Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-01-21
aLoVEB The DAY.
CHAPTER XII.


"And you are still so devoted &c
your husbands memory that you lei
yourself be trampled On by Sill
Andrew. because he was his friend,
he said, jealousy.
Perhaps l am weak, she said, with
a charming smile of relief" Gratitude
is one of the strongest elements in my
nature. You shall see how grateful
/ shall be to you, Sholto. I didn't
mean to do it,
But hope you will always call me
Sholto," he said, eagerly.
"Oh, no, no, no! That would sound
so terribly familiar" she said laugh
ingly. And then she began to ques-
ton him as to what he would have
done this evening if she had not sent
for him?
Il think I should have gone to see
Maggie"
THAT is exactly what l feared, and
know they are dining at home to-
night, and Sir Andrew would have
cross examined you. How lucky it is
that my wire caught you at home"
1T didn't; it was sent on to me at
Capt. Kelly's," he said unguardedly.
And who is Capt. Kelly?"
"One of the finest old sailors in the
world, with a heart Of gold"
Really! Has Capt. Kelly any
daughters with hearts Of gold?"
He has a stepdaughter," ShOlto ari-
mitted.
What is her name? And what is
she like? You see, 1 can't help taking
an interest in your friends"
Her name is Patrice Laugherne,
and she's awfully pretty"
"Patrice Laugherne! What de-
lightfully Hibernian ring there is in
the name! And is she a real Colleen
Bawn? Do tell me-"
You saw her the other day at the
academy he said reluctantly.
Not the girl who glared at you so
fiercely, surely?" she asked with such
well-feigned surprise that he felt con-
WINGED she knew nothing of the rela-
tions which existed between Patrice
and himself
'She didn't glare" he protested in
a half offended tone that told Mrs.
Cumberland she had better be careful.
''She was astonished to see me there
at that time of the day, knowing how
seldom I cut the office"
"She looked very much astonished
and very Cross Mrs Cumberland
said, musingly. Perhaps the latter
is her normal expression, though. for
it certainly could not concern her
whether you were at your office or not
By the way, speaking of the office
reminds me Sir Andrew told me to-day
that he has great hopes of getting you
post as superintendent of something
e. other at salary OF Ct 900 a year"
"Where?"
He didn't say. You don't receive
the news enthusiastically. I should
have bought the prospect of such a
salary would be pleasant after a war
office clerkship"
ct depends altogether on where it
is I thought he would do something
better for me than that from what
Maggie has been saying to me-"
80 he is sure to in time; this is only
a stepping-stone to something better"
she said. soothingly. "Sir Andrew
speak from experience-alway does
more than he promises. He never
raises ones hopes only to blight them.
Now I mustn't keep you here any
longer. I must see orr old servant
and have a few minutes talk with her
and then I must go home"
"Allow me to be your escort?"
Indeed. no: not for worlds she
said hastily and with such decision
that Sholto felt it would be useless to
press the point.
"When shall see you again? When
are you going back to finish your
visit to Maggie? he asked, and she
shook her head as she replied:
Il am not going back. I am sure
Sir Andrew would rather rot have any
one staying in the house just yet, for
he wants his lovely young wife all to
himself
when are you going into your own
house in Dover STREET"
"WhO told you it was in Dover
street? I have given up the idea of
Dover street altogether. I think of
going into the country"
Impossible! What would YOU do
there? You couldn't exist without
the society and the distinctions of
town life"
81 shall endeavor to do so for time
at any rate" she said, smilingly.
Then seeing that he looked detected,
she added:
II shall not betake myself to a will
derness. I shall be very accessible to
those London friends who wish to see
me. Will YOU be one of these?"
Il can't joke about it; I have been
counting on seeing ynu every day
when YOU went into Dover street" he
said discontentedly.
MY friend. that plan. like many
other pleasant ones, could not have
been carried out. Silly people would
have capped at the spectacle of a hand
some young man calling daily on a
lone, lore widow and have gabb1pd
about It. Besides, wouldn't yru get
very tired of ME if you saw me dailv?''
Tired of the sight that gives me
the greatest happiness in life" he said
passionatelv. Then again. Mrs.
Cumberland told him it was time he
should go and this time she really
dismissed him
CHAPTER XIV.