Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-03-14
HERLES CRUSADE.
By ROSA NAUCHETTE CAREY.
Author of Barbara HeGttcotc's Trtdl,n
"Queente's Fhtm,' "Trhe Search
for BnSu Llkldhnrstn

QIeeHtRS " fttUl, me iSElTcn
for Basil Ly1ldharst."
IL was an intensely not afternoon. acc
was thankful TO put on my coolest dress.
1t was rather a ight-colored stuff, that
Amt agatha had given me in the spring.
Hannah and had made it up with Trav-
ers' help; but though it was a very pretty
gown, thought it rather unsuitable for
daily wear, and so put it by for festive
occasions. | always took particular pains
with myself when 1 went nome. knew
Aunt Agatha would eye me critically, and
would grumble if looked dOwdy or shah
by. She was a woman who loved pretty
things, and it was an objectionable ohense
in her eyes for Young persons TO be negLl-
gent of their appearance.
depend upon it, Merle, she would say,
"there is something unhealthy in girl
who processes not to care how she looks.
1t is our duty to make the best OF our
selves A woman cannot help being plain,
but she need not shock our eyes by taste
lessneSs or untidinesS"
81 think / shall please Aunt Agatha this
afternoon" | thought, as ! looked at my
self somewhat critically. The dress was
pretty, so was the bonnet, though | had
trimmed il myself
| was in very good spirits as / left the
house. 1t might have been cooler, GER
tainly. and the secOud-class cOmpart-
ment felt unusually stuify; but l forgot
the heat when the river came in sight
it was 50 bright and sparkling in the sun
light
Mrs Norton speech somewhat haunted
me as came M the narrow tagged wav
leading from the town. Suppose, after all,
Aunt Agatha shOuld he out: | knew |
should he grievously disappointed. Per-
haps after all il was foolish to chance 1t.
I slackened nv steps fnstinctively, as
thou feared no welcome awaited me
Al { Cd hot thu
garden walls. with rose scents waited to
me every now and then, the shadeless sun
shine oppressed me, the stones felt hot to
nv feet: and cloud Of dust whirled sud
denly round the corner.
really thought NV apprehension was
true when Uncle Keith opened the door;
he looked so excessively surprised TO see
me: his manner, too was rather confused.
"Hir-rumph. my dear! this is a very I'M
expected pleasure. Who would have
Thought Of such a thing? Agatha will be
delighted"
"Aunt Agatha is in, then" asked,
eagerly.
"Oh. yes. she IS in: but-hir-rumph-
the fact is nv dear. she is engaged just
Mt this moment. We did not know who
it was and she asked me to excuse her to
any visitor. Shall we 20 into the dining
room for few minutes until she IS
ready"
81 would rather 60 upstairs and take
Off nv bonnet, Uncle Keith" | returned,
quickly: ''it is so hot. and | shall be glad
to get cool" but he stood still on the mat.
looking after ne and heard him clearing
his throat more loudly than usual as he
went back to the drawing room.
/ was glad to hear the front door shut
presently, and ran down at once without
looking to see who the mysterious stran ger
might be- If I had taken that trouble. I
should have seen Uncle Keith. in his Old
felt hat and bingham umbrella, walking
RAPIDLY down the street, intent on some
domestic business, and should hardly have
burst into the room in that unceTemOnious
fashion.
"Oh. Aunt Agathap' I exclaimed, re
proacufuIiY. "why did you not come up to
me-" and then ! stood transfXed with as
constituent. There was tall gentle
Aunt Agatha. who turned round abrupt-
ly rs | opened the door. 1t was Mr.. Haw-
tryi
| suppose / must have looked very
stupid. standing there, unable to speak
I'm my surprise: for he certainly laughed
as he came forward and shook hands with
me. and yet he seemed & little nervous,
too
81 SEES Won do not believe your eyes,
Miss Fcuton, and yet it is really | my
s'lf, Roger lIawtry." And then he laugh
o. again Yes, was sure he was nervous.
MY dear child. what good wind has
blown Won to us this afternOOu?" eX-
claimed Aunt Agatha, putting her arms
round me. 81 had no idea who the visitor
was until Ezra told us just now"
at was Uncle Keith, then, who went
out'' | stammered, for | was unaccOunt-
ably confused. "He told me you were en-
gagged: why did he not say it was Mr..
Hawtry' He pretended ii was somebody
on business" But here / stopped, for
Aunt Agatha was making a funny face,
as though she were trying to keep grave,
and Mr.. HGwtry had become very red all
Mt once and turned to the window.
why should not have business with
your friend, Mr.. HawtrY. MerleY Why
did she call him my friend, | wonder?
Had she forgotten my position and his2
Aunt Agatha was never awkward: She
had more SuuOiT fUirC than most people.
If it were not incredible, | could almost
have believed she was nervous, too.
"Oh, | don't know" ! returned, rather
lamcly; "you and Mr.. Hawtry are stran-
gers" But at this he came forward
again.
''Tnis is my first introduction to Mrs
Keith, certainly" he said, quickly; "but !
cannot allow we are strangers, Miss Fen
ton. You have already made me SO well
acquainted with your aunt that veutured
to do myself the pleasure of calling upon
her. ! consider we know each other quite
well now"
-, 49, -
at Ilat one hnu Pretly coLot lhls III,
tethoTl, as thoII4 sue MStt eAcIte,l, alI
yeI nave hetru ohtiS NS''n say thaI II
Cne 49ee.. MeiS 10 C'lt on nlS VIZ sue
No"lu M pe SUI l,1e,i ouo 'i.Iio WIZ
SeNetal HUE SlEIS IlitI Iolu INC SHe was
not quite Mt her ease
81 must see about tea" she said get
ting up little abruptly. II dare say
you can dmuse Mr.. Hawtry for Il few min
utes, Merle. lie can tell you all about
Mrs. ROsslter.
"Oh, yes" | returned, careIeSSly, Il
shall be 80 glad to hear I'LL the Nrtherton
news. Lave you been TO W heeier Farm
lately, Mr. Ha"iTy, and seen MoilyY And
now Is Luke Armstrong getting on? And
Is the cottage pretty,
Am to answer all these queStionsS'
he pleaded. And which am | to take
iirstP by the bye, your friend, Mrs Kos
sitter, has sent you message. | did not
know | should see YOU to-day, or l would
have brought 1t with me. 1t is floral
message, Miss Fenton, and tells Its own
story
fuApTF1, WV -',I,r, ,pTNc THE HARVEST, -
,,,fs1,,l NJ. tt,,,.tr. Ill ,.;t ,,-,,,.,