The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1892-09-23
drive. and let me walk" he added.

''Should you be very much surprised
if you heard that the greengrocer's cart
is waiting for Miss Marsh's luggagey'
cried Agnes. Il would have told you
she was coming, only you were so dig
agreeable yesterday. We can pack in
the dog cart all right" and so they did.
Gus invariably met Agnes at the sta
ton when she returned from her visits
to London, but on this occasion he was
much astonished, for she had never
brought a friend back with her before,
and this friend was both pretty and
charming. She very much enlivened the
evening at the cottage, whittier Gus
strolled as usual after dinner, and, gen
orally speaking, made a good impression
on her friends; but for all that Mr.. Bart
lett was not quite happy in her society.
He could not help thinking that there
must be something uncanny in her sud
den appearance, or else land this brilliant
idea rather took his fancy Agnes had
brought her down for him to fall in love
with.
"Just as if anything or anybody.
could make me give up Aggie!" he
thought to himself as he went home.
wards. 1T would serve her right if
did have a little flirtation;" then, as o
brilliant idea struck him, Il declare, Ill
ask Nugent down, and he can look after
Miss Marsh while l take care of Aggie.'
Which determination was promptly act
ed on, for Gus wrote a letter that night,
and sent it off by early post as soon as he
came down the following morning.
"What do you think of our squire,
FLOP"
Fine, well grown young man, with
restful absence of ideas" answered Miss
Marsh, carelessly.
"He has some ideas, but they are main.
ly practical" said Agnes. HE is an ex.
cellent landlord, besides being dear
good boy, but he certainly is not brill.
liant.
How does he come to reign all alone
in this forlorn way?" inquired Florrie.
"Has he no belongings"
'None to speak Of His mother died
when he was baby, his father three
years ago. l think mamma looked after
him more than any one else though he
has some aunts and cousins. He and
THAT must be rather pleasant, as you
have no proper brother. Why, surely,
that is he coming up the lane? And
there is some one with him! Fancy find
ing two young men in country village
like thisl"
Miss Marsh had been at the cottage
three days, and was enjoying the fresh
country air thoroughly; and having a
keen interest in her fellow creatures, she
had been studying Gus because there
was no one else to study. Now her at.
tention was distracted by the new conner,
who was, indeed, a very agreeable and
interesting specimen of humanity.
Richard Nugent had been at college
with Gus, but had been far more sue.
cessful in the schools, and less in the
! cricket grounds, than his friend. Now
he was hard working London curate,
while Gus was enjoying the less labor
iOus position of a wealthy country gen.
tleman, but their friendship was as great
as ever.
Mrs. Oldham, will you come up tc
the Grange tomorrow said Gus one
afternoon, as lie lay on the grass at hel
feet. "Nugent and want to have some
tennis with the girls, and you can look
on and chaperon."
Very well, | will come with pleasure,
but you must send the pony carriage fol
me, you know"
''Of course; send for you and send you
back. You will stay to dinner, won't
your"
.tVOu ,,,,,s+ ,o,,e,,It +l,o o,;rIc obo,,.
that" said Mrs. Oldham, "for have an
idea that they may be busy; they are
reading together good deal, you know.
''Miss Marsh went in to write letters,
didn't she? / don't know where Agnes
has gone" remarked the young man,
rising from his lazy attitude and looking
about him. "Oh, there she is, with M.
gent, right at the end of the field. How
can people be so energetic this weather.
Agnes and Mr.. Nugent did not seem tc
find the heat oppressive; they are stroll
ing quietly along the shady side of the
field, talking, and were so much inter
ested in their conversation that it wa:
quite long time before they returned to
the lawn. Agnes was hearing of a world
that was new and strange to her, but
which seemed the exact thing she haC
desired for years.
In the quiet village there was but lit
tie for an energetic woman to do; but
the life Mr.. Nugent spoke of had oppor
tunities for every one. Real hard sell
denying labor among the poor, depress
ing at times, but cheered and lighteneC
by the fellow feeling of many workers
all struggling towards a noble anC