The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-14
News Novelties, No. 8.
ELSBETH'S HOLIDAY

Breakfast being over, he promptly
proposed game Of billiards, which was
enthusiastically accepted by the young
ladies, and for the perils Of which the
baron saw no remedy but to take q cue
himself. Tho forenoon hours were
fraught with severe trials for this con-
scientious father. While hobbling round
the table as we'll ~ his gouty knees
would allow him, IL was little short of
agony to note the soft glances which
Conrad Kestler distributed pretty equal
Ily between the two girls and to have
TO listen to the playful remarks-full
of veiled meaning, as 1t seemed to him
of which Conrad's conversation was
chiefly composed.
Nor was the afternoon an improve
ment ON the forenoon, except for cou-
pie Of hours, during which the host suo-
oeeded in Turing his guest into the smok-
ing room The rules of hospitality
would not allow of his being kept there
by main force, and thus it came about
that on each of the visits of inspection
he paid to the drawing room the baron
suffered great distress. The first time
10 was the sight Of Conrad sitting ON
footstool and holding o skein of sky
blue wool that was being wound by
Anna, which gave him q shock, while
the second time this same Conrad turn
ing over the pages of Helene's music
considerably aggravated his state Of
mind Fine weather was, after all,
greatly preferable to rainy weather, was
the conclusion with which he went to
bed.
Next day was not much better. The
sportsman indeed went out after break
fast, the barometer having risen, but
heavy shower brought him back In the
middle of the forenoon, and though 1t
cleared off soon no showed no inclina-
tion to sally forth second time. Some
thing was said about twisted ankle,
and as here again main force could not
be called to aid there was nothing for
il but TO stand at the window and grind
his teeth as he watched Conrad pacing
the garden beside his eldest daughter.
He stood it fairly we'll until a pause was
made beside bush of late roses, but
when Conrad, in full sight Of his win
dow, broke of pink rose, and with
an exquisite bow handed it to his COM
panion, the baron sent for Miss Wilkins
and commanded her to invent some ex-
suse for summoning Anna to the house.
Miss Wilkins obeyed, with the result
that when next the baron looked out of
the window Helene was sitting on gar
den bench straight opposite in lively
conversation with Count Kestler, and
with one Of the same late roses bloom
ing in her waistband.
"Only three more days till the l6thr"
was the only thought to which the poor
harassed father could turn for comfort.
When in due course of time the 10th
arrived, the sun rose once more dazzling
and cloudless, exactly as IL had done ON
the first days Of Conrad's visit, and ex-
actly as on the first day he stole down
the staircase OF the sleeping house and
along the lime avenue which led to the
shores of the lake. His portmanteau 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,
exactly as ON that first day he was
plunged SO deeply In meditation that he
,ame to an astonished standstill ON
hiding himself ON the edge Of tho wa
,er, and exactly as on that first day the
boat was chained to the shore, only that
this time Elsbeth sat in ID, with hands
lying inactive in her lap, and blue eyes