Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-06-09
His First Love.
l3y PAUL INGELOw.


"They are at home at any rate" said
Mr.. Dallas, dryly. 1T Is a delightful
thing to have ones family so constituted
that the very air Is filled with IL, and you
are conscious Of its presence from afar.
don't know that such an experience ever
suggested itself to me before. II the
eleven were ones own property. now, one
might imagine the thrill of fine emo
tom"
shut up!" exclaimed Godfrey. quickly.
"Thcrc Is the vicar"
And as he spoke they came suddenly
in sight of Mr.. Bercsford approaching
them from the lawn, accompanied By two
small maidcns, the little damscls Maude
and Violet.
II am glad you have found your way
back again, Mr.. Helstone. We were just
talking Of you," he said. "And you have
brought your friend along with you,
evening to you both. How goes the fish
ing. sir? I'd like to have taken a look
at you this morning, but It would have
been against my conscience. ! never fish
Oh Fridays. Not for the reason you are
thinking, SIR" and the vicar turned his
quick eye suddenly on Mr.. Dallas, 'but
because of my sermon. make a rule to
write my sermon on Friday always"
And a very excellent rule 1t Is, I have
no doubt" replied Mr.. Dallas--"except
for Its result In keeping you from an.
other occupation that seems rather pecu-
harly suited to the day--l mean, from a
religious point Of view."
"Ah, you're a wag, sir. are your" said
the vicar. And then he looked the young
man over with a smile about the corners
Of his handsome mouth. "You see con-
nection between fishing and fasting. do
you? Unfortunately, though, ! don't
fast"
They went forward to the lawn, and
then there were other greetings to be
made. Mrs. Beresford, seated on a gar.
den bench, and knitting stockings. gave
her hand to the young men and briefly
mnde them welcome; pretty Lillian, In a
white gown, also offered her hand to God.
frey, and smiled upon his friend, and
Edith came up with frank smile and an
immediate address.
"Now, you will play croquet tonight.
won't your" she said to Mr.. Helstone. II
want you TO help me beat Lillian, you
know. Will you he on my side?-and
Lillian and Mr.. Dallas can 70 together"
Godfrey submitted to his fate, and they
were soon busy with their game. To tell
the truth, he would rather have played II
with jeanne than Edith, but jeanne, ~
It happened, was rs yet not to be seen.
Mr.. Dallas was evidently getting on
admirably with Miss Beresford. Her
face was wrcathed In smiles; her eyes,
o. they talked together, were alternately
dropped and lifted to his face; he was
flirting with her In the easiest and pleas.
ATTEST way, and. after his usual fashion,
| enjoying himself Godfrey rather envi.
ously thought. For somehow, though
Edith was bright and cOnversable enough,
Godfrey considered that his own position,
| with no one but her for his companion,
might very undoubtedly be improved.
When the game was over he looked
about him. The vicar had gone indoors:
Mrs. Beresford was still knitting steadily
on one corner OF the lawn three OF the
boys were playing lcap.frog. Godfrey
turn( 4 away, and began to stroll along
| one Of the walks; and then suddenly his
eye fell on some one coming up the ave.
nue., and, with feeling OF unquest liz mi BILE
pleasure, he perceived that II was jeanne,
He greeted her almost with warmth,
u
exclaimed.
"Why. was It so unlikely that I should
be QUIT" she answered with a look OF
amusement. "Oh, l am often out. l
, have been down just now with my eous.
ms"
with your cousins?" echoed Godfrey,
Have you cousins herein the village p
"Oh. yes. six Of Them" replied Joanne.
laughing.
"And are they Beresfords, too?'
| Eyes, they are all Beresfords. They
are the children of papa's brother" said
jeanne. "He died few years ago. aud
then Mrs. BeresfOrd came here that she
might be near Us"
"rhat was natural. certainly" said
Godfrey. But 1t rather amuses one to
| find so many Of you altogether. ! sup.
seventeen Of y0u-here ON the lawn to.
getherY"
swell, sometimes" replied jeanne,
'but It doesn't happen very often. Two
OF my cousins are not living here. They
only come down In holiday time. They
live In London"
"What. are they at school?" asked
Godfrey.
| NO, uO, shu JOuuue, tuey are kToWu
up. One IL twenty.six; he IL an architect
and the other Is going to he doctor. The
other four are girls" said jeanne. "They
are very nice. ] should like you to see
them" 80
II have no doubt ] should like It. too. y
replied Mr.. HelstOne.
Zone Of them Is very pretty" said 10
anne. "SOme people say, almost as pref
~ as Lillian. But ! hardly think that
for my own part"
lyon admire your sister very much
then?" inquired Godfrey, with rather az
impulse Of curiosity.
admire lillian?" exclaimed jeanne
She lifted up her bright eyes with sur
prised look to her companion. II think
everybody admires her." she said. And
then her expression asked so clearly. "Dc
not you" that Godfrey answered thu
unspoken question with a laugh.
"Oh, ] do, OF course" he said. II think
she In beautiful"