The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-05-28
CHAPTER XIV.

| CHAPTER XIV.
| Lady Nevil had been In London three
weeks; the season was in full swing. She
| had presented Madge to her sovereign,
and Madge was in high spirits and enjoy
| ing her gayeties immensely. June had
! been home once, and Sir Thomas had
spent two nights in London, on the coca
sion Of his wife's giving a dinner party at
which it was thought desirable he should
preside as host.
The season advanced, and rumors be-
! gan to fly about of an expedition to Egypt
! N which the Guards were to take part.
At first the idea was ridiculed, but grad
lally it came to be entertained more Sc
riously. and then to be recognized as q
! fact. Dallas battalion was for service,
| and as soon as this was known to the
! ladies in Grosvenor street it had q most
| dampenlng effect upon their spirits.
| Madge. it is true, affected to share the
| enthusiastic of Dallas, and talked gayly
| Of the distinctions he would earn-the pos
| siblity Of medals and Victoria crosses.
Mrs. Ellesmere was seriously depressed
ut the thought of the hardship and dan
! ger her fayorite nephew might incur, and
| as for June, each time she realized ii, a
knot rose in her throat and mist came
| before her eyes, and she felt as if life had
! suddenly become blank. She would look
| furtively at him as he was laughing and
talking in the gayest of spirits, and then
her vivid imagination would see him lying
dead, with livid, upturned face, on bat
| tlefeld, or worn and wasted by fever in
some wretched hospital
| Late one July afternoon June and Mrs
| Ellesmere left the carriage at the top of
the Row and took chairs under the trees.
Dallas was to Join them there. Madge
was spending the afternoon with n friend
Mr.. Carslake passed, then stopped, turn
ed and asked permission to sit down by
Lady Nevn. Presently q friend of Mrs.
Ellesmere Joined her, and the first pair
were left to each other Naturally
enough, the conversation turned on the
coming campaign, and June, who was al
ways trying to get comfort on the sub
/ ject, asked Mr.. Carslake his opinion of
the chances of fighting
June tried to draw consolation from Mr.
Carslakc. He did not think it would be
i very serious affair; he was not impress
ed with belief in the fighting qualities
of the Egyptians; a change OF masters
would make very little difference to them;
they would still be oppressed under any
rule. The climate was the worst part
of it, though the Bedouins and the Nile
might seriously impede our operations.
Then Mr.. Carslake, not looking at Lady
Nevil, but trying to make his voice in
! different, said:
Il suppose Miss Ellesmere feels Broke's
going very much:'
In 4 moment his meaning dawned on
June, and she saw that a golden oppor-
/ tunity was before her.
Il do not think So" she answered. Not
nearly so much as my aunt-and l. She
/ only thinks of the brilliant side of war,
and not of-of the danger"
She will feel it more when he is gone
no doubt" said Mr.. Carslake, tracing a
pattern in the gravel with his stick.
Il do not know" replied June. "Peo-
pie never think anything is likely to hap
pen to their friends unless it is q matter
of vitality absorbing interest to them"
But | thought such was the case"
"certainly not" exclaimed Lady NeviI.
with great ANNA ton. There is nothing
Of any sort or kind between Madge and
Mr.. Broke. except the most ordinary
friendship
"Oh" and Mr.. Carslake looked I'D at
her. Il was told that if not actually Gu
gagged they were next door TO it,
June felt that her opportunity had come.
What do not people say" she remark
ed do YOU believe every report you
hear
Only when it is borne out by appear
ances."
You are quite mistaken" said Lady
Ncvil. "Madgc has never been in love
but once in her life, and then so seriously
that | think it will quite prevent her
ever caring much for anyone else"
Tell me frankly" said Mr. Carslake.
ARE you speaking of me? l should not
venture to ask, unless-'
Yes, l am replied June, with equal
frankness.
"And-and do you really believe she is
not Indifferent 10 me?"
Il am quite sure that YOU are the only
man for whom she has ever cared seri
ously."
70 Mr.. Carslake's infinite chaerin. Dial
las came up ut this moment But June
felt that enough had been said. and TINT
MadSes future, at all events, was safe,
Dallas saw June and Madge off by the
train next day; he took cordial leave Of
the latter, and she wished him n CAV fare
well. and babe him bring her back the
scalps of numerous Egyptians and return
covered with glory.
Il shall see You again. he said to June
as the train was starting, keeping a long
hold of her hand and for once not at
tempting 10 prevent his eyes from betray-
ing TO her all he felt. AS for June. she
was deathly pale; her lips were CULVER
ing; there was 4 look almost Of agony in
her face. The whistle sounded. the train
moved off. their eyes were fixed in one
long. Inst gaze. and then they were parted.
June leaned back in the carriage and
closed her eyes. Madge made some gay
remark. but her cousin did not answer.
and Madgc took the hint and left her
slone. Her own pleasant thoughts were
company enough for her: the misunder-
standing between her and Mr.. Carslake
was ut an end, and he had asked her to
marry him.
The time was drawing on. and June
. had not set found courage to tell her hus-
/ band of her intended visit to London; she
felt instiuctivcly that he would not he
pleased. And. whatever happened. she
could not. no she could not. give up that
. cherished idea. She must see Dallas once
more
One morning. four days before the an
nounced departure OF the Guards. she said
10 Tom, as he was about to leave the
breakfast room:
1 am going up on Saturday to stay
two nights with Mrs. Trevanon.'
Oh he uttered, and stopped short.
Have you not had enough Of London
yet:"
There was something unusual in his
? voice: il had a ring of distinct diSplea &
/ ure and dissatisfaction.
There was no mistake about his dis
pleasure. He scarcely spoke 10 his wife
during the days that preceded her jour
ney To London. He half hoped she would
u IL. L. l