Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-08-09

joined Denzil, slowly. Many time
since have recollected my words and
felt how brutal they must have sound
ed. But surely you will forgive me
now-at this moment when am learn
ing for the first time how miserable
and bare and cold place this world
is. Let me bid goodby to all my hope
with the certainty that at least you
bear me no ill-wil."
He held out his hand as he spoke
and took hers. Mildred's voice failed
her, but she managed to whisper
family:
Give me your forgiveness also"
eff you think it necessary" he said,
"you have it; but / can remember no
wrong you ever did me-"
They were standing with hands
clasped and eyes reading each others
hearts. Denzil drew his breath quick
ly.
sGood-by,' he murmured, despair
ingly, and, turning away, abruptly,
passed rapidly out of her sight.
When all the people at Kings Abb
bolt met to dine Denzil was among
them, and very welcome he found him
self. Charlie alone of all the family
was absent; but even he had written
word to say he would be with them for
a day or two in the course of the fol-
lowing week. s
I'VE ought to get up party and go
to the lake tomorrow" suggested Ed
die, during a pause in the conversation.
Lyndon, who was also dining with
them, and who generally agreed with
everybody, said he thought it was a
capital plan," and appealed to Miss
Trevanion, who sat beside him. She
thought she had lost her skates or mis-
placed them, or something; but Fran
ces Sylverton overruled all such oppo-
sition by declaring that she had sever
al pairs to lend, and that day on the
ice would be delicious.
But perhaps it will be hardly safe
enough this week. she added, some
what anxiously Shall we wait until
Tuesday next?"
Charlie said he would be down on
Monday night put in Eddie, lnno-
Gently, apropos OF nothing, and with
out lifting his eyes from the cream
on which he was seemingly intent;
whereupon Miss Sylverton blushed
furiously, ard declined any further in
vestigation Of the subject.
Finally, however-chiefly through
the instrumentality of Mildred-the
expedition was arranged to take place
on the Tuesday following, SO that
Frances, in her Utmost heart, was sat
isfied.
In process of time the day arrived
as also did Charlie the night before,
very much to the satisfaction of every.
body concerned in the excursion-and,
after a considerable amount of harm
less and utterly unavoidable squab-
bling, the party-which had become
rather large one, in consequence OF
numerous invitations issued later on
divided into twos and threes, as cir
cumstances or inclinations dictated
Lady Caroline, Mrs. Deverill, and one
other married lady occupying the first
open carriage; while Charlie, Miss Syl-
verton, Jane Deverill, and Captain
Harvey took possession of the second.
Mabel, seeing Denzil looking slightly
detected, with her usual sweetness had
entreated him in the prettiest manner
to drive her in the dog cart; and Ed
die, who, at this period was hopelessly
and finally in love-for about the fif-
teenth time-with an extremely pretty,
but decidedly idiotic little girl, stay
ing with the Deverills, had managed
to vanish in some mysterious way, in
company with others, similarity heart
bound; while Mildred, whom nobody
seemed to want, and with whom none
of the opposite sex in these days at
tempted to interfere, fell to Lord Lyn-
don's lot. ..
When fairly started the skaters made
as picturesque a group as any eye
could wish to rest on, the girls, in
their soft, luxurious furs and brilliant
satin petticoats, striking out oddly on
the CLASSY surface Of the lake. Frances
and Mildred were accomplished skat-
ers, Mabel was not quite SO good; still
the latter could hold her own and GER
tainly beside the Deverill girls-who
were generally clumsy-looked every
thing that could be desired
"You will help me, Mr.. Younge," she
had whispered to Denzil, as he assisted
her down from the dog-cart.
So when he had fastened her skates
and pronounced her fit she started
bravely enough on the slippery prone
made. At one end there rose a post
marked Dangerous" of which as
usual those whom it should have warn
ed remained profoundly ignorant. Den
iii alone had observed it; others, if
they observed, attached little import
ance to it.
Miss Trevanion and Frances Sylver-
ton, with merry, gay laughter that
rang through the crisp air, were trying
to Guido each other in grace and agil-
ity, Frances decidedly having the best
of it, she being one of those girls who
do anything they set their hearts on
better than anybody else"
AS Denzil turned from watching
y