The Winslow mail., 1900-10-25

Nhen they came down to dinner
Ryder and his brother-in-law were on
the veranda. AS they rose Nigel knew
that he had fallen into trap set for
him by his determined little sister.
"Joe needs no introduction, girls
averred Mrs. Ryder, airily. "But let
me make known my brother, Nigel
Field. Miss Marie Leland" indicating
the taller of the two, and then, turn
ing to the other: miss Lyndith Le-
land"
If Marie was the more beautiful
Lyndith was more fascinating. If
Marie was a vision of loveliness in heI
sea-green silk and emeralds, the small
creature in dusky lace and yellow
roses possessed a peculiar personal
charm. Nigel looked from one to the
other often during the evening and
congratulated himself that he had
not taken the train west, as he as
suredly would have done, had he
known of their intended early ar
rival.
WELL" questioned his sister, quiz
zically, when she met him in the hall
next morning, (which does your royal
highness most profoundly approve ?'
The little one," he answered, posi-
lively. "Yes, I've been thinking them
over. They are both delightful girls
far too lovely to look leniently on
your devoted brother. But the little
one has a certain Observation-Disclosures
ivAness-''
Mrs. Ryder beamed exaggerated ap-
proval upon him.
I'm so glad you think that way,
dear! For Marie-the taller, you
knows engaged to Tom Shuttler."
Young Field bit his fair mustache
savagely.
''Is she? Confound Shuttler!"
Mrs. Ryder suppressed smile with
difficulty.
"Oh, you need not care, as it is
Lyndith you admire. So fortunate!
Come to breakfast"
But it was not Lyndith his eager
glance sought most admiringly dur
ing the weeks that followed.
Hang that presumptuous Shut
tler!" he said to himself daily. ''Why
couldn't he have proposed to the 9th
er one?"
He came to have quite an enmity
for Shutter. He had never seen him,
but the more he thought of him in
connection with Marie Leland the less
he liked him. He imagined him a sui
len, hangdog fellow, of arrogant man.
ners and inferior mentality. And he
-Field-to the satisfaction of Mrs.
Ryder, said nothing at all about go
ing to Colorado. To both girls he was
a gallant cavalier, but it was plain to
the most unobservant that it was the
violet-eyed beauty on whom his heart
was set. And he dared not speak
that was the worst of it. He became
downright Respondent as the day set
for the departure of the girls ap-
preached. And his irritation was in
creased one day on the arrival of the
mail. Lyndith, who had just opened
a letter, glanced archly towards her
elder sister.
"This is from Ada Shutter, Marie.
She says Tom is to pass through Ath-
lane tomorrow, and will stop off for
few hours, SO we may expect call"
Marie, coloring bewitchingly, muir
INJURED a few low words of surprise and
pleasure. Nigel, controlling as best he
could the jealous wrath that consumed
him, stood up, muttered an apology for
leaving so abruptly, assuring them
that the fishing trip on which he was
going could not well be postponed, and
formally bade the ladies adieu.
And when the door had closed behind
the square shoulders and high bald
head of Mrs. Ryder's brother, those
same demure ladies exchanged comical
gIances and broke into soft laughter.
Bright and early the next morning
Nigel started off on the mythical fish
ing trip. His companion found him
singularly morose. Field was telling
himself he had been a fool to run off
at mention of the lover of his adored.
He would go straight back. And that
erratic young man Immediately did, to
the blank disgust of David Letner.
1t was four o'clock when he plunged
into the woods leading to the beautiful
summer home of his sister.
"Hallo!" he gasped suddenly, and
stood still.
For directly ahead of him, walking
slowly, his arm around her waist and
her head on his shoulder, were Lyndith
Leland and a stranger. They were
speaking in low tones. Marveling
good deal what Marie would think if
a,,-,,o - +bo evident ffoo4iOn hetwPen
tha two. he hastened his steps and
Joined them. Lyndith, looking decid-
edly guilty, introduced Mr.. Tom Shut
tier, a handsome, we'll bred, we'll
groomed man, as Nigel was forced in
his heart to acknowledge. The three
went On to the house together. Mrs.
RYDER and Mss Leland came down the
path to meet them. The latter gave
Mr.. Shutter her hand with a smile of
calm fr;endliness.
81 suppose Marie is enchanted at the
prospect of threebours' visit" she
said.
so she is good enough to ret me
hore," he replied, modestly.
Field stared stupidity from one to
the other. Marie! She had called the
little brown one Marie! Mrs. Ryder
burst into a hearty peal Of laughter.
80, you poor, duped boy!" she cried.
You have known Marie as Lyndith
and Lyndith as Marie. We plotted it
the day the girls came.
But began the real Lyndith, grow
ing rose pink under Nigels earnest