The Monitor., 1891-09-11

by keeping an eye on hoOCTE until UAll-
ner time and 50 prevent the proposed
walk
In due time the fishermen returned,
and lunch being over, the usual after
noon dispersion began. A sailing partJ
drew away some Of the guests, and 9TH
ers retired for lounge and nap. Mrs.
Lesson stationed herself on the piazza
with book, and seemed unusually taci-
turn and inclined for her own company.
But Milly was not going to trust to this
seeming indifference, so she got together
half dozen pool players, and carried
Robert and also young Dugal OF III her
train Rather TO her surprise, Rob
evineed no reluctance to being thus cap
tured and seemed to enjoy the game,
which was prolonged until almost din
ner time. But having become suspi-
cious. Milly imagined further duplieity
perhaps a postponement OF the Walk
| until the twilight hour as being more
conducive to sentiment-so she remained
firm in her resolution TO pay back in his
own coin her recreant husband, and was
50 charming to young Dugall that his
head was quite turned. Which effect
| was still further increased when she apS-
peared at dinner time in a delicious
black lace and satin gown, lighted up
bv knots Of orange ribbon and corsage
bouquet OF great glowing Inarigclds--
one Of the special products Of the island.
Dinner over, Mr.. Dugall proposed a
stroll over the long pier to welcome back
the sailing party, which had been over
to Stonington to lay in supply OF bon
bons and enjoy the delicious peach ices
procurable in that sleepy old town. And
after that what was more natural than
to wander around By the bathing beach.
where the waves were coming III with
greater force than usual before a rising
wind, which bid fair to be a small sized
gale before morning. Then back to the
hotel for promenade on the piazzas,
and finally a cosy tete-a-tete in the most
secluded corner, where Mistress Milly's
scheme of retaliation progressed SO rapid
IL that within an hour Mr.. Dagall was
eloquently portraying the delights Of u
sail over to Watch Hill and dinner at
one Of the hotels. And 'w0uld Mrs.
Golfer let him escort her over tomorrow
"Oh, but-these women, you know.
How they would talk"
well, surely, you don't mind them.
Well just start of quietly after break
fast. as If for an hours sail, and if they
do gossip we'll have nice day anyhow,
and be home here by dinner time. And
you know IT won't half equal Mrs. Lee
sons doings."
''By the way, where is the widow this
evening, Mr.. Dugall:a
Why, don't you know: Sumner came
over an hour ago with his catamaran and
invited your husband to try its speed
| around the island, and nothing would do
| but Mrs. Leeson and her sister must go
along. And they haven't got back yet.
| Come, now1 won't this give the gossips
! enough to talk about tomorrow, SO they
won't be thinking Of US: You'll go, Mrs.
| Colter:'
"Well, won't promise, but if come
| down in my boating suit you can see
Tom about engaging the Mermaid"
Then her spirits seemed to flag. Fllrt-
ing wasn't much fun after all, and, oh,
| where was Rob all this time: After q
| quarter hour Of wandering thoughts and
| increasing Indignation against the whole
| sisterhood of widows she felt that she
must have solitude; so, with merely a
glance into the parlor, where Major
Larned, the proud father Of the loveliest
| baby in the hotel, was delighting an adj
| miring audience with the inspiring
strains Of s'Nancy Lee" she ran up
stairs and locked herself into her room
for the inevitable good cry in which
feminine human nature finds a safety
valve in most emotional crises. The
better to indulge in THIS luxury she got
into wrapper and cuddled down on the
bed in the dark.
As yet, her feeling Of Indignation and
resentment were stronger than her anx-
iety, for Robert was a good sailor and
there was neither fog nor storm tonight
| to make it dangerous ON the water, and
so she thought more Of the comments
| which would be made on his increasing
| intimacy with the widow than Of any
| danger to the party. 81 believe | will
90 over to Watch Hill tomorrow. I'm
sure won't pose as the neglected wife,
and there's no knowing what folly.that
woman will try to lead him into, though
don't suppose he could help her going
| tonight"
Here her thoughts grew indistinct, and
| the next thing she knew she was aroused
from what might have been long and
sound napto find herself still alone.
She struck light. Past midnight and
| all quiet below stairs; but outside the
wind was fairly bowling. 1t was real
gale now, and every little while tn
hotel would tremble all through, in spite
| OF the iron cables which chained it to
| the rocks. 1t was fearful to think that
| Robert was somewhere out in the storm,
and that nothing could be done until
| daylight, and not even then if the gale
| continued, as the hotels pleasure boats
were not built to face such a wind.
| There would pe no use in arousing any
one else; she must just wait patiently
until the household should be stirring
and she could advise with some Of the
| gentlemen. But, oh, the loneliness of
that vigil! To her dying day she neyei
forgot it. How long it seemed since
last night, when Rob had been safe be-
side her. She recalled the little jokes
they had laughed over, and how merry
and affectionate he had been.
But then he always was sweet tenn
| pered and loving, always making some
plan for her comfort and amusement.
And to think how angry she had been