Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-05
CHAPTER XVII

Blake Trelawny had disappeared
His servants, accustomed to his eccer-
trlc appearances and disappearances,
began at last to grow uneasy when a
week passed and his bed was unslcpt
IN and the meals laid for him each day
remained untouched.
And Lirriper howled for her Trelaw-
ny and would not be comforted, wanted
to have all the ponds in the neighbor-
hood dragged and rewards fer his discov-
cry offered, and went over twice to ND
braid Mamie with her wickedness in
driving to despair the only man worth
speaking to in the comfy.
But Mamie and Will were hard to
catch, and beating the grounds for
them was of little use, seeing that, as
Lady L.irriper disgustedly affirmed, those
graceless young people spent their whole
time in sliding down haystacks, hiding
i'll barns and effacing themselves gener-
ally when. after a decent pause, the
county rushed en- masse to call upon
them.
And I am afraid that the thought Of
Blake at the bottom Of a pond, with
pike and gudgeon for bed companions.
did not greatly trouble either of these
happy young people. They were only
thankful that nothing intruded OH their
bliss. and sife jrp'i then to the slim girl
and her strappinS lover was one long
golden hour in which the pain Of the
past year was utterly forgotten.
The young men of the county came
over in quite large detachments to see
the dear little girl who had SO neatly
become Lady Anna Cassilis without
giving any of them chance, and a
good deal in the way of gayety was ex-
pccted CT the young pair in the future,
and the castle was eyed prospectively
as distinct gain TO the neighborhood.
One and all, however, retired discom-
flied, as even ON wet days the Cassilises
were not to he found at home, and as
Will had invited no guns and did not
60 ont himself the keepers scratched
their heads and vowed it was rare un-
seasonable September
Well, the little brown birds had a res
pite, and looking back across long DAYS
of agony the lovers We're able later to
thank God that for time they had been
utterly, perfectly happy, as many of Us,
looking back, say grace for the happy.
childhood that was our one buckler
against the storms and miseries Of after
life.
This state of beatitude lasted a fort
night precisely, the first note Of discord
being struck by Lady Lirriper's an.
nouncement that she should either muir
der herself or her brother if she staid
at Straubenzee much longer, and the
cottage must be got ready without delay,
the town servants being under orders to
come down at moments notice. Wills
jaw dropped rs he read the letter at
breakfast, their table drawn close up to
the open window which looked cut on
the park.
''Our holidays are over. Mamie" he
said ruefully. Isle will turn the place
upside down. and we shall not he able
to call our souls cur own. Fool that /
was TO offer it her."
I've can always run away" said
Mamie. whose blond, curly head show
ed ont delightfully."- against the oak
wainscoting of the quaint room, land it
won't be for long. She is due at South
Audley stree. in October.
well, the only comfort is she won't
have Trelawuy running in and out
He paused, then said: I've been rough
on that poor chap, darling. Suppose
he is dead after all?"
Not bit of it," said Mamie heart
iessly. He has probably gone off to the
other branch of his family in Cornwall,
and there l hope he'll stop, she added.
nodding with all the irreconciledness
OF woman who has been offered a PEI
sonal insult from one she does not love.