The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-10-12

and here his Wife-WhOSe flvOrltc re.
sort 1t was. and who Ind admission
ut all hours-seated on the top of some
of Ills choicest papers, seemed to shed
beauty and warmth around the silent
preOccupied man, to whom she was as
O bright sunbeam, and who possessed
whole aud entire, the deep affection OF
her warm pure heart.
Such was Katherine BlOunt'S chosen
friend; and to Castle Park It was that
she wendeds her way, riding slowly and
meditattvely through the green lanes
and under the branching trees, which
shed soft showers Of faded leaves up
on her head, until she arrived Mt her
destination. where she made the slight.
~ disconcerting discovery that In spite
Of her determination not to do SO
when leaving. SHE. had thought of moth.
ing but 1llackwOod Craven's dark de
jected face the entire way.
Tita my dearest, is 1t really you,'
cried Mrs. Charteris, running merrily
down the broad stone steps Of the en-.
trance to Miss Katherine as the latter
flung herself impatiently out of the sad
die without a moents warning. i am
80 awfully glad to sec you. Come In
esAA OpSuu SAc uNy Will uS-uO. OuhK-
lie has just got some new insects with
forty legs. and wings to correspond, 90
he Is lost for goodness knows how
long, and 1t will be quite charitable Of
you to take pity on me. But what u
the matter with you. darling? Are you
vexed about something's
mo, it is only the heat" Miss Blount
declared. ION the contrary l have good
news. Papa-after I had abused him
heartily in my Utmost soul for about
an hour-relented, and gave me money
to buy q new dress for the Tauntons'
ball; so am perhaps just a little bit
put out, You see, ut having wronged
him In my thoughts so much
Mrs. Charteris laughed.
I don't want to destroy the admira.
tlon that you are chertshing for your
fathers unprecedented conduct" shc
said, "but almost think can guess
what changed his mind. Did you not
hear that Sir Mark Warrenne returned
to the hall the evening before last?
And cannot you fancy how eager the
Tauntons will be to have him at the
ball. and what desirable match the
wealthy baronet will be for Mr..
Blount's beautiful daughter? Now do
not look 90 savage, Tita-it IL horri.
bly, unbecoming to your style: and do
not make up your mind-as see you
are doing-t0 revenge NIL this on the
poor young man himself. He is totally
unconscious of the whole concern, you
know, and you owe him a debt Of
gratitude, as. but for his proyidential
arrival at this particular time. You
would In all probability. never have
danced at the Tauntons' ball. He Ia
everything your fancy could possibly
paint Mm-1ovely' as Apollo, but
thank heaven, by no means Divine
ana, II you are a very good little girl.
ana play your cards properly, i will
put In such telling word for you that
IN the long run he win infallibly Ike
thine
Il do think. Harriet. that Mt times
you have not particle Of sense" Miss
biount exclaimed, amused ut tho 9th.
er's absurdity in spite of herself: where
upon the two friends broke into mer.
~ Laughter, and went upstairs together
to inspect Harriet's dress for the bali
and decide on the color most becoming
to katherine Blount.
Having Mt length after a sanewhat
sto my debate, arrived at the satIs.
factory conclusion TINT Miss Blount
would make very preseutable an
pearance In white and amber. the two
begun to mediate q descent on
Charles sanctum. for the express
purpose of carrying of its occupant
forctbly to luncheon from among l1is
beloved beetles. when horse's
hoofs ringing ON the hard gravel
arrested their steps. Mrs. Chsrteris's
bedroom being In the front Of the
house, overlooked great part of the
avenue, so, running hastily to he win.
dow to ascertain who the ne W-comer
might be. she was both startled and
delighted to perceive that It was no
less person than Sir Marx Warren
himself.
However, she made no further re.
marx just then but took the girls
prOtered hand fOndly In her own, and
led her down stairs into the tasteful
sunny drawing room. where Sir Marl
Warrenne was introduced to Kathorinf
BlOunt, and where Miss Blount made
herself as disagreeable US she very well
could to that exceedingly inoffensiye
young man.
Mrs. Charters was provoked beyond
measure-h0w could Katherine show
herself in such an unfavorable liaht?-
!! and set herself with laudable .perse.
verance to turn the conversation into
p more congenial channel, finally sug.
costing luncheon as a last resource
This was always a pleasant meal al
Castle Park, servants being strictly ex.
Guided, and a general air Of unconven.
donality pervaded the whole atmos.
phere,, so Harriet .fondly hoped TINT
Katherine might thaw IL exposed ia
its influence.
II hope You haye come home for
good this time, Sir Mark" she began
presently, smiling in her pretty, friend.
" manner ut the l,aronet.
II cannot say whether 1t will be fol-
good exactly" he answered, pleasant.
~, but have Mt Inst mnde up my
mind to give the whole country q fair
trial. You see, after you left, Mrs.
Charters, ! found travelling about by
myself just the slightest degree in the
world slow, 30 1 threw 1t up after a
few months longing wandering. A
fellow does feel the want of friends nj
some time or other during his life,
suppose, and my turn has come now
II am afraid, for an that, you will
miss the warm italian skies and the
beautiful italian faces more than you
fancy possible, after q WHILE" Mrs
Charters went on, .'and we shall be
losing you again In a few months OF
So" ~ lf--s.i :. !
II hardly think that" he answered
my tastes are not altogether so for.
eign as you seem to imagine; indeed,
to please me, I have seen more real
beauty since my return to the old place
than I ever saw abroad" And invol.
unfairly as be spoke his eyes fell on
the exquisite dowpcast face Of Mtss
Blount, who was sturdlly demollshing
her cold fowl ip the most proyokIngjy
practicable manner conceivable.
There! What a compliment 10 cur
d'ar old Englandw Harriet exclaimed.
II feel quite proud when rocollect you
are just fresh from the Land Of Beau.
~. Iita. will you not acknowledge
that 1t was q pretty speech?"
Very" Miss Blount replied. with
abominatle GOODNESS, and without dei,En.
ing to raise her eyes, rquite the pretti-
est thing I ever leaptl, and 90 original.
But, unfortunately, II has rather Lost
its charm for me, 40 | am quite tired
OF being told how extremely lovely !
am" % Y If
In two or three injuries Katharine
rose. 5.4 y u; Fl 4 q 6.,s
II must be going" she said, Papa
and Blackw0od will bs wondering what
has become OF me. 3ood-by, Harry;