Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-05-20
CHAPTER NX11I.

CttSAl1Elt AAlll.
Mrs. Ellesmere md Dallas arrived to-
gether just at the propitious moment
that is to say, th%ree-quarters Of an hour
before dinner, in time to exchange greet
ings, to have five minutes chat, and then
to go off and dress for dinner.
The dinner was of the merriest. June
was in the highest spirits-Dallas the
same-Mrs. Ellesmcre in her very best
mood. The dinner was perfection, and
conversation never tagged for n moment.
TOMS perceptions were not particularly
quick, but they must have been slow in
deed had he not observed the transforma-
ton in his wife. She had heen so quiet
lately. and dinner had been rather a SOL
emn performance, not enlivened by any
very brilliant conversation. But tonight
her ladyship's charming face was dimpled
by smiles, her eyes were full Of light. He
supposed she wore n different sort of
gown. for she looked, somehow, even pref
tier and more elegant than usual. Dallas
had the old manner which Tom had been
wont half to admire, half to he amused Mt.
His mother was n good talker, and the
three seemed to have topics of interest
and amusement which were Greek to
Tom. The talk was chiefly of people, mu-
tual friends. and it was evident that they
found it immensely engrossing and absorb
ing. and all took equal pleasure in it.
The two following days there were more
guests at the Hall, for June took the OPP
%portunity of Mrs. Ellesmere's visit to give
dinners to their country %neighbors, and
One who came from Il distance stayed
in the house. Dallas was invaluable in
helping to entertain them. and Madge
brought her services from the rectory.
But Dallas contided to his hostess that
he was perfectly delighted when they were
all gone. and expressed IL hope, couched in
defercntial though emphatic terms, that
she would never consider it necessary to
ask any one there for his benefit. as it
only prevented his enjoying the society of
the lady from whose presence he derived
the most pleasure.
1t was now the fourth day after his mr.
rival. The omnibus had departed with
the last batch of guests; the morning was
wet, and they were wondering how they
should muse themselves, when her lady
ship had a happy inspiration. Battlcdoor
and shuttle-cock. These were found after
n search; the battledoors were dried by
the hall fire, and the shuttle-cocks had
their feathers rcarranged, and Dallas and
June began their game. Now, to thor
Oughly experienced players, there is not
very much excitement in the game of bat
tledoor: the players stand still in the
same place and the shuttle-cock takes its
flight regularly and unbrokenly between
them: but to beginners it involves n great
/ deal of rushing and tearing about, violent
dashcs forward and backward, and is pro-
vocative of a great amount Of laughter.
AT the moment when the game was at it's
height. and peals of mirth were issuing
from the lips of Dallas and June. Agnes,
arrayed in her waterproof, arrived at the
hall door. and the same instant Tom hap
pened to issue from his den, and proceed.
cd to let her in.
"1s that June's voice?" she asked. MT
ting on the most surprised and shocked
expression her p%uritanical face was en-.
pable of. "What is she doing?"
"She md Dial are playing battledoor,"
answered Tom, and then, for the first
time. the idea occurred to him, or rather
was forced upon him by Agnes face, that
their mirth was rather eXuberant.
"Oh!' she uttered, putting u volume Of
expression into the word.
June had just sunk, brenthless from
laughing md running. into IL chair, and
Dallas leaned against the wall in much
the same condition. Both their faces
were becomingly flushed from excitement
and exercise. and, to u%njaundiced eyes.
they would have seemed the picture of
two handsome, happy and innocently
amused young people. But not to the en-
vions eyes of Agnes, and she allowed them
to express to June how very much scam
dalized she was by such levity. In Il mo-
ment June read her Cousins face, and a
thrill of anger and defiance shot through
her breast, which the previous moment
had been a harbor Of peace and happi-
ness.
"How do you dog she said, nodding,
and making her battledoor an excuse for
not shaking hands. II am quite exhaust