Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-08-16
CHAPTER XYV.-(Continued. J

"Can't my dear f3llow; don't you see
now engaged ann" answered Eddie,
,casting an expressive glance at Silvia
Lis,e. who blushed and simpered, and
lowered her white lids in acknowledge
ment in the most bewildering manner
..Denzil, you are doing nothing-go
and succor the lost damsel, and re-
store her to the bosom of her bereaved
family
Eyes, do go, and explain things to
her Younge,' implored the unsuspect-
ing Lyndon, ''and just say how it was
was put in for my cousin. 1t is an
awful bore confded his lordship in a
heartbroken whisper, "but what can a
man do when girl comes crying to-
him about some miserable boys stu
nd;ty? You bring Mildred home
safely, there's a good fellow; remem-
her, leave her to you;" and, without
waiting for reply, Lyndon hustled
off, greatly to his cousins relief, who
dreaded lest some inopportune chance
should again consign her to young
Summerton's care.
Both Lady Caroline and Mabel, who
alone there knew his secret, had gone
long since, so Denzil was left with no
one to assist him in this hour OF per-
plexity--with no one to aid him in es-
GAPING the tete-a-tete drive that appar-
emily lay before him. Ever since his
arrival at Kings Abbott he and Mil
dred had scarcely spoken to each other
had shown, indeed, a mutual, though
unspoken determination to avoid each
other in every possible way.
Then came the thought that She
moving nothing of the circumstances
would perhaps imagine that he had
connived at this arrangement, and had
made the most Of the opportunity Of
fered to gain undisputed possession Of
her society for the long homeward
drive.
Mildred was in a sadder plight than
Denzil dreamed. Having wandered
rather farther than she had had any
intention Of doing on first setting out,
and discovering that wood in Jan
uary is by no means the same thing
that it is in July, she began to retrace
her steps with the design of return
ing home with her mother. Dreading
that she might be late, and feeling
besides intensely cold she commenced
to run, and as she ran her foot came
upon a frozen pool, slipping upon
which she came heavily to the ground.
Raising herself up again directly and
thinking nothing of it she hurried on
once more, but presently an intense
pain in her foot startled her, which in
a few minutes increased to such a de-
self on the trunk Of a fallen tree and
herself disabled, consider
how best to acquaint her friends with
her mishap.
Fully half an hour passed thus, and
she was almost upon the verge of de-
spair, when footsteps coming hurriedly
toward her from a side direction
reused her, and raising her eyes, she
beheld Denzil. She blushed crimson.
What has brought him." she Won
dered. "Surely Lyndon
AT last have found YOU said Den
I'll in his coolest tone, and as though
he were politely bored at having been
come to tell you that the others are
all gone"
"Gone!' echoed Mildred, with as
constituent. '"Then where is Lord
Lyndon?''
His cousin, Miss Deverill, was so
nervous that she insisted on his driv-
Ing her home, so he commissioned me
to find you, and bear you his apollo
gies," returned Denzil, repeating his
lesson with prompt decision.
II do not understand his treating
me in such manner" said Miss Ire
vanion, very pale and proud; "and
where were Eddie and Charlie?"
''They also were fully occupied"
Denzil said bitterly; but your sister,
preferring to return home with Lady
Caroline, unfortunately left me free"
Mildred bit her lip.
II regret very much that you should
have given yourself this trouble" she
come" ..... ..s.. -" --..
"And so am L." returned Denzil,
"but it is not my do
ing. l beg you to believe, Miss Ire
vanion that if could have avoided it
would have done So" Then, seeing
she made no attempt to move, he
added, Had you better not come? It
ls getting very late"
She made no answer, but, putting
her hand against the side of the tree,
raised herself to standing position.
AS the injured foot, however, Was
brought more firmly to the ground a
spasm of pain contracted her face.
What is the matter? Have you
hurt yourself?" he asked, in a soHe-
what softer tone.
II have strained my foot in some
awkward way-it is nothing" she an
swered. a.
Perhaps you had better take my
L