The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-19

| would IOOk-he naQ OIUeu WdlCnou u6r.
The sleeves of her frock would be pushed
up over her round arm; the dark rings
of her hair would lie loosely over bel
head and float against the dull dun OF
the cows side. He imagined he could
hear her talking and cooling to old Light
foot, who seemed TO him so unapprecia,
tive.
He remembered Aileen. She and
| Mona were about the same age, but Sc
unlike in appearance that kinship would
have never been suspected. While Mona
was rather below the average height
Aileen was above it; Mona's curly tresses
were black as midnight, and Aileen's
bronze gold.
1t had been proud moment to them
all when my Lady Lindores sent fo1
Aileen to come to the "big house, as the
tenantry all termed the great stone man
sion, and prouder still when my lady
made known her wishes that Aileen
should accompany her as maid.
Not throb of jealousy quickened Mo-
mas pulses at Aileen's good fortune. She
rejoiced with her cousin, and was un-
| feignedly glad. And now my Lord and
Lady Lindores were home for a short
while after a year Of absence, and Aileen
was back once more in the home of her
childhood. With tears Of delight her
mother and Mona greeted the traveller,
her father surveyed her with cOmplacent
pride and approval; to them she was
more beautiful than ever.
The month drew to close. The "big
house" would soon be empty again and
silent. The days had been busy ones;
new cottages had been erected, new
barns and buildings; the wide estates
had been refenced and improved. And
now all would be quiet till winter, when
it was expected that the mansion would
be filled with merry crowd Of guests
and the logs would blaze on the hearths,
making Christmas cheer.
My lord and lady, alike beloved by
their people, had been planning some
amusement for them as an appropriate
and welcome wind up of the work. The
wide new barn seemed particularly
adapted for the purpose, and Lord Lin
dores announced that here he would give
a dance and bountiful supper.
Mona slipped down to the river, in
glee at the good news Aileen had just
brought to her. She swung herself up
TO limb that reached half way over the
water, and scrambled recklassly out
upon it till the bough swayed.
Gerald" she called, looking eagerly
down the river. Hi, Geraldw
He was not in sight, but she thought
he would probably be just around the
bend, fishing. In one moment the fa-
miliar faded red boat came swinging
around.
Come here, Gerald, jist as quick as
We cant" she calls quivering with excite
ment and splashing the water below
with impatient heels.
Comm" he answers. ''Shure, Mona,
what is it? Is the COW after dyin'? Or
the pigs stole? Tell it, colleen"
THE cow!" she says, her eyes dancing;
"oh, Gerald, it's me feet | can't kape
sthill long enough to spake wild me
tongue. The dance were goin' to have
in the new barn tomorrow night; We
didn't know that now? | have come jist
to tell We nv it."
And is that alp says Gerald. as he
rests mis- oars and looks at her surprised.
AN l thought, Mona, ye had thing to
tell and afeard the news. A big bite l
lost, too, for whin we called so fast
didn't bide TO finish"
"Well, amt ye glad now, Gerald, for
me to tell you?"
Faith an | knew that same already.
1t was no news to me, Mona"
MOna's red lip pouted.
Go back thin, Gerald, to your fishin';
It's not for me to bother We"
Gerald surveyed her with an odd ex-
preston OH his face.
Look, Mona" he said, drawing a lit
tie bundle from the pocket of his cordu-
roy tousers. See what ! am goin' TO
ask the purtiest gurrl in Kilgarnock to
wear tomorrow night" And he care
fully unrolled a wide pink silk handker-
chief and held it up for Mona's inspec-
ton. The little maid clasped her hands
in admiration. She had nothing like it
and never doubted that it was intended
for her.
It's beautiful, shure, Gerald"
He craned his neck around to one side
to behold the kerchief from her point of
view.
YES" he said calmly, and then folded
it up very carefully in its tissue wrap
pings and put the bundle back into his
pocket.
"Good-by, Mona" he called, bending
over his oars again.
She did not answer. bus stared rather
blankly at the little boat till it disap-
peared.
''lndade. thin, don't care if it's not
for me. wouldn't have it." shaking
her head and speaking emphatically, Il
wouldn't have II at all, at all"
She climbed off her perch a little more
slowly than she had mounted it, and be-
gan to sing a gay little carol. a bird
in the tree caught the notes and burst
into responsive song. Mona ceased sud
denly.
"Oh, hush, We bird' she cried, i'm
patience in her voice. and then as she
turned 10 go deliberately pushed Il help
less little frog into the water.
When the next evening came the barn
was full of life and laughter. AS Mona
with her uncle and aunt entered the lit
tie yard gate the plank-plinkety-plank
of the viol;nS came floating out TO them.
mingled with the shutting Of many feet
oh. make haste" she whispered to
herself, ana could not keep her feet in
the sober pace that suited her sunts
calm step The lanterns hung down
from the doorway and windows. wide