Middletown transcript., 1903-11-28

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gagement.
And then she turned and left him pull.
ing his moustache blankly. His defiant
reckless air had departed, and in its place
came something very nearly akin to de-
spair. He thought, as he followed her
into the drawing-room, that surely never
within the memory of man, had anyone
met with such strange ill-luck or such
cruel treatment as himself. lie had quite
forgotten all about that memorable morn
ing at Sandune, or rather, lie had put his
share of it away from his thoughts.
CHAPTER VI
Gladys had gone straight to vacant
seat on Lady Lesley's sofa and, as soon as
Gerard appeared in the doorway between
the drawing-room and the conservatory,
the Baronet's wife beckoned him.
Come here, she said imperatively.
Gerard crossed the room to her, and,
bending down, asked what was her pleas.
ure.
Sit here, she said, in very significant
way. l am going upstairs, and I want
you to keep my seat for me.
So Gerard sat down, as he was hidden,
feeling more indignant with his luck than
ever. He glanced at his Jfance, but she
was sitting half turned away from him,
and looking across the room. There was
evidently no chance of word from her;
so he sank back amongst the cushions
which Lady Lesley had SO carefully piled
up for her own comfort, with more i'm
patient sigh than usual. Happily no one
seemed to be taking any notice of them,
or surely, he thought, every one would
be laughing at the absurdity OF the situ-
alton. Sir Peter and the Vicar, with
Mrs. Mcdonald and Mrs. Coley, were alb
sorbed in whist. Miss Coley, who was a
rather pretty girl, was playing chess with
young Lorrimor. Jack Coley was sitting,
looking excessively sentimental, close to
the Wears daughter, Avis Chantry; and
only the two turtle doves" as Lady
Lesley had laughingly called them, seemed
to have absolutely nothing to say.
At last, however, Gladys broke the
silence.
Are you going to hunt tomorrow,
Gerard? she asked, as placidly as if moth
ing had taken place.
Are you? he asked, answering her ques-
ton by another.
Oh,yes, of course! she replied promptly.
Then l will too.
Very well. l will tell them to saddle
Rubicnn for you.
Rubicon! What strange name for a
horse? he laughed, making great effort
to let his manner accord with hers.
Yes. Uncle liked him very much; but
he was uncommonly difficult to mount,
and SO he christened him Rubicon, be-
cause, once across him, he felt quite Sc.
cure.
Then she relapsed into silence, and
Gerard Of course followed her example.
Presently Lady Lesley, returning, walked
straight past her favorite sofa to chair
nearer to the piano, which was not nearly
so comfortable. Without moments
hesitation Gerard rose.
Won't you have your favorite seat,
Lady Lesley? he asked.
No, no, never mind; l don't want to
disturb you, she replied kindly. Never
mind me; 60 back to Gladys.
Now please do have it, he said per-
suasively. assure you Gladys does not
want me.
As if to prove the truth of his words
Miss Hawthorndean rose at that moment
and went to the piano.
Now do let me take you back to the
sofa, Gerard urged.
Oh, how self willed young people are
nowadays! the old lady cried, with a great
show of yielding. No, no-as lie was
about to take Gladys's vacated seat-I
won't have you here. 1t is very polite to
pay SO much attention to an old woman,
more especially when she knows you are
dying to get away to the young one.
But indeed am not, he laughed.
No? Then you ought to be. Come, 90
away, and leave me to my knitting in
peacel
lie turned away then-indeed he had
no choice in the matter; but to GLADYS lie
did not find his way. George Lorrimor
was already in possession OF the chair
wedged in between the wall and the
music-stool, having risen without cere-
mony as soon as Gladys approached the
piano. Miss Coley was thus left alone,
and, feeling he must sit somewhere, and
not caring to go and play second to Lor-
rimor. Gerard walked calmly up to Miss
Coley and sat down beside her.
May sit here? he asked, in his most
silyery tones.
Oh. yes, OF course! she returned, flush
ing, and looking SO bright and pleased
that Gerard decided in his own mind
that, Instead of being mot half bad-look.
ing, as he had heard her described, SHE
was very pretty girl indeed. She was
younger than Gladys not more than
seventeen, he would tllink-and had a
small, pale, straight-featured face, with a
profusion OF dark silky hair, and two as
large, soft, sweet brown eyes as had ever
looked up into Gerard's blue ones. And
which was balm to Gerard's sore heart
she was unaffectedly fattered and glad
when he spoke to her. He learned back
IN the large chair-a very easy chair it
was, much more comfortable than the
sofa-and thought contentedly that the
charm of the old days before he Lad
known Gladys was coming back again.
OF course he was awfully in love with
Gladys; but still he thought being saw
fully in love" was rather bore. There
was lack of repose about it, an excite
ment, constant feeling of insecurity,
which took away much Of the charm OF
the sensation. After all, he really did
not know whether it was not pleasanter
to be made love tO-welI no hardly