The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-06-18
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
All Lady Grace FarQuhar's guests had
arrived, save one That one was Wini-
fred Eyre. On the morning Of the day
on which she and her cousin were to have
appeared at Endon Vale, letter came
to Lady Grace, saying that Madame de
Montolieu was seriously Ill with an at
tack Of bronchitis, and that until she
was sufficiently recovered Winifred could
not leave her.
Miss Champion, Of course, arrived all
the same, and, II the truth must be told,
she was very well satisfied with What |
had occurred. The idea Of driving over
to Endon Vale with her cousin had been
most distastsful to her; and now that she
was relieved from that unpleasant neces-
sity she was radiant, and, as her broth
er, who accompanied her, remarked, In
most unusually good temper.
The greater part of Lady Grace Far
quhars guests were strangers to her.
Those she knew were Lord Harold Ers-
kins, Miss Alton, the Honorable Evelyn
Van and his sister. As the reader will
pass some time in the company Of the
visitors at Endon Vale, 1t may not be
superhuous to enter into a few particu-
lars concerning them. Lord Harold Frs
kline has already been mentioned; so we
will begin with Mr.. Francis Clayton,
who from his cousinship to the host
claims priority Of mention.
| Francis Clayton was man who would
have completely baffied the researches of
those estimable people who persistently
find good in everyone. There was not an
amiable trait In his character, nor kind
action of his on record; and yet he passed
muster In society, because he possessed
a certain degree Of manner, and because
his income was a very large one. He was
not man to charm women, and yet there
was many q one who would have been
content to ignore his evil qualities and
take him for the sake Of his rent roll.
Francis Clayton was 81, and 1t was his
boast that he had never made any woman
an offer of marriage.
Miss Alton had been at Endon Vale
some days, and was great favorite with
everyone In the house. Her aunt, Lady
Marion, was in Ireland, and as she was
not particularly attached to her prim old
grandfather and grandmother, whom her
aunt visited annually, she had been very
glad to accept Lady Grace's invitation to
spend q month with her. Marion, or
Fee Alton, as her fond aunt had chris
tened her, was the prettiest, sprightiest
, little coquet In the world. Her mother
/, , and Lady Marion were twin sisters, and
the former having formed an attachment
. E.1 II anfo In In ~
, whom her father would not hear Of ran
: off with him, and subsequently accom-
panied him to India with his regiment,
where she died. Two years after, her
l. handsome young husband caught a fever
which carried him of In less than O week
J and then their two children were sent to
| England. The elder, boy, died on tbs
: passage home, and the little girl was
y received with open arms by her aunt al
a precious charge from her dearly below
ed sister.
Lady Marion was by this time married
/ to a baronet Of considerable wealth, bu
9 she had no children; and when Sir Mar
IS maduke Alton died, ten years after thei
g marriage, the title went to a youngel
a brother. He was, however, able to leav,
lr her a handsome income for her life, ant
Lady Marion Alton lived In very goot
% style. She was devoted to her niece, VIII,
)t she insisted should take her name; ani
7, to prevent any inconvenience from thei
II both having the same Christian nam
3 Lady Marion rechristened her pretty lit
'r tie niece Fee, and a very appropriate
1t name 1t was.
to At the time we write Fee Alton wa
1t 18, and Just through her 6rst season. Sh
IL was small, but perfectly symmetrical;
D. was only envy that prompted people t
say sometimes she was nothing but a
in animated wax doll. Everyone admire
,e and liked her, and she liked everyone i
"A return, She was the life and soul Of
ar party, with her quick wit and keen sens
M OF the ridiculous, and II she was 8 littl
N malicious sometimes It was impossible t
+. be angry with her, she was always g
as eager to atone for it.
n As oppositeI frequently attract eac
Nv other, she was at the present time engal
M cd In q desperate Irritation with Co
a Ivers d'Aguilar, a tall, dark, melanchol
Mt looking man (albeit decidedly handsome
who was very much In love with her. II
". QhQ Decu all through lue AuuAhh W AZ az
ar. on his return to England. looking veI
ON thin and worn, he was made quite hel
Of by all the women, and looked his pa
nd extremely well.
ew suppose that II two men from the o.
nj poslts poles had been brought togeth
sal under one roof, they could not have di
In fersd more essentially than Col. dAgu
ne lar and Mr.. Clayton. One was genero'
ch in heart and mind, chivalrous to wome
lrrssoluts, difident In himself, and wi
os- the courage OF q lion; the othsr-well, '
Sc. already know what Francis Clayton wa
ste And Jet these two men had something
IRE common-a sentiment which In one was
Tas tender, ehivalrous affection; In the 9th
led & base, selfish passion. This ssntime
ess was love Of Fee Alton. For the nri
90 absolutely the first time In his life, N
vas Clayton was, a. he confessed to himse
her in Internationally in love with q pr
nc ty, little, malicious. teasing, impertine
ley fairy, aud could not help himself.
Lady Grsce's guests included y
ext Frals, q connection Of her husbands, "
lall had recently come into q very good liviI
but had strong sporting tendencies; CI
ng. tain Cullodsn, Of the Guards, q very pla
on; quiet individual, with = good income q
az; considerably lees brains; and the Nj
md orabls John Fisldsa, q universal and M