Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-07-04

be when the fire burns up" he con
tinued. setting down the kettle again
and speaking in a calm matter of course
voice. rs though her presence in the
house was the most ordinary occurrence
possible. And want you to promise
me that when you go to your room YOU
will put your feet in hot water at once
as hot rs you can bear it-you will FIND
everything in readiness-and just before
you get into bed drink this" touching
the tuinbler he held, land go to sleep as
fast as you can. And, by the way, be
sure to hang your wet things to the fire.
You must not mind my saying all this to
YOU he went on. as slow, painful
blush dyed the girls fair face. "You
know l am quite an old fellow, old
enough to be your father-or your uncle
JIM" he added with a smile.
at that moment Carruthers entered the
room.
Miss Health" he said good hurnor-
eddy, 'has Darrell not told you that your
room is quite ready? He and are going
to take out diplomas as first class house
maids. Come and inspect our labors."
Leslie rose and both men accompanied
her across the narrow little hall to a half
open door, through which the bright
light of fire cleaned cheerily.
You will find things awfully primi-
tive, Miss Heath" said Carruthers, as she
gave him her hand, "but you will excuse
Deficiencies, won't you?"
Excuse them? she said In a low
voice. II don't know how to excuse
myself for giving you so much trouble.
And-and am sure" she added, uncer-
tainly. that l have turned one Of you
out of your room" As she spoke she
knew, in a flash, as it were, that it was
Darrell she had turned out Of his room.
Good night" said the latter, with O
kindly smile. "You will DO good and
obedient, will you not, and you won't
forget this:" giving her the tunlbler he
carried.
When the two men got back to the
sitting room again, they took possession
If their respective chairs, lit their pipes,
and sat perfectly silent for quito five
minutes. Carruthers spoke first.
II say, Lance" lie said seriously. "do
1ou suppose there's the slightest chance
that Wellings will como back to-nightY'
mot the faintest, should say" was
he answer. "lndeed. am very much
afraid tho roads WON'T be navigable for
some days-that we are prisoners, in
TACT"
1.-THE deuce! Then what are we to do
with that girl"
"Well-if we can't get out, I suppose
she can't get out either"
"Humphi It's confoundedly awk-
ward"
II quite agree with you. It is awk-
ward"
There was pause; then Carruthers
said:
Curious that you should know her
people,"
"Yes, it was curious" replied Darrell
as he struck match.
"She seems nice little thing" went
on the other. lawfully young. too. and
not bad looking"
Darrell made no reply. He was lying
back in his chair. watching the blue
rings of smoke curl upwards to the rafter
bound ceiling.
How do the rations stand:" lie asked
suddenly.
"Phew! l don't know!" exclaimed
Gilbert, taking his pipe out Of his mouth.
and sitting up straight in his chair.
Nov that l come to think Of it, there
can't be superabundance. or Wellings
wouldn't have trudged to Princetown in
the teeth of a coming storm. Old fool!
as If he couldn't have seen to things
sooner" he muttered. resuming his
former position.
"Well, we must inspect the supplies in
the morning." said Darrell TRANQUILITY
by Jove, how the wind whistlesr'
Eyes. and the snow is up to the lodges
Of the windows already" returned the
other. ''at least, It was steadily progress
ing that way when I opened the back
door. Heaven knows how high it'll be
before morning. It's an awful pity we
didn't 60 last week, Lance. know THE
would come"
I'm which case poor Miss Heath would
most certainly have been frozen to
death" Darrell answered quietly.
Carruthers looked serious.
"Ah, yes, l forgot that" he said
Poor little girl yes. of course"
Meanwhile Leslie Heath. in the
scclusion Of her room Tor rather,
to speak more correctly, Capt.
Darrell's ROOM was inspecting her quar-
tiers with some curiosity. 1t was good
sized room, quite as large as the sitting
room. unexpected. and Of severe. almost
military simplicity in its appointments.
1t looked very coy. however, in the
light of tho roaring heaped-up fire, which
blazed in the wide CRATE, and shone
brightly ON the bare walls and on the
bars Of the narrow brass bedstead A
gun case and battered portrsanteau, al
most covered with half effaced labels, &C.
cupied one corner of the room, and q
couple of tweed coats. smelling strongly
of tobacco, hung behind the door.
Tired and cold though she was, q wild
desire to scream with laughter took pos
session Of the girl as she noted tho ar
rangements made for her comfort. A
large bath was placed Immediately in
front Of the fire, and beside it stood can
of steaming hot water. A pile Of clean
towels lay on q chair.
"Six-no, seven," murmured Leslie,
counting them in much amusement.
Onthe bed was conspicuously displayed
masculine dressing gown, warm and
gray and soft. As this last met her view,
Leslie abandoned herself to the agonies
Of noiseless laughter.
"Poor fellows!" she said half aloud,
"how good Of them, and yet-how
funny!" Hero she choked again. "Oh,
what would Aunt Priscilla say? How
nice they are-especially Capt. Darrell
And howvery strange thatI should make
his acquaintance in such an outrageous
way. Old enough to benny father, he
eaid. Well, he does not look it. 1won-
der how much brandy he put in this, /"
regarding with much distaste the tum-
bier she had just set down.
She took of her drenched little gown.
and her equally drerched boots and
stockings, and having put them To dry,
brushed out her hair with an ivory
backed brush on which an inextricable
silver monogram fourished, battling all
her efforts to decipher it. Then she ex-
amined q little pile Of books which lay
on the mantelpiecc. consisting of q
couple of French novels, railway time
table, and small morocco bound Bible.
On the fly leaf of this Last was written:
"Lancelot E. Darrell. from his loving
mother" 1t was his room, then, the
girl thought with curious sense Of sat-
isfaction. At this point she became
aware thatshe was feeling rather sleepy;