Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-12-06

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"This, I suppose, you designate
fun?" inquired her companion, with
audacious, twinkling eyes.
He was lounging at her side, ENJOY
ing more than his share Of the shadow
of white umbrella he gOllantly held
up, ostensibly to screen her from the
sun.
"Well, it is enjoyment-laziness. "
The flush faded from her face almost
as quickly as it came. "No one to
preach of prunes and prisms; sunshine,
tranquility"
"And my lively sallies to charm
away ennui," he corcluded, with evil
dent self-satisfaction.
".Ah, yes. You are indispensable,
OF course. Think of my colorless exist
ence without you; think of what it
was before We met"
She gazed straight ahead at the sum-
mer tints painting the verdant valley
before her, with rather poor attempt
at pensiveness.
''How long ago is that?" To me, it
seems an endless Utopian dream" "
"No Doubt" scoffingly. "How.
ever, it's reality we can't even stretch
out into q week, and then she laughed
merrily. What sketch must have
looked that day, struggling with the
refractory umbrella !"
"The prettiest one [ had ever seen.
1 am glad now that I came so prompt
ly to the rescue.
"Otherwise you certainly would
have the sun most abominably in your
ewes" She was blinking piteously in
its glaring light. He felt rather awk-
ward and shifted the umbrella-which,
by the way, was the one he had saved
from complete smash-up upon the
boisterous day of their meeting
further over her side.
"Pardon me-" he whispered, hum
bly,. ''It slipped gradually, you know,
and I am disgustingly lazy. What
place is that nesting down there
among the trees? 1t reminds me OF
Braemar Castle. dotted there at the
foot of these hills, with the river wind
ing around it, and the sun upon its
white turrets.
"That's Lynford Manor, one of the
seats of Sir Owen Chalmers. The old
baronet, you know, has just recently
died, and the title and estates so to q
Young and distant relative.
'Indeed" Her companion looked
interested. "aas the new owner put
IN an appearance yet-or is he ez
pected?"
Gladys shook her head. "Pat told
us he was q Jolly sort of fellow, and
would not be likely to trouble such O
dead-and alive spot as this much.
"Who's Pat, may ask?' he said,
somewhat unceremoniously. The blue
ewes roved down the valley again. ap-
parently finding the ardent gaze OF
his dark ones hard to encounter.
ga friend of mine and dads, she
replied. "Are you satisfed?'
more especially yours, I presume.
he said, coolly.
She turned suddenly on him with 6
look intended to be scathing, but
laughed instead. -,
Il am rude, am I not?" he said
"But, do you know, l have grea
friend who is called Pat-Paget Lori
mer a lieutenant in the navy, and ar
inveterate airt."
Her ewes danced. "The same" she
declared. cit must be my-oul
Pat"
"You make sure of it by the last
ramed characteristic, eh? Forgive
me. Miss Bottom" he continued, al
GLADYS was trying to frown; "again
an rude. How nice, though, that VIZ
should both know your Pat" He LAID
an unnecessary emphasis on the pro
.Verv." she acquiesced, demurely,
ond then awaited his next remark. II
She thought sac was going to treat
him stifflv. she made huge mistake.
So lone as she remained silent be de-
term ned to do tine same. In few
seconds she met the merry twinkle Of
his ewes. and then they 5oth laughed
ike a couple OF silly children.
nWelI. 10 return to the new baro
net-what else did Pat tell you about
him?"
"a deal more. He gave him
splendid character: said he was tre'
n,endons favorite in society, a thor
oughIy good all-arOun fellow"
Eli "dis pockets are we'll lined, you
see"
"What difference does that make to
Pat, do you suppose?'' she replied
loftily.
The world. He is not all that-all toe
world. l mean to you, l trustF
"aow should it concern yo7 Il ne
j weIel"