The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1892-09-23

turned 10 tile lawn 10 JON lne OlneTS.
The afternoon at the Grange was a
success. Mrs. Oldham sat in low chair
under a great cedar tree, and enjoyed
herself quietly; indeed, the view and the
sight of the four merry young people
was pleasure enough for her. The tennis
court was very good one. and Gus and
Florrie played Mr.. Nugent and Agnes
with great effect When they were
tired Florrie insisted on being taken all
over the house, and gave the master of
it intense pleasure by the interest she
took in his old pictures, china, furniture
and curios generally.
"You can't think what a pleasure this
is to mel" she said, when they were ex-
aiming some exquisite wood carving in
the library. ''We London people live in
stucco houses, and buy our artistic prop
critics in Regent street, but here they are
all growing, so to speak"
Everything here has grown with the
place, if that is what you mean," re-
piled Gus. "There is nothing modern,
and everything has history. My peo-
pie have lived here since Queen Eliza
beth's time, and though we aren't either
rich or clever. at any rate we are not
mushrooms.
"Why should you be rich?" asked
Florrie. IF you were millionaire this
house would not be grand enough for
you, and you would spoil it by altering
it. whereas now it is perfect"
Gus was pleased He loved his home
and all his ancestral treasures heartily.
He loved all the old associations which
had grown up in the 300 years since the
Grange was built and he was we'll aware
that there were few families in England
who could boast of such "a line of worthy
gentlemen as those from whom he was
descended. Agnes did not care for any
of these things, and was at that moment
having a long conversation with Mr.. M.
gent about the evil results of foreign
immigration in the east of London,
subject which interested her, but which
Gus simply did not understand. He was
satisfied if his tenants and laborers were
well housed and fairly prosperous (and it
must be owned that he was an admirable
landlord), but the distress he did not see
had no pathos for him; it was no bust
ness of his, and he lacked the imagina-
ton which brought it all wildly before
the energetic couple under the cedar
tree.
That evening Agnes stood at her win.
dow and looked out on the peaceful
moonlit fields, and longed to be in the
busy human hive she had been hearing
about. Then her face dimpled into a
merry smile.
Dear old Gus!" she said, ''he has
fallen into the trap, and they will be
thoroughly happy. don't think know
any one so fitted to be his wife as Flo"
Meanwhile Mr.. Bartlett was thinking
what very successful day it had been,
and how nice it was to get Agnes up to
the Grange; and it never dawned on his
innocent mind that he had not exchanged
a dozen words with her the whole after.
noon.
80 you really go tomorrow" said
Gus, as he and his friend sat smoking,
the last evening OF Mr.. Nugent's holiday.
eve shall miss you very much, old fel.
low, but you must come again"
Il should like it above everything, .
/ 4
away for few days in the winter, will
you have me?"
"Shall be delighted; come as soon as
you can, and stay as long as you can.
/ One thing you must como for, and hope
it is not very far distant now" proceeded
Mr.. Bartlett, with something very like a
/ blush.
"What is that?"
"My weddingr'
''Nly dear boy, I'm delighted to hear
it, but l did not know that you had got
to that point yet" cried the clergyman,
who had watched his friends inter.
course with Miss Marsh with strong ap
prevail
"Well, that's the thing! / don't know
what comes over girls, but though l have
asked her half dozen times, she has not
said Yes yet" replied the unconscious
Gus.
"You have certainly lost no time,
said his friend; "perhaps she thinks she
ought to know you better"
Il don't know how she is to do that
considering that we have known eacl
other all our lives. and lived close to eacl
other, too"
"But she only came here just before
did," exclaimed Mr.. Nugent, "or l an
mistaken. Don't you mean Miss Marsh?'
A sudden light glowed on Gus face
then faded as rapidly as it had come
"Noi l don't mean Miss Marsh" he saiC
slowly. Il never thought about her;
have always intended to marry Agnes.
1t was Mr.. Nugent's turn to look puz
zlnd 81 q NJ crlnd Won told mo that . M