Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-10-07

He looked at her In surprise.
why, / believe you are out OF spir-
it's. too, Pauline! Can 1t be the
weather, do you thinkf"
"Oh, II must be. The weather Is al
ways to blame for everything. isn't
itr
III think a drive would do us both
good. Won't you take pity on me
since Katherine has left me In the
lurch?"
At any other time Pauline would
have been only too glad to enjoy the
delightful privilege of a drive behind
Jacks handsome bays, but to-day she
felt that even in so slight thing az
this she could not bear voluntarily TO
make herself second to Katherine.
Thank you, Jack" she answered,
gently. "But I'm afraid I'm too dull
to make an agreeable companion. !
think I'll practise for an hour or SO,
and see II can't get into more COM
Portable state of mind"
"Well, / won't urge you, Pauline.
How dark 1t has grown within the last
hour! There isn't an inch OF blue SKY
to be seen anywhere" he added, glanc-
ing from the window as he turned to
go.
Pauline accompanied him as far as
the door, then came back and seated
herself at the piano. She was still
there, running over scales with fever
ish velocity when Katherine came In
flushed and a little tired from walk
ing.
For goodness sake, Pauline, dc
stop that dreadful banging! 1t Is
enough to drive one wild! l wonder
mamma has patience to endure 1t,
she exclaimed, fretfully.
She went over to the fire, and sink
ing into low chair began impatiently
to remove her long gloves. Pauline
left the piano at once, and came and
stood beside her sister.
Ibid you not have a pleasant time
Katherine?" she asked.
Moves! Has any one been II
this afternoon?"
Jack has"
ooh, Jack!" Katherine said little
CONTEMPORARY. ANY one else?"
mo one"
Hasn't Mr.. Eliot
"Why can't you understand, Kath
erine," Pauline interrupted, sharply
that mo one includes Mr.. Eliot thu
same as every one else?"
Katherine looked up at her tall
young sister, half startled. Pauline
was not wont to speak thus to her.
II think, Katherine" Pauline wen
swiftly on, that you ought to fee
ashamed to treat Jack Donelson a
you do. He is entitled to little con
sideration, at least, and when yo'
promise to drive with him of an at
ternoon and then go deliberately OF
without a word to make some unnec
essary calls, it is not considerate, t
say nothing of its being downright
rude"
A slow angry flush rose in Rather
ines beautiful face.
Dear me, Pauline" she cried
scornfully, you are really quite dra
matte! Would you mind saying tina
again little more slowly? I'm afrai
did not fully understand it."
1t was Pauline's turn to blush.
BE as scornful as you please
Katherine" she said, "but it's true
and you know perfectly well that
it wasn't for Wilton Eliot's none
you would never give him a secon
thought. Why, even Jack would b
preferable in that case"
With that she went swiftly out {
the room, too angry to trust herse
farther with words.
The atmosphere Of the hous
seemed to stifle her. She felt that sh
must get into the open air. To thinl
with Pauline was to act always. Fiy
minutes later found her walking raj
idly in the direction of the river.
was a dark, swollen flood that crel
along between the shelving banks Q
either side. By-and-by, when the IL
had formed on its surface, 1t wou
be the scene of many a gay skatir
frolic. But now, as Pauline stood b.
side it, watching absently few flu
.. tering snowflakes fall one by one I'M
the sluggish current, the river SCENE
.. to typify her own dark mood.
A step sounded behind her, and 81
turned to meet the grave, questionir
gaze with which Wilton Eliot was r
garding her.
Miss Ward" he began.
"Only Pauline" she corrected, smi
ing little bitterly.
II beg your pardon for having sta
tied you, but i was taking the sho
cut to the station, and seeing you
the distance, / thought l would ST
: and say good-by."
Are you going away them" PAT
inc asked in surprise.
Eyes. / find my affairs have be-
O getting into some confusion throul
my absence or my neglect, and d
mand my immediate attention.
I may be many months before ] am
Sterling again"
v He scanned her face eagerly.
a II am sure-we all shall miss yol
she said, trying to make the wor
g contain the proper amount of pol
d regret and feeling that she had fail
!. miserably.
! "All!" he said. your"
81, Of course, Mr.. Eliot"
l. Pauline was getting more and me
uncomfortable every instant unt
l. that keen gaze. She wished he woi
go away, and yet
J. But you avoid me on every pos
lie BILE occasion. never see you wheI