The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-30

Not throD OF jealousy quICAonOu &hond .
pulses at Aileen's good fortune. She re-
joiced with her cousin, and was unfeign-
edly 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 sur
veyed her with complacent pride and APP
proval; to them she was more beautiful
than ever.
The month drew to a 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 estate had been re-
fenced and improved. And now all would
be quiet till winter, when it was expected
that the mansion would be filed with a
merry crowd of guests, and the logs would
blaze on the hearths, making Christmas
cheer.
Ny lord and lady, alike beloved by their
people, had been planning some amuse-
ment for them as an appropriate and well
come wind up of the work. The wide new
barn seemed particularly adapted for the
purpose, and Lord Lindores announced
that here he would give dance and boun-
tiful 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 recklessly out upon it till the
bough swayed
'Geraldr' she called eagerly down the
river. "Hi, Geraldp'
He was not in sight, but she thought he
would probably be just around the bend
fishing. In one moment the familiar faded
red boat came swinging around.
Come here, Gerald, jist as quick as ye
camp she calls, quivering with excitement
and splashing the water below with impa-
tient heels.
Comm" he answers. "Shure. Mona,
what is it? Is the COW after dying? Or the
pigs stole? Tell it, colleen"
THE cowl" she says, her eyes dancing;
ooh, Gerald, it's me feet l can't kape sthill
long enough to spake wild me tongue. The
dance we're goin' to have in the new barn
Tomorrow night; ye didn't know that
now? have come jist to tell We Nv it,"
And is that all?" says Gerald as he rests
his oars and looks at her surprised. "An'
! thought, Mona, We had a 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 your"
"Faith an knew that same already. It
was no news TO me, Mona"
Mona's red lips pouted.
$50 back thin, Gerald. to your fishin';
tits not for me to bother ye."
Gerald surveyed her with an odd express
sion on his face.
Look, Mona" he said, drawing a little
bundle from the pocket of his corduroy
trousers. "See what am goin' to ask the
purtiest gurrl in Kilgarnock to wear to-
morrow night" And he carefully unrolled
a wide pink silk handkerchief and held it
up for Mona's inspection. The little maid
clasped her hands in admiration. She had
nothing like it, and never doubted that it
was intended for her.
"'Tis 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, but stared rather
blankly at the little boat till it disap-
peared.
"Indade, thin, don't care if it's not for
me. l wouldn't have it," shaking her
head and speaking emphatically. Il
wouldn't have it 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 suddenly.
"Oh, hush, We birdP' she cried, impa-
thence in her voice, and then as she turned
to go deliberately pushed a helpless 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 little
yard gate the ank-plinkety-plank of the
violns came floating out to them, mingled
with the shutting of many feet.
"Oh, make hastel'' she whispered to her
self, and could not keep her feet in the
sober step that suited her aunt's calm step.
The lanterns hung down from the door
way and windows, wide flags floated from
the roof, and streamers and folds of bunt-
ing swept across the walls and ceiling in
side.
Mona had spent an hour about the idOrn-
ment of her small person, but she need not
have fingered There were many feet bare
besides her own, many other dresses old
besides hers. Around her neck was a string
of yellow beads, and a yellow sash of
Aliens around her waist.
They pushed their way to a seat, and
Aunt Mol!ie famed herself vigorously.
Mona gazed around with interest There
was Mollie Stewart, and there was Maggie
TuIlv and Annie Kavanagh. All these
girls, as well as the lads, were on hand,
but where was Aileen' She had said she
was coming. Mona looked in one direc-
ton and then another, and at last there sat
Aileen close to "A window, and nearby stood
Gerald, gazing at her Mona turned lit
tie pale she did not see Patsy and Barney
and Farron edging up to her; she never
even thought of any Of them. In her Gag
erness to make no mistake she stood up on
tiptoe to see the better. Yes, it was Aileen,
and now Gerald was leading her out TO
dance. The pink silk kerchief was round
herneck Something seemed to shoot across
Mona's eyes with binding pain. When
Barney begged her to dance she answered
little sharply, and he went away again.
at is too warm here, aunt, just now"
she said to Mrs. Kelly
go stand in the cool while, child
said her aunt. There's Aileen coming
over here; hide bit
But Mona was gone. Not under the
trees did she stop, not by the little gate.
Swiftly she passed out the side way, over
the dusky road and into her own yard.
Here she paused moment, and catching
her breath with something that sounded