Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-07-29
CHAPTER II.

cen indulging In those summer noontidt
ieditations, Walter Cundall arrived a
Is house in Grosvenor place.
Things were so well ordered in the es
ablishment of which he was master, thai
telegram from Liverpool, dispatched Q
ew hours earlier, had been sufficient te
:ause everything to be in readiness fol
aim.
He walked into his handsome library
.ollowed by a staid, grave man-servant
and, sitting down in one of his favorite
:hairs. said:
well. West, what's the news in Lon.
don?"
Not much. sir; at least nothing that
would interest you. There are q good
many balls and parties going on, OF
course. sir. Sir Paul Raughton's man
and me were a-talking together, sir, last
night at our little place of meeting, and
he told me as how Sir Paul was going TO
have quite large party down at his
place. you know, sir, to celebrate-to cele-
orate-l mean for Ascot, SIR
"WellY
well. Of course, sir, you'll be wanted
there, too. sir. Indeed, Sir Paurs man
said as how his master had been making
Inquiries about the time you was a-comin4
back, sir, and said he should like to have
you there. And, of course, they want to
cele-l mean to keep it up, sir. Now, III
go and fetch you the letters that have
come since 1 sent you the last mail"
While the servant was gone Walter
Cundall lay back in his chair and medi-
sated. He was handsome man, with
dark, shapely head, and fine, well mark
ed features.
As he sat in his chair he wondered
why Providence had been so unfailingly
good to him through his life; why it had
showered upon him-while he was still
young enough to enjoy 1.-THE comforts
that other men spent their lives in toiling
to obtain, and then often failed at last to
get.
And now," he said to himself, '1et
Fortune give me but one more gift and l
am content. Let me have as partner of
all l possess the fairest woman in the
world; let my sweet, gentle Ida tell me
that she loves meas l know she does
and what more can l ask? All, Ida!' he
went on, apostrophizing the woman he
loved, Il wonder if you have guessed how.
night after night, during these long six
months. have sat on my veranda gazing
up at the stars that look like moons there.
wondering if your dear eyes were looking
at them in their feeble glory here? l
wonder If you have ever thought during
my long absence that not an hour went
by. at night or day, when / was not think
ing of you? Yes, you must have done SO;
You must have done SO! There xe8 every
thing in your look, in your vsice TO tell
NE that you loved me, that you were only
waiting for me to speak. And now l will
speak. / will deprive myself no longer
Of the love that will sweeten my life"
The n-servant came back with an
enormous bundle Of letters that made
Cundall laugh when he saw them.
why, West!' he exclaimed, you don't
imagine that am going to wade through
these now, do you?"
II think they're mostly invitations,
SIR" the servant answered. from people
who did not know when you would be
back"
well, give them to me. / will open a
few Of those the handwriting of which /
recognize, and Mr.. Stuart can 90 through
the rest tomorrow"
Mr.. Stuart was one of Cundalps secre-
taries, who, when his employer WAS in
town, had sometimes to work night and
day to keep pace with his enormous cor
respondence, but who was now disporting
himself at Brighton.
The valet came down at this moment
to take his masters orders. and to say
that his bath was ready.
II shall dine quietly at the club to-
night" Mr.. Cundall said, "and then, to-
morrow 1 will make a few calls and let
my friends know l have returned. Is
there anything else, West?'
mo, sir. oh, l beg pardon, sir! had
almost forgot. Lady Chesterton called
the day before yesterday to ask when
you would be back. When 1 told her
ladyship you were expected, she left q
note for you. It's In that bundle you
have selected, think. SIR"
Cundall looked through the letters until
he found the one In question. and, on
opening it, discovered that II contained an
invitation for ball on that evening
As Lady Chesterton was a hostess
whom ne liked particularly, he made up
his mind that he would look In, IL only
for an hour. 1t was as good a way as
any Of letting people know that he WAS
back in town, and his appearance at her
house and at the club would be quite
enough to do so.
1t was eight o'clock when be entered the
latter Institution, and his arrival was
hailed with a chorus Of greeting. Two or
three of them made up q table and sat
down to dinner, and Cundall told them
that he was going to Lady Chesterton's
later on
But neither here, nor over their coffee
afterwards, did any Of his friends tell
him that he would meet there the girl he
was thought to admire, attended in all
probability by her future husband, Lord
Penlyn.
As, at eleven o'clock, he made his way
up the staircase to greet his hostess, he
again met many people whom he knew.
and, by the time he at last reached Lady
Chesterton, it was rapidly being told
about the ball room that Walter CundaIl
was back in town again.
Il declare you look better than ever"
her ladyship said, as she welcomed him.
''Your bronxed and sunburnt face makes
all the other men seem terribly pale and
ghastly. How you must enjoy roaming
about the world as you dor
He answered with a smile and re-
mark that, after all, there was no place
like London, and that he was getting very
tired of rambling, when he turned round
and saw Ida Raughton coming towards
him on the arm of Lord Penlyn.
How do you do, Miss Raughton?" he
said, taking her hand and giving one
swift look into her eyes. How beautiful
she was, he thought; and as he looked he
wondered how he could have gone away
and left her without sDeaking of his love.
Well no matter. the parting was ever
aowl
"How do you do. Pealynr hs said
shaking him cordially BY the hand.
"When did you return" Ida asked. Un
til this moment she had no Idea that he
was back In England.
II landed at Liverpool late last night
he answered. land came up to town to
Ghaaf0rfnn Af m
probable arrival, was kind enough to
lsaye an invitation tor-ue to.1ixbt""-