The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-08


hearts. Denzil drew his breath quick
ly.
"Good-by," he murmured, despair
1ngly, and, turning away, abruptly,
passed rapidly out of her sight.
When all the people at Kings Abb
bott 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
day or two in the course of the fol-
lowing week.
We ought to get up party and go
to the lake tomorrow" suggested Ed
die, during 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, inno-
Gently, apropos of nothing, and with
out lifting his eyes from the cream
on which he was seemingly intent;
whereupon Miss Sylverton blushed
furiously, and declined any further in
vestigation of the subject.
Finally, however-chiefly through
the fundamentally of Mildred-the
expedition was arranged to take place
on the Tuesday following, so that
Frances, in her inmost 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 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 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 cit" she started
bravely enough on the slippery prone
made. At one end there rose 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
them, he perceived Lord Lyndon, at
distance, leisurely, but surely, making
for the forbidden spot; and, as he saw
this, an almost savage desire to see
this man, who had robbed him Of his
all, Inundated before the eyes Of his
betrothed, took possession of him.
A minute later, however, and-hav-
ing deposited Mabel on the bank-he
was skating hurriedly toward his I'M
suspecting lordship.
Lyndon!" he shouted, when still
some way from him, and shortly after
ward laid his hand upon his arm.
"Hullo!" exclaimed Lyndon, trying
to keep his balance, and succeeding
with much difficulty. "What is the
matter? You have nearly thrown me!
Anything wrong, eh?'
Don't you see where you are go
ing?" cried Denzil. angrily and ungra-
ciously, being considerably out of
breath and temper. "Have you no
eyes? Unless you want to be drowned,
or, at all events, wet to the skin, you
will get away from this place. Can't
you see it marked 'Dangerous'?"
"Never saw it until this very mo-
ment, give you my honor" said Lyn-
don, solemnly gazing at the warning