Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-04-05
A PRETTY - -
- ~ COMPAN
BY Louise bedford.

like Captain Merivale was intellect
ually invigorating.
They were racing along the broad
road that stretched like white line
for miles along the top of the cliffs
when Jenetta began to sacken speed.
Tired at last?" cried Harry, with a
triumphant laugh. 81 thought l would
just let you have your fling. You
must be magnificently strong to keep
up a pace like that"
II am not tired now" retorted ia
Meta, with shining eyes and flushed
cheeks. II could go on for miles and
miles, but Miss Seymour will be glad
to see us back"
do you know why l brought you
this way?" asked Harry, with a sud-
den change of Tone I'VE are close to
the very spot where Carice was
thrown over the cliff on to that pro-
jecting ledge of rock that you can see
If you get off your bicycle for min
ute."
Janetta jumped off, went to the edge
Of the cliff, and peeped over, with
shuddering interest. Il wonde, she
was picked up alive! Were you with
| herr"
"Yes," replied Harry shortly. ut
was hard lines on us both, wasn't it?
We had been engaged Just month"
Shes getting better, isn't she?"
II do not know. Sometimes
think
Harry came to an abrupt pause, and
| Janetta did not ask him to finish his
| sentence.
They pursued their way home at a
more sober pace, and Janetta felt the
brightness of the day, had departed
with the relation of that sad little
| story.
They found Clarice on her couch in
the drawing room, every vestige Of ILL
temper gone, looking her best and
brightest arrayed in new gown of
soft texture and bewitching hue.
Yes, hope you are going to say
something nice to me-" she said, with
an arch smile at her lover. Il had it
made as a glad surprise, and came
! down partly to crafty my own vanity,
and more to annoy Doctor Drake, who
told me to stay upstairs this evening
Instead, I've invited him to dinner and
put on new frock.'
II care little for the motives that
brought you down, as long as find you
looking SO happy and pretty, if may
| give expression to TRUTH" said Harry,
sitting down by her sofa. Mrs. Nor
timer, will you be kind enough to
give us some tea? We are hungry
and thirsty after our ride
Mrs. Mortimer looked more glum
than usual. She had employed her at
ternoon in lecturing Clarice upon the
improperly of sending out Janetta
with Captain Merivale, and Clarice had
answered her remcnstrance with
merry, derisive laughter.
I'm not afraid to trust them
Harry is going to marry me; but if
you feel like that, dear Mrs. Mortimer,
take a tricycle. and follow after them, -
she had remarked, little fippantly.
| IL udl Ill SOAllCo VI 1I--
mo harm will come" interposed
Clarice, a little sharply. "Janetta is
the soul of honor, and Of Harry there
! is no need to speak"
"You have known her for a week.
said Mrs. Mortimer.
And she is as easy to read as a
| book" Clarice had said. And there
the subject dropped.
I'll tell you secret, Harry said
| Clarice, when they were left alone for
for half an hours chat before din
ner. 1--WE ordered new dress for
Janetta-an evening dress-such a
pretty one, and it's on her bed ready
for her to put on tonight want her
to look her best. She knows nothing
about it,
will she wear it, do you think?'
asked Harry, little doubtfully.
II shall be furious if she doesn't.
1 want Doctor Drake to take fancy
to her"
80 that's it, is it-you are turning
into a matchmaker? A dangerous
game, Clarice l advise you to drop it.
To C!arice's intense modification
Janetta, who did not come down until
the dinner gong sounded, appeared in
the simple black dress that she wore
every night. Neither did she and Doc
tor Drake seem to find interests in
common; for although he took her in
to dinner, and talked to her as in
courtesy bound, when he came into
the drawing room afterwards he seated
himself by Clarice's sofa, and devoted
himself to her for the rest Of the even
ing.
CHAPTER V.
"Janetta, I'm going to call you by
your Christian name and you can call