Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-07-01
CuApTER VI.

thy set off to keep her appointment with
Miss Oakcley, and, their diligent prac-
trc over. several idlcrs dropped in to
lunch. among them Major st. John and
Stanl:sh.
Lunch finished. Dorothy refused a
pressing invitation to drive with Miss
Oakcicy.
We'll. if YOU will not come. pray take
this programme to your sister. and the adj
vertiscment. have just put down what
! want to say: she must polish them up.
l have no turn for grammar! There"
sti'aining her neck to look out OF the win
low. There goes Aunt Callander in state.
l.ady-in-waiting. lnp-dog and all! l know
she is going to inquire for Mabel. and in
spcct her proceedings. Where is Mr.. Egg
er'on to-day? I have seen nothing of
him since, oh! since yesterday"
We'll. you warned us all off the prem
Uses as You wanted M uninterrupted
morning. l was afraid to show myself
even at one o'clock. until Standish gave
me a lead. returned st. John.
We'll, i must run away now! am go
lns to drive over to Beach Hall. l want
to persuade Lady Geraldine to play the
Violin mt my concert, she would be II great
catch. Will you come with me? Do-do,
Dorothy"
II am very sorry. but I cannot, Miss
oakeiey. 1 must go back and support
Mabel"
II will walk across the common with
you.' said %Standish, following her into
the hall.
Eyes. do. please" she returned, feeling
a sense of strength and comfort in his
companlonship. and longing to he able
rpnlIy tn Mann n,,f En,r 1,oor< tn h:v1 20 81
were possible to put her vague uneusiness
into words. Even if she were-but Stand
ish was speaking.
You are quite right to hurry back to
poor Mabel's rescue. She is by no means
equal to encounter her mOtllcr-in-law sin
gle handcd.'
You are right. I don't think she is
rQual to anything" said Dorothy, sad
ly.
"Whnt!." he exclaimed. struck by her
.one. you are not seriously uneasy about
ucr:'
''rhere is no reason I should be. but
Oh! l can't explain my indetinahle anxiety
Il dare say you would laugh ut me if l
could"
Here they were interrupted hy n young
lieutenant of st. Johns regiment, Il warm,
though silent. admircr of Dorothy, who
:cturned with them unaske! under the
Plea of impnrting the project of n regi-
mental hall. for which he hoped Miss
Wynn would hold herself %discngagcd.
They were almost at the gate of the
Knoll before he left them. and they did
lot resume their conversation.
us Mrs. Callander iny" asked Dorothy
If the man who answered the bell.
"No. miss. Mrs. Callander-the Dowa-
ger Mrs. Cnllandcr-callcd before she had
finished ~luncleon-shc and MIR. Egerton
-anl they all went out i'll the carriage
together.
.D:l not my sister drive this morn
mg:"
NO. miss. The mistress went out with
Nurse and the children. MIR. Eserton
:amc hack with her."
"lt is probable she will not he back for
:omc time" said Staniish. LET lis go
DOWN OH the beach. Dcrothy. you look as
+ you. too. wanted to be taken care of.
and the open air will do you more good
,liin sittii. in Il rnom.'
>..vcry well.' and she turne;l from the
house TO 20 through the garden. But
am quite wkcll. only Il little Worn ont with
my practice and w whole hours of Miss
Oakclcy's enthusiasm"
csttl llllstS.l1C We 1IlSl Pi1SsiiS-
hey%"
.Ycs. very high" They walked on ST.
lcntly till they reached the waters edge.
wl,cn Dorothy instinctivcl. turned her
hack OH Il more frcq,cnted part of the
common and exclaimed:
Let us get as far from the madding
crowd as possible"
by all means, especially rs l want IL
title private talk with you."
..po you:" in nn alarmed tone, II hope
not ii scoldim.."
.Do l ever scold you?" reproachfully.
well, no! But just nov l always am
.icipate evil"
'.'rhc terrors of an awakened con-
science. l slppose":
~ think am more imperfect than
wicked" said dorothy, with IL sigh.
Standish laughed.
"Conscience is hard mt work. l see. No,
am not going to scold-why should 1?
You are really Il very good girl. so far
MS | see. am going to c~ross-cxam:nc
you.
.'rhat is bad enough" and Dorothy bent
hcr head, her naturally pathetic little face
locking so sad. that Standish i~nvolun-
tarily drew closer to her.
..You don't Imagine. my dear Dorothy,
that would Willingly distress you! ]
think you can trust me! Now with !,
change of toar-'l'cll me. are You aware
that have received ovcrturrs for IL malr;-
n.onial alliance with my charming ward
from an unrxcrutional %inrti!"
II am" very seriously.
lit seems you have refused Egcrton.
May 1 ask yon the why and wlcreforc:''
II don't like him."
.l.ut WHY urged Stanlish.
II think" began Dorothy. thous.tfully
and slowly. ''tliat Mr.. lIser.on might be-
clarming-perl!aps irresistible if he loved
but somehow or other l feel quite con
WINGED that he does not love mel"
MY dear Dorothy, what an absurd
impression. Why should lie ask you ia
marry him! Why seek you ut all, were
he not strongly attracted? You have no
particular advantage of RINK OF wealth
indeed. Egerton wants nothing Of that
Kind"
yves, it is all very curious. know it
seems absurd to say 80. but I feel quite
sure he does not care a straw for me-"