The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-08-01

a guest in the house. Oh, not 80 quick
Here We are at the bulr1shes.
''Do YOU think il would make the
boat sink il I took them all q she asked
AT the end of 10 minutes, during which
both she and Conrad had been hard at
work, and in the course Of which She
bad gradually rid herselfof hat, gloves
and jacket. Her light golden hair was
powdered with feathery morsels OF
reeds, and her blue eyes were shining
with intense enjoyment.
"It looks rather like il, bnt must We
have them all at Onces Is there any
reason why We should not return for a
second or third helpings' 81
NO, only that you will he going out
shooting after breakfast" +"
'sBut there are other days before the
18TH"
$50 there are. And If papa should
ask you % stay beyond the 10th, please
remember what told you about my
lessons. Let me see. How could you
manage TO convey to me that the mat
ter is settled? 1t will he best, | think,
if We invent some sort Of sign"
''Only three more days till the 10th -
was the only thought To which the poor
har.issed father could turn for comfort.
When, in due course Oftime, the 18th
arrived, the sun rose once more, daz-
zling and elOudless, exactly as il had
done ON the first day of COnrad's visit,
and exactly as on the first day he stole
down the staircase ofthe sleeping house
and along the lime avenue which ied
to the shores Of the lake His port
manteau WAS packed and his wraps
strapped up, for the carriage had been
ordered directly after breakfast. To
judge from the expression of indecisiOn
which sat on his face his impending
Journey did not fill him with any
special delight, a exactly ON the first
day he was plunged - deeply in medi-
tation that he came Ia an astOnished
standstill on finding himself ON the
edge Of the water, and exactly a. ON the
first day the boat was chained To the
shore, only that this time Elsbeth sat
in it, with hands lying inactive in her
lap, and blue eyes that seemed tO have
been impatiently watching the avenue.
\ new and happy smile frightened
Conrad's face. Instinetively he raised
his head. The sight of the childish
figure seemed 10 have solved some
doubt that had been pursuing him.
Ii was not until they were some dis
tance from the shore that Elsbeth said,
"A little unsteadily, 80 this i really the
end of my hOliday?"
Conrad looked straight into her face,
still with that shadow of happy smile
lowering about his lips.
THAT depends upon whether or not
you are anxious TO prolong il.
'How can il depend upon myself?''
she asked a defiantly "a she could.
'Do YOU remember once before asking
me 10 stay beyond the 18th? You said
Please, please, then, and said No
but if YOU were to say please, please
a second time, I would have no choice
bat to say YES, and after that DON'T
think that your holidays would begin
for good and all ~
''I don't believe said il, retorted
Elsbeth, growing furiously scarlet.
''Think again ~
She thought again, and the eyes
which had been attempting to stare
defiance sank suddenly before his
gaze.
''Well, - asked Conrad, ''is my visit
To be prolonged or not ~
NO" she answered breathlessly,
while her pulses throbbed in expecta-
ton of something which she both long
ed for and dreamed without quite un-
derstanding what it was II cannot
say it 4 second time"
"And if l stay without being asked:
Tell me, Eisbeth, " and letting slip one
of the oars Conrad bent forward and
possessed himself of one of the small
ungloved hands that lay in her lap.
1t was exactly at this most unfor-
tunate juncture that Miss wilkins, who
had happened 10 select to-day for put
ting into practice her theory Of early
rising, stepped out from a side path on
t. the shore of the lake.
Neither ofthe occupants Of the boat
observed her, but for full minute the
English woman, who was not short
sighted, stood rooted 10 the spot Then
she rubbed her eyes and looked again,
and finally she turned decisively on her
heel, like a person who has come Ia
resolution, and hurried back toward
the house.
Though Miss wilkins was both an
English woman and gOverness, she
was not a prude, bat the scene she had
witnessed had played the part OF that
well-known last straw to which the
cam-rs back j. 80 apt to suecumb. ~
long a. she had seen in Conrad a
prospective husband for one Of her
marriageable charges she had eyes for
none but his good qualities, but now
that he had proved failure from the
matrimonial point Of view, she had
suddenly become alive To his defects.
Evidently the baron was quite right
Thus she told herself n she fastened
toward the house. \ man who in
duIged in such objeetless pastime a. this
could be no more than "A heartless
libcrtinc.
The barOn wIs in his dressing gown
when ne was told that Miss wilkins
wished to speak 70 him Immediately
IL was with a hairbrush in one hand
and "A razor in the other that he came
forth to grant the interview He
listened in silence 10 the g1verneSs' tale,
but she knew By the LOOK that came
over his only partially shaved face that
this was the limit Of his patience more
decisively than even hers.
II am almost sorry the young scamp
i going to-day" he remarked between
his teeth. 80 that / shall not have the
satisfaction of turning him cut Of
doors"