The Red Cloud chief., 1900-05-11

Immediately after luncheon; 1t Is such
a long drive to Barrystown."
Need ! go?" asks Barbara, looking
bored.
Wy dear, I wish It," Mrs. Saville
says decidedly, and 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 hearthrug
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 jewelled hand
on the arm Of George Bouverie.
You and | will lead the way she
says, with a 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 Saville looks up at
the golden-haired young man at her
side and whispers:
You must not covet forbidden fruit,
Mr.. Bouveric; and | think. for your
own sake. II 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.
II understand you. Mrs. Saville." he
says, in a very low voice; but has not
Barbara a right to choose" There is
a passionate pride in the whispered
words.
Barbara must be kept out of temp
t%ation," Mrs. Saville rejoins as they
enter the dining room.
But George BOuveric's eyes are full
of triumph. for has not Barbara made
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 a
seedy-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
fulness.
The dining table Is large; but the e
is very little on it-an alarming ex-
panse Of tablecloth and O much else.
Sebastian, fixing his eyeglass firmly.
gravely carves a minute portion of n
joint, so small it will hardly go round.
The butler very carefully pours out a
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, and he al feast his eyes on the
beauty of her face; while Sebastian's
u~nfriendly expression affects him not
at all.
Luncheon over, Mrs. Saville makes
an apology for deserving her guest, for
the carriage has been ordered early
hV Nv W DaiiyStoWh 10 iohS'
1T will only be AL revoir," George
says gaily, II promised my mother to
take her to the Barry's affair this ar
ternoon. A chrysanthemum show.
believe"
1t is distinctly annoying. for this
very handsome young man will com
pletely ~monopolize Barbara.
You will be rather late. Mr.. Bou-
verie,' responds Mrs. Saville icily.
'Oh, not at ALL" George says pleas
antly; while, with a nod and smile,
Barbara runs of to dress for the party.
I'll just hop across country and be at
the Grange in half an hour" George
says gaily. Il wouldn't d%isappoint the
mother for the world"
ITO he continued