The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-11-06

small space on the third sent back,
whittier she was directed-a little
Abashed at finding herself the one out
slider among party OF intimates-a
position seldom enviable.
The young man whom Helen had
seen with Mr.. Jones In the boat was
driving, and by his side on the box seat
AnastQsla sat. Such attention az he
could spare from the team, which re-
quired careful handling over the Devon
roads, she engr0ssed.
Once, and once only, Patricia i'd
dressed her silent guest:
"I'm afraid you have not much room,
Miss Milford. My brother said yoa
would 60 in the landau with my moth
er, and she forgot all about you and
started an hour ago." Then, turning
to the man next her she went on:
"Bertie drove Lady Lucy In the dog
cart; she was more than half afraid,
but he insisted"
"Have they settled it," he asked
with that sort of smile which dickers
only over one cit"
Miss Jones shrugged her high, broad
shoulders.
.Bertie is like all the rest Of you,
Sir Edwin" she returned, doesn't
know his own mind. The fact Is he is
an unconscious flirt, though IL one told
him so he would not believe it."
The gentleman addressed murmured
some response. at which Patricia'S rosy
cheeks grew roster, aud to which she
retorted with gratified smiles.
Helen was an unsympathetic observ-
er of these soft passages; her lips hard
ened a little. 'They are all making
fools of themselves-every one," she
thought, and she plumed herself on
her superiority to these weaknesses.
Up and down the heaving country
the strong team of hill-tAtned horses
trotted fast. The dir famed q color
into Helen's cheeks and frightened her
eyes. The chaperon of the party was
a little girl, little older than Helen
herself, whose husband was Helen's
neighbor, and who, before they reach
ed their destination, fell into broken
conversation with her. When they
alighted at Rivers Meet, he elected to
constitute himself her companion, and
though he was heavy, dull, and uni
versally discontinued, she was COM
PEELED to accept his prOfered society,
as it seemed to be a choice between
ulm us ucI S4uIS VI AO VAC. LUIS
she spent the greater part Of the time
with him, trying conscientiously to
amuse and interest him, but failing
obviously. She received careless
smile and q preoccupied greeting from
her young host. He did not speak to
her; his presence was in great demand.
A girl with a weak, inanimate face,
whom Helen heard addressed as Lady
Lucy, was always by his side, and he
seemed to bestOw some of that super
fluous energy of his upon the arrange
ment of the picnic, for the servants
were flying to and fro at his behests.
Now this wise young man had read
''the books of woman's looks" rather
deeply; he knew the feminine weak
ness that desires everything except
that one thing which she possesses,
that values nothing which she owns,
but ever casts a cOvetOus eye upon
the unattainable, and SO, though with
considerable reluctance, he scrupu-
lousy neglected Helen. The picnic
lousy neglected Helen. The picnic
part of the entertainment was worthy
of it's source-iced drinks with start
ling names; sandwiches cool, curious
and unwholesome; tea, coffee, sugared
and almonded cakes, bonbons, and tea
table accessories beloved Of women
were pressed upon the guests by a
troop of servants. No man need stir
a finger on his comrades behalf, and
therefore the men, for once in q way,
enjoyed picnic.
After tea Helen and her squire were
wandering lazily along the side of the
brawling river, the noise of which was
an excuse for maintaining silence-so
she automatically suggested, for she
found herself at the utmost tether of
easy discourse-while each was Sc
cretly wondering how soon the call of
the horn would summon them for
their return journey. The gentleman
was grateful to Helen. first for her
face, which he admired, secondly for
having saved him any trouble in con-
versation; but for all that he was
thinking not Of her, but of his dinner,
while she was conscious of being tired,
disappointed and puzzled.