Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-06-07
CHAPTER v.-lContinned.l


ooh, Esmew exclaimed her sister, IN
rhoked voice, 'you will be the death of
me. After your saying you would only
bow to him. after hearing that he was so
deadly. shy. Oh---oh-ohw holding her
sides, and rocking herself backward and
forward in absolute convulsions Of laugh
ter. while the unlucky heroine of this, to
Gussie, killing adventure, stood in the
middle Of the room, a tall, tragic-looking
figure. and surveyed her with stony-eyed
resentment
'And-and-what am I to say?" painted
Gussie, recovering her breath at last and
drying her eyes as she spoke. How is
your absence to be accounted for, pray?
Am to tell Mrs B. that having already
embraced"
Say" with an indignant gesture, paus-
ing in her walk-'say that 1 am extreme
ly i'll; and so 1 am, in mind
''If l give her that message she will
Immediately send for DR.. Goggin, and
your last state will be worse than your
first"
Then say anything you like" irritably.
"Say that I'm not going down; no, not
if she came and carried me herself. In
deed, Gussie, you must think of some ex-
cuse. You know very WE'LL" stammering
with excitement, that you yourself
would not go into public after such
frightful disgrace; and think" now re-
commencing to cry, that l shall never
be able to look anyone in the face again"
did he recognize you, do you think?
Did he return your embrace with equal
ardor?"
Not he; he rather held back, which
naturally surprised me. He was too much
astOniShed to speak, and l never gave
him time to open his mouth. l was so
sure and certain it was Teddy; only, if
l had not been an idiot, l might have re-
membered that Ted would be in uniform;
but l never gave myself time to think,
and just sprang on him like tigress."
And did he see your face|
I'm not sure" slowly. Il think not.
l need scarcely tell you that one glance
was enough for me, and l ran. believe
you are enjoying the whole thing, and
thinking it splendid joke" said she, an
grily; 'and it's very unfeeling of you.
You may tell NOkes to send me a cup Of
tea. I'm going straight to bed. And
now be sure and give a proper, probable
account of my illness. Impress upon them
that it will be tedious. l have it-a bad
headache. l know Pm going to have
one, " running after her sister to the head
of the stairs, and gesticulating eagerly
over the balusters. BE sure you say
headache, and remember that I'm very
bad" To all this Gussie nodded a con-
tidential, smiling acquiescence, as she
tripped hurriedly downstairs.
Where is Esme" demanded Mrs Bra
bacon, in tone of sharp surprise, as her
eldest stepdaughter entered the drawing
room alone.
She is not feeling very well, Mrs. Bra
bacon, and begs you will excuse her,
returned Gussie, avoiding, as she spoke,
three pairs of inquisitive eyes.
'Esme ill-rubbishr' calculated Flo
rian. Il saw her in the avenue an hour
ago" Brothers are sometimes brutal.
''She won't be able to come down to
dinner" protested Gussie. 'She has a
bad tOothache-no, l mean to say a split
ting headache becoming very red, and
foundering about in a sea of vague ex-
cuses, while her neither and brother vol
lied exclamations and cross-questioned, |
and Miles sat by, pulling Waggy's ears,
with a command of countenance that
would have reflected credit on a North |
American Indian.