The Lamar register., 1900-06-06
CHAPTER II.


Mrs. Saville is peculiar lookins
woman. She is seated in the Ion.
drawing room when Barbara enter,
with her two cavaliers, and she greet
George rather celdly. turning immcGi
ately to Barbara.
You are late, dear. You must dress
Immediately after luncheon; It is such
long drive to Barrystown."
Need l go?" asks Barbara, looking
bored
My dear. l wish it," Mrs. Saville
says decidedly, ard turns to George.
How is your dear mother? She looked
but poorly, latterly."
Il think she is all right" George re
plies, standing on the faded hearthruE
in his careless grace
Altogether the Court and its in
mates are gloomy-all except Barbara.
whose clear young voice rings through
the rooms.
Luncheon Is announced. and Mrs Sa
vile rises and puts her jeweIled hand
on the arm OF George Bouyerle.
You and 1 viii lead the way" she
says, with slow. unpleasant smile.
Those two young people like to take
care Of each other
As they pass across the great vault
ed stone hall Mrs Sayille looks up at
The golden-haired young man at her
side and whispers:
You must not coyet forbidden fruit.
Mr.. BOuverie; and ! think. for your
own sake. it would be well not to
come too often to the Court Your
mother knows my wishes for Bar
bara."
The blood surges to the very roots
OF his hair
Il understand you. Mrs. SavilIe." he
says, in very low voice; but has not
Barbara a right TO choose7" There is
n passionate pride in the whispered
words.
Barbara must be kept out of temp
tstion," Mrs. SayiIle reJolns az they
enter the dining room
But George Bouverie's eyes are fun
of triumph. for has not Barbara nlads
her choice already? He flashes a glance
at her as they take their places. and
Barbara's shy. lovely eyes meet his for
a brief second
Everything at the Court Is damp and
mouldy. The great dining room has
the atmosphere of a vault. A very
small FIRE burns in the CRATE. and q
secdy-lookIng butler shambles round
the table with his satellite, a beardless
youth imported from the stables.
breathing hard and walking round on
tiptoe with awful and elaborate care
fulncss.
a sFWn1~ 81 L.
is very little on tan alarming ex-
panse OF tablecloth and not much else
Sebastian. fixing his eyeglass firmly.
grayely caTyes n minute portion off a
joint, so small 1t will hardly go round
The butler very carefully pours out
very minute portion of sherry into
George Bouverie's glass. while the
scared lad from the stables travels la
boriously round with vegetables.
George does not care about luncheon.
so the scantiness OF the repast does not
affect him Barbara is sitting oppo-
site, aud he can feast his eyes on the
beauty of her face: while Sebastian's
unfriendly expression affects him not
at all
Luncheon over. Mrs. Saville makes
an apology lpt AtshI blHb HeT guest, IOE
the carriage has been ordered early,
the drive to Barrystown is long.
1T will only be au revolr," George
says gaily Il promised my mother tc
take her to the Barry's affair this ar
ternoon. A chrysanthemum show, l
believe"
It is distinctly annoying. for this
very handsome young man will com
pleteIy monOpolize Barbara.
You will be rather late. Mr.. Bou-
verie." responds Mrs. SaviIle iciIy.
oh. not at all George says pleas
antly; while, with a nod and smile
Barbara runs off to dress for the party
I'm just hop across country and be a
the Grange In half an hour" Georga
says gaily. Il wouldn't ttIsappoint the
mother for the world"
(To be continuod.D