The Forrest City times., 1890-06-21
Unole Arehlo's WHs.
CHATTER vI.-fCoxrrxurp., i,

sIrene, I want Mir. Martineau to como to the Hall. We will take every care of him, and make no claim upon his timc." said Mrs. Gerard. turning to mo. "Your uncle has not asked him yet, 1t seems"
 Ihopc tho dismay felt was not ap- parent in my .eycs as unclo Archie muttered polite indorsement of tho invitation, for all the time Estelle's brilliant eyes were fixed upon my face. am sure she meant to read her tri- umph there; but in that case she was doomed to disappointment, for Dick answered with careless promptness--
 "Oh. thanks very much. Mrs. Ger rard! But have my old quarters in the village, and have arranged to be there tonight"
 brcathed freely again. Mother smiled. and Estellc looked rather taken aback; she bit her lip, flushed crimson, and said sharply
 .'At least you will dine with us to- nightp You-Mrs. Walter and Irene II meanp"
 Mother was about to refuse the uu- ceremonious invitation--she had al- ready made up her mind that Dick should dine with us; hut touched her hand, and, with swift glance, begged her to accept tho offer. It cost me no small effort to give up the pleasant evening l had planned--tho happy hours that my sweetheart and would have spent together out in tho old fashioned ilower-scented garden. or here over the piano trying our favor ite songs. while mother smiled and nodded in her chair; but. after all, 1t was only few hours, and we were to spend our lives together by-and-by.
 .sOh, yes--we will comc.' answer cd cheerily. trying to cover mothers visible reluctance by my own efrusive- ness; and Estelle was. suppose, satis- fed with that concession, for she rose at once to go.
 Why were you so tiresome. Irenep" inquired mother, with justifiable inn patience, when Dick had gone down. stairs with the visitors and we were left alone. .You know how l detest going to the Hall now ;and We were not in the least bound to accept the invi- tation--indeed, il was almost an i'm pertinence to ask us in that way; and so am sure your poor uncle felt but he cannot resent anything she does. Did you ever see man so broken spirited in your lifepn
 did not answer indeed, though l heard the gentle murmur of her re- monstrance, hardly seemed to under stand the words. From my post of vantage in tho window 1 was watch ing the little group near the gate-the beautiful woman in the carriage with the look of triumph on her face. and Dick, who seemed literally unable to remove his eyes from her.
 Even when the carriage drove on he seemed unable to break the spell that had fallen upon him, and gazed after 1t for quite five minutes. as though under some strange fascination. My heart sank as watched him standing bare-headed at the gate, apparently unconscious of anything but the strange attraction that kept him root ed there, until tho last spcck of the cloud of dust raised by the rolling wheels had iloated away in the sun shine and the carriage itself was out of sight. Then he came back into the house; and 1 thought he looked pale and anxious, changed. and unlik himself when he re-cntered the rooms but l kept the fancy to myself. It wa so much more likely that was nurse ing fantastic ideas, such as mother often accused me of entertaining, than that dick was upset by few soft words or the sight of beautiful face.
 Well" mother asked eagerly. ..what do you think of my sster-in. law, Dick2 Is she at all the sort of person you expected her to bePr
 al do not suppose Dick had any idea concerning her, mother. inter- posed, thrusting myself into the con vcrsation with wild desire to cover what seemed like unaeeoantablc con- fusion on Dicks part; ''or. if he did expect her to he a beautiful woman. he is not disappointed. l am sure"
 No Dicks brows were knitted. his face had n troubled look. and he seemed as though he was trying to solve a problem--~s.s she is very heau,i- ful--perhaps tho most beautiful wom- an have ever seen, except "
 .sWe all know the exception, mother interrupted. nodding at me with n well-pleased smile. full of ma ternal pride; .sbut we must not let our partiality mislead us. Dick. Mrs. Gerard, though 1 cannot say quite care for her face. Is an undeniabiy lovely woman; whereas my little Irene
 ''Mother. Dick was not making that comparison--he was not thinking of meV' l cried. with sudden painful flush, and the pain at my heart was intensified as Dick acquiesccd.
 No. l was not thinking Of Irene; was trying to remember--- Irene darling. you arc not offended?"
 ..Nb, no--of course not" declared, trying to withdraw my hand from his close and tender clasp-trying to hide the foolish tears of wounded vanity that would fill my eyes.
 'I spoke hastily and without thought. dear; but there was nothing in my words to wound you. You ought to know what you arc to mo. lrcne--you ought to trust mel"
 Fl do. Dick--I dol" interrupted eagerly; and as looked into his clear honest eyes and listened to his grave tones, Heaven knows how base and pitiful l thought myself--how eager was to make amends for the brief madness Of disloyalty! ''It Is for you to forgive me.
 His bright smile answered that ap- peal; and for a little willie was happy again. could not however regain tho troubled gladness of an hour since; some charm had vanished that we could not recall. There was strange