The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-10

| party. Sure that her fathers inquiries
about her English lover would GER
| tainly rebound to the credit of that
scion of a noble house, her spirits We're
| Of the gayest, and she was the leader
| in all the enioyments of the hour. Poor
| Mr.. Brown, who had regularly laid
| himself and all that he possessed at
: her feet every summer since she was
sixteen. was more infatuated than
ever. and sent to Richmond post haste
| for two new suits of clothes, although
| before her advent he had decided that
his wardrobe was ample to meet all
| contingencies. Charles Maynard. the
collegian son of the host, fascinated
I by hcr wit and beauty, gragely con-
| sidered whether "a man might not as
| well commit himself and be done with
it. year or two makes very little
difference thought the love-stricken
youth, especially when the man is
mature" In reality he was seventeen
and she twenty-one.
The week was drawing to close
and preparations were in train to end
the successful festivities with dance.
| There was tn be tent on the lawn
| for refreshments, moonlight, Chimes,
lanterns. a band from town. and all
the rest of these delightful items which
make up summer country ball.
| Louise was one of a sailing party on
the day before the ball. when. just as
the boat approached the landing. n
rowboat glided into the bushes on a
low bank a little way up the river.
| Charlie MAYNARD and Louise saw 1t
| at the same instant.
| "Who can that be-" said he: there
is no landing there. Looks as though
| he We're sneakng."
Louise felt herself blush, but every
one was gazing at tire point where the
boat had disappeared and no one no.
ticed here. In that glimpse she had
recognized Hon. Mr.. Ainslie.
What could il mean What had
brought him here" Her Eeart beat
fast and her blush gave place to pal
lor
Charlie kept sharp lookout. but no
more was seen of the mysterious boat
man, and though ne threatened to ex-
plore the bank where the boat ha,i
been seen. 1t was SO warm and so near
lunch time that he gave it UP, especial
ly as Miss Louise looked pale and re.
| quired his arm to assist her steps to
the house.
Just before dinner one of the maids
with an air Of great mystery, gave
Louise a note.
1t was, of course from Ainslie, i'm.
ploring her to meet MIN In the grounds
at a certain secluded spot. During the
evening Louise thought of her father
and her promise. No she would not
go: certainly she would not-and yet
something must have happened. Per-
haps she might see him Cor a moment
and confess 1t to her father when she
returned home. She could not decide,
but when the moonlight tempted tho
whole party out on the lawn It was an
easy thing to slip away and be lost
among the shadows
Ainslie was Overpowered with graft
tude at her condescension. He had
been recalled to England by urgent
kilograms from his father. who feared
that his son might not arrive in time
to see his mother alive. He must sail
on the steamer leaving New York the
next day but one. Would Louise go
with him as his wife, to be loved and
cherished as no wife ever was before?
He had perfected every arrangemtn
He could not bear to leave her. He
was, he kenw impulsive and impatient
but 1t was his great love that moved
him. Her fathers consent was, he
urged, as good as given. or course
the answers to those INJURIES would ar
rive almost as soon as they left New
York. He would cable. They would
write an explain. That would be all
right.
His eager words flowed on like a
torrent. He paused, almost out Of
breath.
but why" said Louise, bewildered