The Forrest City times., 1890-06-14
CHATTER VI.

ufaIBcu mo rom my ucn. LICK chimed in, as he turned out of the quaint little vincgrown waysIdc-sta- tion into the shady lane "You see how obedicnt I am, Mistress Irene!n
 'sNery obedient! But the summons was uncle Archie's--not mine; he par ticularly wishes 10 sec you" Dick nodded, but did not look ut me; for which was thankful. as my checks began 10 burn us that old sus- pic;on of what uncle Archie might have to say crossed my mind; but. fl my lover shared my fancy, he said nothing about 1t. and presently asl5d--
 Well, what about the bridep AS she has been here a couple of days. you have completely summed her up of course.
 Dick was joking, I know; but i thought he could hardly have made worse shot than that
 'lndced--no' said. shaking my head dolefully. Mrs. Gerard Is 1 beautiful enigma. l want to like hcr--l try to like her; but somehow cannot. Dick"
 "' If at first you don't succeed, 1 Try, try, try again, 'Fis a lesson you should heed Try, try try again Y 'm 1 Dick hummed. his eyes shining mirthfully. ''Take tho lessons of your nurserydays to heart, Irene dar- ling. and do not let first failure dis courage you! It would never do for 1 you and Mrs. Gerard to be less than
 friends.
 Lightly as he spoke, I know there was sound sense in his words, and meekiy promised that no effort should be wanting on my part to bring about tho desired friendship
 But" l said, "when you sec Mrs. 1 Gerrard, you will better understand what up-hill work it is. She Is SO Quoer-so tittul in her manner; 1 think l should hayo more hope of making progress if she wero consistently dis agreeable: but she is not--she grows l quite friendly at times. For instance on the first night they came home she told me unasked--tho whole story Of her lifo. You would havo taken that as proof Of friendly feeling. would ! you not2e
 "Well. 1t looks rather like 1t, my l dear! You could not call her stiir or staud-otiish, at any rate, "And yet. after that she all but ! turned us out of ihe house. Perhaps she thinks friendship and | ceremony ought not so 20 together, suggested Dick drily. .'At any rato, you and will not bo easily discour- aged, dear, mean to ,lnd Mrs Ger rard charming if can We reached tho house as he uttered tho last words with light laugh As l listened to him felt d strange fore ! boding Of evil stealing over me which l could not in any way account for. 1 We found mother in tho drawing room. ready to welcome the traveller 1 with her kindcst sui q and that cup of aftoynoon tea which she firmly bellov- ! ed in as the best of all restorailves, if not as an absolute panaeoa for all earthly ills
 sAiost welcome. ntekm sho cried. | rising from herehair. and nearly over turning her cherished egg-shen china in her friendly haste You know Mir. Gerard, do you nolg'
 And then saw what had not before noticed in the darkened room
 uncle Archio's gray head and kind, eare-worn faeo behind my mother
 The two men shook hands with a hoartiness thai did me good to see, and took to each other unmislalxa. bly, They had met before. but not often. and there had boon no common interest to draw them together. but now each studied the other kecnly, and each approved of what that study revealed.
 As for me do not think have often been happier than was that afternoon, with the man 10 whom l had given my whole heart beside me and the uncle l dearly loved, given back to Us, as 1t were. fl only for d l little while. l did not talk much. 1t was joy enough 0 sit thero and look at them-~at mother. with her pretty serene facc presiding conientedly over her silver tray, troubled for the mo- ment by no deeper earo than that each should have just the right amout of cream and sugar. just tho cake or biscuit that each liked; at uncle Archie. from whose worn face the shadowy cloud seemed for the mo- ment 10 have passed away; and. last. at Dick-smy Dick. who was like a beam of glad sunshine in our midst. Suddenly, when my conten,nent was at It's height. we heard the sound of l carriage in tho driyc and smart ring at the bell. My mother turned to me with look of dismay.
 ''lrene, 1t Is that horrid Mrs. kny- vettc, l know, How unluclsy--or rather, how prying and imperlinent of her to come now---for of course she only wants to sec your uncle and Dickln
 Il do not know how Mir. Gerard feels: but. after that delicious tea. do not in tho leas, mind being exhibit cd; my nerves will stand any amount of wear and tear" Dick declared gaily; but did. not answer the smile with which he turned to me for, peeping through the ilowcr-aereened window. had seen the carriage standing at the door, and. for no particular reason. the sight filled me with dismay
 alt is not Mrs. hnyveit.n I ex- claimed. in a dolcful tone that made mother stare. her first snppositlan be- ing the most disconcertlng that had yet occurred to her. alt is the Hall carriage, uncle Archie--it Is EsteiIo"
 Poor uncle Archiei If there was dismay In my face. there wns absolute consternation in his. 1 saw Dicks eyebrows raised as he read the old mans glance. and I knew that he understood now, better than any words of mine could tell him. inc nature of my poor uncle's mistake.