The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-09-23

UeiLB ptdCA SJ6Q anu udTk IdlTeu, she
had at once selected him as her cavalier,
regardless of the fact that there was
Mrs. Golfer, who might reasonably OBJ.
ject to having her husband monopolized
in this way. AS a matter of fact Mis-.
tress Milly had felt quite easy on the
subject, simply because everything had
seemed SO entirely on the surface, and ii
was only the finding of Mrs. Lessons
mischievous little scrawl which had
made her believe that Robert could de.
ceive her.
And now what should she do? To be
sure it was not, so far, q very serious
matter, but it was enough to make her
loving, jealous heart very sore and re.
sentful; and not being by any means OF
the Griselda type of woman one of her
first thoughts was to retaliate. Hence
her resolution to bottle up her indigna
ton and quietly outmaneuver the widow
by keeping an eye on Robert until din.
ner time and so prevent the proposed
| walk.
In due time the fishermen returned,
and lunch being over, the usual after.
noon dispersion began. A sailing party
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 tact
turn and inclined for her own company.
But Milly was not going to trust to this
seeming indifference, so she got together
half a dozen pool players, and carried
| Robert and also young Dugall off in her
| train. Rather to her surprise, Rob
evinced 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 duplicity
perhaps 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
80 charming to young Dugall that his
head was quite turned. Which effect
was still further increased when she APP
peared at dinner time in delicious
black lace and satin gown, lighted up
by knots of orange ribbon and corsage
bouquet of great glowing marigolds--
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 n 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,
| 4,
greater force than usual before rising
wind, which bid fair to be small sized
gale before morning. Then back to the
hotel for q promenade on the piazzas,
and finally a cosy tete-a-tete in the most
secluded corner, where Mistress Millys
scheme of retaliation progressed SO rapid
ly that within an hour Mr.. Dugall was
eloquently portraying the delights of a
sail over to Watch Hill and dinner at
Golfer let him escort her over tomorrow
ooh, but-these women, you know.
Flow ta19'' would talkt'
"WeB, surely, you don't mind them.
Well just start off 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.. Dugall2"
"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. Lesson and her sister must go
along. And they haven't got back yet.
Come, now! won't this give the gossips
enough to talk about tomorrow, so they
won't be thinking of risp You'll go, Mrs.
| Colter?"
"Well, won't promise, but if l come
down in my boating suit you can see
Tom about engaging the Mermaid"
Then her spirits seemed to flag. Flirt-
ing wasn't much fun after all, and, oh,
where was Rob all this time? After u
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
Larned, the proud father of the loveliest
baby in the hotel, was delighting an adj
miring audience with the inspiring
strains of Nancy Lee," she ran up
stairs and locked herself into her room
for the inevitable good cry in which
feminine human nature finds 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 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 ~ believe l will
go over to Watch Hill tomorrow. Pm
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
tonightp
| Here her thoughts grew indistinct, and
the next thing she knew she was aroused
| from what might have been a long and
sound nap to find herself still alone.
She struck light. Past midnight and
all quiet below stairs; but outside the
wind was fairly bowling. It was a real
gale now, and every little while the
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 unit
daylight, and not even then If the gale
continued, as the hotels pleasure boats
were not built to face such wind
There would be 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 tn,
gentlemen. But, oh, the loneliness o.
that vigil TO her dying day she never
forgot 1t. 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.
/ Dat H.. II. ~.