Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-05-06
CHAPTER NvIlI.-(Continucd.)

a moments silence followed, broken by
til" sound of TOMS hearty laugh, with
Agnes somewhat shrill treble mingled
Lady Nevil's thoughts were abruptly
charged. Now she wanted to he oil shore
to Interrupt that tcte-a-tete. She hated.
nothing so much as to see Tom and
Agnes together; it was a certainty that
her cousin was infusing some poisonous
drop into her husbands mind.
LET us land" she said to Dallas; but
he had nn desire to leave his charming
hostess just as they were discussing such
interesting subjects.
"0h, not yet" he implorcd; "don't go
in YET. DO you really want too" And
June, who always felt it difficult to OPP
pose. amy one who asked anything urgent
ly of her, forced IL smile, and said:
II will stay here if you like. 1t is very
pleasant here"
Two or three minutes later her mind
was immensely relieved by hearing
M"Igc's voice join TOMS. and presently
she saw that young lady hanging on
To,a's arm. while Mr.. Carslake and
Agnes walked at some distance behind.
Tic change Of compnnionship had been
brought about in this way: When Dali
las and June betook themselves to the
boat, Madgc and Mr.. Carslakc had made
,!cir way to the avcnuc-thc place par
excellence ut the Hall for lovers and love-
making, the place to which in former
days Tom had always tried to invcigle
June as being private and cut off from
the rest of the company.
Madge had talked way in her usual
bright fashion, and her companion had
listened to her with that sense of pleased.
amusement which he always felt ut her
H,.ips and prnnks. His own disposition
was grave. though the reverse of morbid,
lm:t he had u strong sense of humor and
:, keen sympathy with bright and happy
young people. His greatest drawback to
the enjoyment of their society was his
extreme ditldcnce in himself, his fear
let he should he n lill-joy and spoil
their fun. On Madgc, however, he pro-
duced anything but this effect; his
gravity, lcuvcncd as it was with an evil
dent appreciation of her sallies and high
spirits, rather stimulated than soberci
her love Of fun.
They had begun by laughing. and were
inciining to IL more sentimental mood I'M
der the influence of moonlight, and the
charm OF the evening, when Mr.. Cars
lake, with the very best intentions, made
al singularly unfortunate remark:
What a very sweet woman that sister
of yours isl"
III acted on Madge like n doMcllc of
iced water. The moment before she had
been full OF gayety, slightly tempered by
~ ,nost agreeable sentimentality. for she
was undcniably in love with her COM
ra,,ipn; NOW she was froisscc, piqued, am
mayed. she felt angry indeed with her
FREUD for not having more d%isccrnment.
She stopped short; the color came to
her face. aud she said, with extreme de-
cisini.:
She is not at all n sweet woman, and
, should not have thought you were the
sort of man to be so easily taken ill.,"
MIR. Carslake was nstonishcd: lie was
rather shocked, too, and he looked it.
"Oli, yes" exclaimed Madge. ''you are
Mortified, l see. You think the mere fact
of Il person being ones sister ought to
make one adore her; but l assure you
The theory won't hold water. You are
much more apt to dislike people who be-
long to you than any one else, because
yen are obliged to see SO much of them
and they have such immense opportuni-
ties of a%ggravating you"
The pair were standing face to face,
Mndge talking herself angry. Mr.. Cars
lake preserving his s%candalized express
sion.
Pray. why do you think she is n sweet
w%olnan?" asked the young lady. slightly
raising her voice and looking at him with
rather an aggressive fash in her eyes.
Mr.. Carslakc's face relaxed into a
smile.
We'll, really" he remarked. ''shc
seemed to ne very sweet and kind AMI
anxious to pleasc every one. l caught
some Of her remarks to our host during
dinner, and I confess they gave ME the
idea that she was n very charitable, good
,crson; and then l thought she behaved
go nicely in offering to remain with him
aftrrward and to so and see the child up
stairs"
"That shows. them" rctortcd Madge.
how little any one not behind the scenes
$ able TO judge. She only stopped with
rom and talked about going up to see
little Tom to aggravatc june"
Really" with evident i%ncrcdulity. 81
thought Ludy Nevil seemed quite dis
posed for II tctc-a-tetc with Broke, and
your sister %good-naturedly offered to stay
and am,ise Sir Thomas
"Oh!' exclaimed Madgc, growing still
nnsrier, that is just the delightful way
Agnes has Of giving people wrong I'M
pressions. DO you SUPPOSE with some
vclicmencc. shat June cares two strnws
about Dallas? She is simply wrapped up
in Tom and the child"
Il am sorry l have offended you by
saying what l thought would naturally
please a sister," remarked Mr., Carslake,
graycly.
You have offended me very much" re-
tortcd Madge, with unwonted pctulance.
II thought you had more disccrnmcnt. All
II lives June and l have suffered from
Agnes sweetness which had the delight
full knacS ,ot,making us look in the wrong.
No doubt" a little CULVER coming into her
voice, when .,.ou have seen a little more
of her sweetness, you will come to the
conclusion that am not at al a nice
person."
That I shall not" he answered. and