Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-07-03
CHAPTER XIV.

Eleanor looked radiant and there
sas a becoming blush ON her cheeks
as she turned TO nod farewell over her
shoulder.
Struthers had closed the front door.
and they were descending the steps.
as stylish dos'ear. drawn by a mag,
nineent looking pair OF bays. clattered
slowly up the street. The fiush on
Eieanor's cheeks became a deep red.
With = glance she had realized that
the young man who held the reins Was
Owen Page. He was looking inquir,
tusiy AZ the numbers. and now. as he
drew up before the house. he r-cos'
nized her and spyans down from the
box.
Il hope am In time to catch you"
hs said. as they shook hands. "wiil
you do me the honor OF driving with
m.T had come to ask you
For an instant. Eleanor hesltatsd:
then she said:
i am very sorry. Mr.. Page. but
have promised to walk with Mr..
Struihers this afternoon. We ~er.
Just starting. In fact. as you drove up"
The two men exchanged looks. and
there was an awkward pause. which
was broken by her adding:
MIR. s,rutheFs. this is Mr.. Page. .
friend Of my aunt's aud mine
They bowed.
Il regret exceedingly that should
be so uniucky." said Owen Page. with
evident chasrin. II shall hop. to be
more fortunat. another time
Il beg that you will not allow mo to
Interfere with your pleasure. Miss
Baldwin. We can walk another day"
exclaimed Struthcrs. In a tone that
WAS gentle. but almost sad.
Eleanor looked from one to the
other. and. uncomfortable as the situa.
tion was. could not help being struck
by the contrast In their appearance.
Owen Page wore perfectly httins.
dark drab coat. adorned by bi. but
tonhoie bouquet. Tho standing collar
that cncased his neck. his closely
cropped whiskers. and short. pointed.
!, auburn beard and his ,ancolorcd driv.
Ing gloves were equally trim. and In
keeping with his wcllappointcd equip.
age. the horses Of which were now
held by an irrcproachablc groom. Be-
side him. Mr.. struthcrs. in nondcseript
peppcr.and.salt. looked commonplace
and sober.
Again she seemed to hesitate.
II cannot go with you BOTH" she
/. said. with q smile. "and l think nm
engagement Is nm engagement. Mr..
Page. must ask you to excuse me
this afternoon"
A moment later. Owen Page had
mounted to his seat. and raising his
hat rather sravely. he drove his pair
down the street. Glancing at Struth.
ers, Eleanor observed that he was
standing gazing after him with an
absorbed air that seemed far from
happy.
Are you ready?" she asked. gayly.
opening her parasol.
She was conscious. somehow. of ella.
tion.
why did you not go with him?" he
asked quietly.
Did you wish me to go with him."
Il did not wish you to feel bound to
go with me-"
You will have to put up with me
now" she said. with a smile.
II am afraid you think I am un.
grateful" Then he said with marked
directness: 1T would have been
grievous disappointment to me-"
She made a little curtsey.
who is that gentleman. Miss Bald.
VIM"
"Mr. Owen Page" Then she added:
"I have seen him quite frequently at
my aunt's and elsewhere. He Is very
rich, 1 believe. and he owns q yacht
and a great many horses and-er-is
much Interested in farming"
"Oh!"
The melancholy In Struthers' tone
struck Eleanor. In her reply she had
spoken half ironically, without exact
ly meaning to do SO. 1t had suited
her mood, which had become buoyant.
And now her companions mournful
ejaculation seemed to her very funny.
Why should he be mournful? What
was Owen Page to him or.he to Owen
Page? If she had forsaken him for
Mr.. Page, there might have been
ground for gloom. but here he was
walking with her as he desired. and
vet his humor had changed in mo-
ment from cheerfulness to detection.
What was the reason?
She was conscious herself of being
in the best of spirits. What lovely
day 1t was, and how agreeable the air
with its bracing suggestion OF au-
tumn! She felt like flying, or. since
that was denied her, like talking vol.
ubly.
"Oh. Mr.. Struthers! Uncle Phin
approves entirely, and he thinks that
he Knows of position. In another
month l hope to be hard at work. We
had Just finished talking about 1t when
you came in
At her words, Struthers seemed to
start as one awakened from maze.
"I congratulate you" he said.
But you do not approve?"
"On the contrary, do. heartily"
There was so little enthusiasm in
your tone that was doubtful"
Can you expect me to be enthusi-
astic that you are going away?'
That was very prettily said, Mr..
Struthers."
"Prettily said? am not man to
make pretty speeches, Miss Baldwin.
an, very much in earnest. Il He