Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-04-03
CHAPTER XIV.

Tom received his wife with extreme
coldness on her return. He scarcely
spoke during dinner, and, when it was
| over, went away to his own room. He
did not mention Dallas name, or make
any inquiry about his departure. June
was perfectly conscious of these signs of
| displeasure, but sort Of apathy had
stolen over her; it seemed as If nothing
mattered very much. In few days, per-
haps, she would feel differently, and then
she would set to work to propitiate her
husband.
In reality Tom felt himself deeply ag-
grieved. 1t took long time to get an
idea into mis- head, but once it was there,
a still longer time was needed to dislodge
it. Why should June have wanted to go
to London to bid Dallas good-by again,
unless she took much greater interest
in him than she had any right to? AS
for him, of course, he had been at his
Internal tricks again; and Tom ground his
teeth. Oh, how mistaken, how mistaken
he had been in June. ,
Well, he must put up with it now, he
supposed; anyhow, the boy was left to
him, and they two would be all in all to
each other, please God! There would be
no one to come between them for the next
twenty years or so, at all events.
Day followed day, and still that apathy
was in June's veins. She who was wont
to be so active sat listless and idle and
took scant interest in anything.
At last the papers recorded the arrival
Of the Guards at Alexandria, and, after
that, June looked every day eagerly for
news. She was not, as rule, given to
reading the papers, but now, the moment
they came, she seized upon them eagerly.
This also Tom remarked with displeasure.
Her husbands altered demeanor was by
no means lost on June; she began to feel
that their estrangement was a serious
thing.
Agnes, who came occasionally to the
Hall, had every opportunity Of seeing the
estrangement between husband and wife;
indeed, June took special occasion to be
captious and frigid to Tom in the presence
of that sainted creature.
When Madge returned from a visit she
had paid to Mr.. Carslake's sister she ex-
perlenced a sense Of CONSERVATION at see
ing the state of affairs.
"Juny, darling" she exclaimed, "what
on earth is the matter with you and Tom
This sort of thing will never do. You
are more like two strange cats than the
two devoted people you used to be-"
"Oh," returned June, bitterly, "that Is
the way with married people. You and
your Mr.. Carslake will be just the same
. in a few years time"
"Never!' cried Madge, with immense
emphasis.
"He will tire of you," said June. 81
don't believe men have any affection. Al
all events, it does not last"
. "Juny," uttered Madge, wistfu)ly, "dc
you know, 1 don't think it can be al
Toms fault? think you must have done
! something to change him."
"What have done?" flashed out June
"You will be angry, I'm afraid, If I tel
you what 1 think" said Madge, slightly
, embarrassed.
June looked at her expectantly.
'I think" faltered Madge, 81 know 1t |,
, absurd, but do think Tom is jealous o.
: Dallas"
Then Lady Nevil fulfilled Madge's pre-
diction by evinciDg great anger at sucl
an utterly ridiculous and unwarrantabl'
; assertion, and Madge was compelled to ca
her words and express the sincerest con
triton for having suggested anything 81
impossibly and wickedly absurd. Madg
was so extremely happy herself about thi
!. time that she had little or no leisure il
which to occupy herself with her cousin
=, concerns. Mr.. Carslake was at the rec
:, tory, and was to spend week at the Hal
later.
!. The marriage was fixed for the middl
4 of September. Sir Thomas and Lad
!, Nevil were to go to their place. in tn
!, North the second week in October. Their
had been no visitors ut the Hall this sum
:, mer. June had felt scant inclination t
play the part of hostess, and Tom wa
never very keen about having guests i
i. the house. Mrs. Ellesmere was at Hon
burg. and had been there ever since the
gave no the house in Grosvenor street
. Mrs. Trevanion was the only person VIII
;, had been bidden. She, however, had 9th
er engagements, but promised to come 70
!, Madges wedding and to stay fortnigh
- after IL. To this visit June looked fol
A. ward amazingly.
, Madge was far too much occupied wit
- her own affairs to continue her syster
- of espionage over her sister, and Jun
i, had grown not to care-only to feel Sol
:, of contemptuous indifference. IF
= amuses them to be together and to abus
~ me, let them! What does 1t matter"
Her soul was harassed by what she rea
n in the papers-the hardships the troor
a. were enduring, the privations, the heat.
=. (To be continued.)