The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-07-30
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MRS. FORESTER.

Eyre in society. lie had spoAen ''i1
little: and the result Of his quiet scru-
tiny was that he felt unfelgnedly pleased
with her. She was graceful natural ana
ladylike, and possessed certain frank
ness of manner which could not fail 10
win for her liking and admiration.
One day he called Oh Lady Grace Far
ouhar. She and Winifred were sitting
alone together in the drawing room.
"My dear" he said to Winifred, we
must not be strangers any longer. MY |
other granddaughters are coming to stay |
with me in Hurstshire after the season Is
over, and want Lady Grace to spare
you. You will not Tefuser
81 think you would like to go, dear,
would you not?" Lady Grace said, quick
ly. 49,,
Winifred answered little hesitating-
" in the affirmative. She would rather
not have gone; but she could not bear to
seem stubborn, or as If she bore malice
The London season was over, the park
deserted, the handsome carriages gone
from the streets. Winifred was staying
at Hurst Manor with all her cousins
Flora and Reginald Champion, ana
Laura and Ada Fordyce, Lady Valan-
toms daughters. She had met the two
latter constantly in town, and been on
speaking terms with them; but nothing
more. The elder was rather PLAIN, Dut
aristocratic looking, and very proud. Ada,
the younger, was pretty, good-tempered
and unaffected. She took to Ninlfred at
once, and soon became very fond OF her;
hrt her sister Joined with Flora in be-
ing disdainful and cold to the farmers
daughter. There were two or three young
men, friends of Reginald's, staying in the
house. and Mr.. Maxwell, to whom Miss
Champion was now formally engaged.
IL have news for you, Laura" said
Reginald one day, entering the room IN
which were his sisters and cousins; IN
deed, news for you all. Hastings Is not
going to Norway in his yacht, but Is COM
ing down to the Court, and has invited
several people with him, so we shall all
be enliyened a little, ] hope, in this dull
hole. Lady Dora Amnesty is to play
hostess, so there is sure to be plenty OF
fun"
Some days after Lady Dora Amnesty
arrived at the Court with her husband,
young, good-tempered man, very fond of
her, and not in the least inclined to be
| jealous.
There had been very decided flirta-
ton between Mr.. Hastings and Lady
Dora some years ago, before she was
married or engaged; they sometimes re-
| "a Ia lat
own wayward will in the matter Of COM
ing to stay at the Court and inviting
guests and turning the old house upside
down for private theatricals, and in re-
turn she was very bright and kind to
him and consulted his pleasure in every
possible way.
\ Lady Dora made all her plans and Err
rol carried them out. He called on Mrs
Champion, gave her some hints about the
tableaus and a desire for her co-opera-
tion. She responded Immediately by
calling on Lady Dora, and two days af-
terward Dora appeared at Hurst Manor.
The ladies, especially the young ones,
were charmed with her, she was so
bright, so fascinating.
There were a great many calls, conver-
sations, hints, proposals and suggestions,
and finally everything was arranged pre-
cisely as the mistress of the ceremonies
had intended it should be. Then, OF
course, there were rehearsals at the
Court: lunches, dinner parties, all man
ner of pretexts for getting the young
people together to perfect their parts.
Scenery and dresses came down from
London Mr.. Hastings spared neither
trouble nor expense, and the Court ball.
room was transformed into an elegant
theater, All the country round was in
vited there were to be two hundred
guests
Winifred's heart beat fast for the first
time she visited HAZEL Court She re
membered how in the olden days thai
stately gray mansion into which she hat
never hoped to enter had been invested
in her childlike dreams with all the 70
nance which she had read of or fancied
Afterward it had been dearer still as thu
! home of the man who had been to he
hero, a demigod. The time came to hel
. when she had been the simple farmer
t daughter, so prond, so happy to be no
. ticed by the handsome master OF Hazel
Court. How her heart had sunk within
her as she saw him paying court to tn,
| beautiful, aristocratic women who seem
r ed then so far above her; and how littl
D she had dreamed of the advent of tim
when she should be more honored, NOR
= longed-for guest than they?
r Mr.. Hastings came out to meet the par
t ty of ladies who had ridden over to tn
5 Court. He went up to Winifred first
: and took her in his strong arms and lifte,
J, her from the saddle.
e "Welcomew he whispered; "this is
I time have often longed for"
+ One day she had ridden over to tn
, Court to rehearse with Lady Dora. Nj
D Hastings came in from drive and foun
+ his cousin alone in the morning room.
t pray, don't come in, Errol," she e1
J. claimed; II must not be interrupted, Q
Winifred will be ready first"
a "Is Miss Eyre here, thenY' lie asked.
A "Yes-in the picture gallery, I thinl
v She said she could study her part be;
. there"
n Mr.. Hastings left the room and turne
). his steps in the direction Of the pictuI
= gallery 1t was an intensely hot afte
q noon, and all the doors were thrown wild
open. He looked into the long, uncarpe
q ed room, and saw there a new pictul
N in a new frame. He stood and gaZed I
= 1t longer and with deeper feelings than
A had ever gazed at any other pictul
D. there; il was the only one that was M
his-it was the only one he cared for
r desired ardently.- Framed In the dan
oak Of the window setting was hth
a, graceful figure. half reclined, and fai
re upturned face. Enrol half feared to bres
lie the spell that be stood watching. Pre-
el emily impatience overeame the fascin
g. ton. He went toward her, and the moi
N Of his footsteps aroused her.
O. "Were you studying or thinking, Mi
h EyreY he asked.
to II hardly know, Mr.. Hastings. Thin
Se ing. perhaps"
v "It is too warm to study or think, cit
er. Have you ever seen the HAZEL pc
er trait galleryT
Of "Never."
n "Should you like to see lit"
uT shanld fndaad