The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-07-02


suspicion. Fee was perfectly aware tnat
he was listening, SO she dropped her
voice to a whisper, and 6irted away In
a very animated manner with Mr.. Hast
inRs. Francis Clayton was gradually be-
coming furious. At the end Of the third
act he arose.
''It is time to put on your cloak, he
said in a harsh and unpleasant voice.
"Why, dear?" asked Fee. looking up
with languid innocence, "are you afraid
shall take cold? You are not usually
SO solicitous about me-"
81 ordered the carriage early, and 90
not choose my horses to be kept wait
ing" he replied, scarcely deigning TO look
at her.
Mr.. Clayton moved toward the door,
and his wife resumed her conversation
with more animation than ever.
"Are you coming?" he exclaimed, turn
ing impatiently.
"Me-coming?" returned Fee, nonchal-
antly, raising her eyebrows. my dear
Francis, what could put such an absurd
idea into your headf
To be treated with indifference, and,
worse, ridlcule, is naturally disagreeable
TO any man; but 1t made Mr.. Clayton,
sulky and ill-tempered as he already was,
perfectly afame with rage.
Marion, are you comingT
Certainly not"
"Then | shall 60 alone. Henry can
get you a 6acre when you feel disposed
to follow me-" And the amiable husband
left the box.
Mrs. Clayton was as bitter and angry
as a high-spirited woman would be under
the circumstances; but she went ON talk
ing to her companion very fast, to conceal
her annoyance. She was too proud to
make any allusion to her husbands treat
ment Of her; and Mr. Hastings appeared
not TO have noticed it. But he felt for
her keenly. He did not quite justify her,
or think she had behaved wisely, but he
saw what the man was, and felt there
must have been some strong undercurrent
Of bitterness to change the bright, good
tempered, sunny, little fairy he had
known formerly to the Indifferent, pro-
yoking woman Of tonight. Poor little
girlp' he thought to himself. II dare
say she has found out by this time that
money doesn't bring happiness"
Mrs Clayton remained until the fifth
act was half over, then she asked Enrol
to see II her servant was in the hall. He
left the box, and returned almost immedi-
ately.
"My brougham is at your disposal, Mrs.
Clayton, and your servant Is just calling
1t up."
She thanked him; and he put her cloak
carefully round her, and gave her his
arm.
Goodnight" she said, when she was
seated in the carriage. MANY thanks
for your timely aid. viii you come and
see us tomorrow at our hotelT
He promised; and at parting he held
her hand longer than is strictly necessary
in wishing good-by.
The day after their meeting at the
opera Mr.. Hastings called on Mrs. Clay
ton; and Mr.. Clayton, suspecting the
visit, was purposely at home. Fee bright
: ened up when Mr.. Hastings was announc
ed. She had always liked him; now In
D her loneliness and misery she ranked hin
! as a dear old friend. Her manner was
Q all tho more cordial because she wanted
to annoy her husband.
I "Mr. Hastings. l am delighted to seC
= you; was just feeling so frightfully Dor
; cd and dull. l hope you bring a whole
. budget of news"
o III must ask first after my old friend
d Lady Marion" he answered. II canno
}, forgive myself for my remissness In no
n doing so last night"
!, "Aunt Ia very well, thank you. heart
t from her this morning. She says she i
= dreadfully dull without me, and Is longini
/ to see us back again."
81 often think how she must miss you
70 | almost wonder she does not remail
" with YOU"
d 80 she would, gladly, but Mr.. Clayton
won't let her. OF course, II We have
d difference of opinion she takes my part
and he says something rude to her, an
she Is offended. Is 1t not so, Francis|
Mr.. Clayton muttered something abou
q A mother-in-law being bad enough, bu
If an aunt-In-law was more than anybod
l. bargained for.
n "And as matrimony is altogether a CON
a. mercial speculation, rejoined Fee, with
b, delightful smile, you can't, of couTs'
le take more than you bargain for-can yol
N Mr.. HastingsT
Enrol was by no means pleased at b,
Is ing made a third party to matrimonii
O. differences, and made an effort to chang
ut the conversation.
Have you seen anything of Lad
ID Grace Farquhar lately, Mrs. Clayton
he he asked.
er "She was here not a month ago; an
Id she has adopted such a sweet, charmln
Of girl. They are like mother and daagl
H. ter; and even that selfish old bookwOrn
ly Sir Clayton, seems quite taken with he
IN wish you had been here sooner.
be know you would have been in love wit
It her"
rs "I thought Mr.. Hastings knew Mi
n Eyre" interposed Francis Clayton. -
all events, recollect hearing their nam
., connected In some story about meetir
~ In a wood"
no Enrol started slightly, and it might ha'
IN. been fancy, but Fee certainly thought
az deeper color came into his bronEed fac
~ Mr.. Clayton seemed to think the SAN
an for be proceeded in his usual amisb
ut manner:
az "She and Erskine were awfully swe
W. on each other when we were staying
the vale. l dare say that will be
rs. match. Lady Grace seems quite agrC
70 able 10 It; but of course It's shoekii
es. bad one for him."
ds Francis" exclaimed his wife. "hC
on you exaggerate! You know Winifred ne
ire er cared for Lord Harold. She VOL
". confess 1t. but am quite sure he ma
h. her an offer. and that she refused hi
Igs He never viii meet her II be can help II
"Did you say that Lady Grace b
er, adopted her. Mrs. ClaytonT
to ayes, more than a year ago; inde'
before I was married. She was In 81
bis sad trouble, poor girl. She was We
fond Of her father, and he was kill
led suddenly 10 a very shocking way. I
na- horse ran away with him. and he VI
.Ily thrown out Of the dogcart and killed
the spot. They thought she never woS