The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-09-30

| AT any Otner Clme Fdulne WOulO
have been only too glad to enjoy the
delightful privilege of drive behind
Jacks handsome bays, but to-day she
felt that even in so slight a thing as
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 if l can't get into a more COM
Portable state of mind"
well, | won't urge you, Pauline.
How dark it 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, do
stop that dreadful banging! 1t is
enough to drive one wild! / wonder
mamma has patience to endure it"
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.
Did you not have pleasant time,
Katherine?" she asked.
"No-yes! Has any one been in
this afternoon?"
Jack has,"
ooh, jack" Katherine said little
contemptuously. ANY one else?"
'No one"
Hasn't Mr.. Eliot"
'Why can't you understand, Kath-
erine," Pauline interrupted, sharply,
that mo one includes Mr.. Eliot the
same as every one else?"
Katherine looked up at her tall,
young sister, half startled. Pauline
was not wont to speak thus to her.
81 think, Katherine" Pauline went
swiftly on, that you ought to feel
ashamed to treat Jack Donelson as
you do. He is entitled to little con-
sideration, at least, and when you
promise to drive with him of an af-
ternoon and then go deliberately off
without word to make some unnec-
essary calls, it is not considerate, to
say nothing of its being downright
rude"
A slow angry flush rose in Kather-
ines beautiful face.
Dear Se, Pauline" she cried,
scornfully, you are really quite dra-
matte! Would you mind saying that
again little more slowly? I'm afraid
1 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 if
it wasn't for Wilton Eliot's money
you would never give him a second
thought. Why, even Jack would be
preferable in that case"
With that she went swiftly out of
the room, too angry to trust herself
farther with words.
The atmosphere of the house
seemed to stifle her. She felt that she
must get into the open air. To think,
with Pauline was to act always. Five |
minutes later found her walking rap
idly in the direction of the river. 1t
was dark, swollen flood that crept |
along between the shelving banks on |
either side. By-and-by, when the ice |
had formed on its surface, it would |
be the scene of many a gay skating
'rolic. But now, as Pauline stood be-
side it, watching absently few flut-
ering snowflakes fall one by one into
he sluggish current, the river seemed
o typify her own dark mood.
A step sounded behind her, and she
urned to meet the grave, questioning
,aze with which Wilton Eliot was re-
,arding her.
Miss Ward" he began.
only Pauline" she corrected, smil-
ng little bitterly.
Il beg your pardon for having star
led you, but l was taking the short
ut TO the station, and seeing you in
he distance, l thought l would stop
nd say good-by."
Are you going away them" Paul
ne asked in surprise.
Yes. l find my affairs have been
,etting into some confusion through
ny absence or my neglect, and de-
nand my immediate attention. 1t
nay be many months before 1 am in
terling again"
He scanned her face eagerly.
Il am sure-we all shall miss you,"
he said, trying to make the words
ontain the proper amount of polite
egret and feeling that she had failed
"All!" he said. "You?"
II, of course, Mr.. Eliot"
Pauline was getting more and more
every instant under {
lat keen gaze. She wished he would ,
0 away, and yet
But you avoid me on every possi-
lie occasion. l never see you when 1 |
all. What can 1 have done, Miss s
auline, to merit your disapproval?' 7
"You have done nothing, and n s
eed, Mr.. Eliot, I do not avoid you," 6
auline said, very earnestly. !
"Then it must have been my fancy.
ince YOU have nothing against me-