sudden CLEAN of
intense. eager admiration which
flashed into Lieutenant Fleetwell's
eyes as they rested upon her face.
She was very beautiful-there could
hardly be two opinions upon that
point. She was small, though Queen
like; and her dress of some soft cream
colored material, which fell around
her in soft folds, showed the beauty
OF figure which was nothing less than
perfect.
"Lieutenant Fleetwell-M Viner,"
said Mrs. Hurlton, quietly, and Miss
Viner bowed slightly, while the faint
est tinge of pink rose in her fair face
as she met Lieutenant Fleetwell's
eager, dark, admiring eyes.
Hurlton Top MAS one of the very
pleasantest houses in the county to
stay at, for the hostess exercised the
greatest discretion and Judgment in
the choice of her guests, and spared
no pains to make their visit an enjoy
able one. Mrs. Hurlton was, like
many another happy wife, a match
maker at heart.
1t very soon became apparent to
some of her lady visitors that their
pretty hostess had designs against the
peace of mind of her husbands cousin
and Fred Edgerly smiled to himself
as he saw how hopelessly and ire
trievably in love his friend had fallen
with Miss Finer before many days had
elapsed.
September drifted into October. On
a smooth lake some little distance
from the house, an idle boat with idle
oars was floating down with the cur
rent The moonlight played at will
on the placid breast of the lake.
Such the picture had one been mere
spectator to the mimic scene-but to
the two actors surroundings were los
sight of-they thought only of them
selves.
Hooking the silver moon, when they
glanced upward, they could see across
the lake and through the trees the
twinkling lights of Hurlton Top and
hear the merry voices and gay laugh
ter Of the group on the bank from
which they had just escaped. Arch
smiles had passed between it's men,
bers as they had seen Dorothy Viner
and Jerome Fleetwell stroll off arm in
arm to where the little boat was
! moored.
The women had almost ceased to be
jealous Of Dorothy-or to ask where
lay her charm. When she exercised
her destinations men bowed before her
first from necessity, then from
choice:
But though her victims were count
less, she was twenty -four and Dor
Othy Viner still. However, this
time she had encountered Cher little
sister said) foeman worthy OF her
steel. What she was among men,
Jerome Fleetwood was among women.
Therefore, seeing these two brought
| beneath the same roof and thrown
into daily Intercourse, rumor was rife
and speculation awaited results with
bated breath. Meanwhile the little
boat foated calmly On the surface of
| the lake.
Miss Viner!-Dorothy!'
| 1t was the first word either had ut
tered in full ten minutes. She looked
quickly up at the speaker. The white
knit scarf thrown carelessly upon her
dark hair, out from which peered the
beautiful pale face, lent her some of
the moons mystic charm, but meet
ing the earnest gaze of the dark, mag.
netic eyes bent upon her, hers fell for
an instant Then, as though ashamed
of the monentary weakness, again
shot questioning look into Lieuten.