The record-union., 1893-06-17

now many days are you going 10 stay
here?"
II believe the Baron is going to let me
stay till the 10TH"
Couldn't you make it little longer? |
am sure you could manage to trail out
your visit to the Goth, at least, if you only
tried"
Il really don't exactly know said
Conrad, in renewed astonishment.
~ GU are surprised at my asking you
to sta, after having told you that l hated
you at first sight. The explanation is
really very simple. You see," and the
childish face settled into an expression of
preternatural seriousness, "as long as you
are here L am sure of my holidays; there
fore 1t stands TO reason that l want you to
stay as long as you possibly can"
AS long as am here ~ Conrad smiled
a smile of puzzled amusement. This is
really very interesting. | was not aware }
| had reached the stage Of holidays being
in my honor"
LAS far as can make out it's not in
tense against you. By-the-by, you are
sure to be able to tell me what lady
killer Is. l want very much to know
why am l so sure to be able to tell
you ?"
Because 1 heard papa saying to Miss
Wilkins-he has been having long talks
with her almost every day for the last
open, because the visitor he expected was
a dangerous lady-killer. And it is in
order to leave her plenty of liberty for
opening her eyes That my lessons have
been stopped, and that Tor the time of
your stay she has transformed herself
from a governess into a kind Of"
"Gooseberry," completed Conrad, with
an amused chuckle. Come, this raises
me enormously in my own estimation:
l had no idea L was so Irresistible as all
this"
Then being lady-killer means being
irresistible. does it? 1t is one of those
things l ought to know by this time,
considering that l was seventeen last
month"
"Were you, really? ?" asked Conrad in
genuine establishment. Il would never
have guessed more than fifteen"
That's all thanks 10 these ridiculous
short skirts" she retorted, flushing scar
let from veXation. 1T always costs papa
tremendous pang to acknowledge any
of US grown-up. That's one of the rea-
sons why pve always got to take my
meals in the SchOOlrOOm when there's a
guest in the house. Oh not so quick
here we are at the Dullrushes ~
DO you think it would make the boat
sink if l took them all ?" she asked at the
end of ten minutes, during which both
she and Conrad had been hard at work,
and in the course of which she had grad
ually rid herself of hat, gloves and jack ct.
Ter light golden hair was powdered
with teathery morsels of reeds, and her
blue eyes were shining with intense en-
joyment.
lit looks rather like it; but must we
have them all at once? Is there any rea-
son why we should not return for sec
ond or a third helping?''
NO, only that you will be going out
shooting after break FAST
fl,C,.A H.. J.
10TH"
$50 there are. And if papa should ask
you to stay beyond the 10th, please re-
member what l told you about my les
sons. Let me see; how could you man
age to convey to me that the matter is
settled? 1t will be best, l think, if we
invent some sort of sign.''
This is ripening into a conspiracy"
said Conrad, in increasing amusement
Il had no idea what | was letting myself
in for when l turned out of bed this
morning. But for fear you should in
dulge i'll empty dreams of holidays to
come, perhaps | had better tell YOU at
once that my father expects me home on
the i6th.'
She heaved sigh Of disappointment,
/ but added at once, philosophically:
We'll, all | can do is TO make the most
of the ten days [ have got before me-
though l know quite well that [ shall
never be able to get through all the
bramble and blberry hunts I have
planned, nor to collect half the mush-
rooms have got my eye upon. This is
the very best season tor holidays, you
see"
''If you consider me worthy of the
post" said Conrad, slipping, as he spoke,
almost unconsciOusly into the tone OF
gallantry he generally adopted toward
women, Il should be most happy to act
as adjutant; Of course, only under the sup
positlOn,' and here his eyes twinkled
mischievously, that you have no objec-
tions to the company of a lady-kIller."
why should l have an objection? 1
suppose Il lady-killer can only become
dangerous for full-grown lady, and l
am not that yet. as papa is never tired OF
telling me-"
Once more Conrad felt almost foolish.
The straight gaze of those cloudless blue
eyes was enough TO make the practiced
man of the world feel as though he had
been attempting a sacrilege.
1t was just after they had parted on the
shore of the lake that Count kestler heard
his name very earnestly pronounced, and
became aware that the young boatwoman
was hurrying after him.
DO think of it againp' she said
rather breathlessly. 81 mean about the
10th; and if it is possible, please-please
stay little longer"
With the last words she had turned
again, and in the same moment disap-
peared among the bushes. Conrad could
hear the twigs swapping to the right and
to the left after he had lost sight of her.
1t was not until he had got back to the
| house that he suddenly remembered the
wild ducks, and, very much to his aston
lshment, realized that as far as knowing
whether there were any to be hoped for
on the lake, he had come back exactly as
wise as he had started.
Breakfast was scarcely over when the
| battered green hat of the old gamekeeper
was seen to pass the window, whereupon
Conrad became sportsman again, and,
leaving his second cup of coffee un-
touched, hurried away for his gun
AS, for the second time that day, he
made his way down the lime avenue, he
could not help wondering why he had
not mentioned his matutinal excursion
in the boat, and the only conclusion he
could come to was that a touch of nvs-
terry never fails TO give a charm to the
most commonplace adventure and that
the idea of plot between himself and the
youngest Baroness, whom he understood
TO be called Elsbeth, had tickled his
fancy.
Meanwhile the old Baron had estab-
lished himself in his armchair with a
heartfelt sigh of relief. For the next few
hours, at least, he might relax his vigil
lance, seeing that the dreaded individual
was safely disposed of.
But a rude shock awaited the Baron's
peace of mind that evening, when the
conversation at the supper-table ac-
quainted him with the fact that Anna and
Helene's afternoon walk had, strangely
enough, taken the same direction as Con
rad heStIer's shooting excursion. whether
through provoking coincidence or ow-
ing to some culpable negligence of Miss
Wilkins, who had been of the party. it
was QlIflcult to ascertain Navar batCro