The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-07-22

delighted at the first moment Of our rect
ing. After all, it is only human nature to
bear grudge against the person whose
appearance on the scene brings us down
a peg in our own estimation, by proving to
us that we are not the only individual
about"
"You are describing exactly what felt, "
remarked the girl with grave approval.
81 do believe hated you at first sight"
"That sounds as though your virtue
were as spasmodic as mine, and were mis-
taken in counting you among that chosen
tribe known as early risers.
"That depends upon what | have got to
get up for. Surely nobody in their senses
would hurry out of bed on account of les
sons, while, again, its pity to waste a
bit of holiday asleep. By the by, how
many days are you going to stay here p
81 believe the Baron is going to let me
stay till the 18th
"Couldn't you make it little longer ?
1 am sure you could manage to trail out
your visit to the Goth, at least, if You
tried"
~ really don't exactly know -" said
Conrad, in renewed astonishment.
"You are surprised at my asking you to
stay, after having told you that | hated
you at first sight. The explanation is
really very simple You see" and here
the childish face settled into an expression
of preternatural seriousness, "as long as
you are here l am sure of my holidays;
therefore it stands to reason that | want
you to stay as long as you possibly cam
"As long as l am here p Conrad smiled
smile of puzzled amusement. "This is
really very interesting. was not aware |
had reached the stage of holidays being
given in my honor"
GAS far as I can make out it's not in
your honor exactly, but as a sort of de-
fence against you. By-the-by, you are
sure to be able to tell me what a lady-killer
is | want very much to know.
"Why am l so sure to be able to tell
you?"
because | heard papa saying to Miss
Wilkins-he has been having long talks
with her almost every day for the last
week-that she must keep her eyes well
open, because the visitor he expected was
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 for the time of your stay
she has transformed herself from gov
erness into a kind Of"
"Gooseberry," completed Conrad, with
an amused chuckle. "Come, this raises
me enormously in my own estimation; |
had no idea that was so irresistible as all
this
eThen being lady killer means being
irresistible, does it? 1t is one of those
things suppose | ought to know by this
time, considering that was seventeen last
month"
"Were you really ?" asked Conrad, in
genuine astonishment 81 would never
have guessed more than fifteen"
"That's all thanks to these ridiculous
short skirts, she retorted, flushing scarlet
from vexation. cit always costs papa a
tremendous pang to acknowledge any of us
grown up. That's one Of the reasons why
I've always got to take my meals in the
school room when there's guest in the
house. Oh, not so quick Here we are
at the bulrushes y
''Do you think it would make the boat
sink if took them all p 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 gradually rid
herself of hat, gloves, and jacket. Her
light golden hair was powdered with feath.
cry morsels of reeds, and her blue eyes
were shining with intense enjoyment.
at looks rather like it; but must We
have them all at once? Is there any rea-
son why we should not return for second
or third helping ?''
"No, only that you will be going ou'
shooting after breakfast"
'But there are other days before the
10Th"
$50 there are. And if papa should ask
you to stay beyond the 10th, please remem-
ber what told you about my lessons.
Let me see; how could you manage to con
vey to me that the matter is settled :? i
will be best, think, if we invent some
sort of sign"
"This is ripening into conspiracy, said
Conrad, in increasing amusement "I had
no idea what | was letting myself in fol
when turned out of bed this morning.
But for fear you should indulge in empty
dreams of holidays to come, perhaps I-had
better tell you at once that my father ex-
poets me home on the 10th,
She heaved sigh Of disappointment,
but added at once, philosophically:
"Well, all | can do is to make the most
of the ten days l have got before me,
though I know quite well that shall
never be able to get through all the BRAN
bic and bilberry hunts | have planned, nor
to collect half the mushrooms l have got
my eye upon. This is the very best sea
son for holidays, you see.
"If you consider me worthy of the post
said Conrad, slipping, as he spoke, almost