The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-20


touch OF sternness in his goicethat an gers
her.
swell, it looked very like it," says
she deiiantly.
"Come TO that, why should not have
thought that you had come here TO See,
TO judge OF meY"
Miss Blake frowns.
s'That is rude speech" says she,
coldly.
''Do you wish TO have a mo nopoly OF
the rudeness then? However, 1 merely
made that remark to give you the chance
of seeing how things might look from
the other point of view. t
''You Will take it back, however, with
"Certainly j consider il quite as un-
likely that you should act IN that way as
that deliberately should. Besides,
20 set your mind quite at rest, may as
well tell you that / came here princi-
pally to meet, not you, :" with a slight
smile that is little ironical, "but friend
of mine, who promised to be here this
week.
ale is not very punctual," says Lii
liam, lndifferently.
"she seldom Is, " with a shrug. "How-
ever, have had line to say she will be
here today.
"Ohl" All her self-possession does not
avail her to hide the distinct start OF sur
prise that follows on his words.
81 daresay you have heard of her, ~
goes on Lansdale. "Letty Linton she is
distant cousin OF mine, and / suppose of
yours, too
'''I don't think so,n coldly. "Miss Lin
ton? Yes. ! believe Aunt Bessie has met
her in England. A tall girl? and"-
slight hesitation-"good looking?'
More than that. +"
"Pretty?i
"Lovely!" says Lansdale, with enthusi-
asm.
Silence. Miss Blake has gone back to
feeding OF the the attendant swan, and
Godfrey seems filed with agreeable
thoughts.
"Whst hour do you expect Miss Linton
TO arrive?'' asks Lillian, presently.
81 daresay she has come by now; ii is
also possible she may not como at all. L
have told you she was not famed for
punctuality.
"Then think you had better get back
as soon as you can 10 meet her. She may
by chance be punctual this time.
Better have a last look at the river
first, carelessly.
81 think not, and besides | am sure
the mist is thickening; it will be a wet
night.
"Well, il looks like il, - saws Lansdale,
her back in silence to the landing slip.
Lillian runs lightly up TO her room and
throws herself into a chair. Alter all what
fool she has been, or rather Aunt Bes-
sic has. OF course he has been engaged
all this time to that other girl And yet
he had not been In such over great hur-
ry to get back TO meet her. Still, he had
called her lovely, lovely She recalls pho
tograph of Miss Linton belonging to Aunt
Bessie and surely face that is all grey
eyes set very widely apart, and a nose
that distinctly turns up could hardly be
called that. Lovers must be blind in
deed, and Mr.. Lansdale the blindest OF
all. Suddenly an angry desire to show
him what might honestly be called-at
all events-pretty, seizes upon her. She
pulls down her hair, and does il up
again in her most coquettish style. Takes
ont her latest silk blouse-a charming
thing, all pale-blue, with a little chiffon
of the same color, and tries 1t on. Yes,
II will dol She adds a skirt to ii. fast
ems her ncckband with the little diamond
star papa had given her on her last birth
day, and finally, seeing pale-pink rose
pushing its way through the window as
though to get peep at her land no won
del, tool she plucks it, and fastens IL
near her fair and slender throat.
Just at this moment Aunt Bessie opens
the door.
what! dressed already?" says she. The
surprise is involuntary, but she quickly
suppresses 1t. She has caught the situa-
tion. "Wise child How l wish / were
you. Now you can really rest before din
ner. And how sweet you look, dearest" +"
Mrs. Musgrave IL a student OF nature
She Is quite aware that to tell any girl in
the world she IN looking charming is O
greater help to her appearance than even
a new frock from Worth.
"We came in early. Mr.. Lansdale is
expecting friend this evening"
LEFTY Linton? Yes, she has come. She
and Geoffrey are old friends
And dear ones, apparently"
Are they?" asks Aunt Bessie the wise
In spite OF the early dressing, Lillian
and her aunt arrive little late in the din
ing-room. Their own special table is
for them, as well as the man who
attends on them, and who regards them
with reproachful eye but Lillian scarce
ly notices his mild reproof. Her glance
has wandered instinctively to the small
table little beyond hers, where TO- peo-