Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-03-13
CHAPTER XVIII.-(Continued.)

the sound Of Toms hearty laugh, with
Agnes somewhat shrill treble mingled
Lady NeviIs thoughts were abruptly
changed. Now she wanted to be ON shore
to interrupt that tete-a-tete. She hated
nothing so much as to see Tom and
Agnes together; it was a certainty that
her cousin was infusing some poisonous
drop into her husbands mind.
"Let us land" she said to Dallas; but
he had no desire to leave his charming
hostess just as they were discussing such
interesting subjects.
"Oh, not yet" he implored; don't go
in yet. Do you really want toT" And
June, who always felt it difficult to OPP
pose any one who asked anything urgent
ly of her, forced a smile, and said:
81 will stay here if you like. 1t is very
pleasant here"
Two or three minutes later her mind
was immensely relieved by hearing
Madge's voice join TOMS, and presently
she saw that young lady hanging on
Toms arm, while Mr.. Carslake and
Agnes walked at son distance behind.
The change Of companionship had been
brought about in this way: When Dali
las and June betook themselves to the
boat, Madge and Mr.. Carslake had made
their way to the avenue-the place par
excellence at the Hall for lovers and loye-
making, the place to which in former
days Tom had always tried to inveigle
June as being private and cut off from
the rest of the company.
Madge had talked away in her usual
bright fashion, and her companion had
listened to her with that sense of pleased
amusement which he always felt at her
'quips and pranks. His w disposition
was grave, though the reverse of morbid,
but he had a strong sense of humor and
a keen sympathy with bright and happy
young people. His greatest drawback to
the enjoyment Of their society was his
extreme difidence in himself, his fear
lest he should be a kill-joy and spoil
their fun. On Madge, however, he pro-
.duced anything but this effect; his
gravity, leavened as it was with an evil
dent appreciation of her sallies and high
spirits, rather stimulated than soberei
her love of fun.
They had begun by laughing, and were
inclining to a more sentimental mood un-
der the influence Of moonlight, and the
charm of the evening, when Mr.. Cars
AohNy q IL WY pCot ihttiitioho, hduC
a singularly unfortunate remark:
what a very sweet woman that sister
of yours is!'
1t acted on Madge like a douche Of
iced water. The moment before she had
been full of gayety, slightly tempered by
a most agreeable ssentimentality, for she
was ~undeniably IN love with her COM
panion; now she was f~roissee, piqued, an
noyed, she felt angry indeed with her
friend for not having more discernment.
She stopped short; the color came to
her face, and she said, with extreme de-
-cision:
She is not at all n sweet woman, and
l should not have thought you were the
sort Of man to be so easily taken in"
Mr.. Carslake was astonished; he was
rather shocked, too, and he looked it.
"Oh, yes" exclaimed Madge, you are
Mortified, l see. You think the mere fact
of a person being ones sister ought to
make one adore her; but l assure you
the theory won't hold water. You are
much more apt to dislike people who be-
long to you than any one else, because
you are obliged to see so much of them
and they have such immense opportuni-
ties Of a%ggravating you"
The pair were standing face to face,
'Madge talking herself angry, Mr.. Cars
lake preserving his s~candalized express
sion.
Pray. why do you think she is a sweet
womanT" asked the young lady, slightly
raising her voice and looking at him with
rather an aggressive fash in her eyes.
Mr.. Carslake's face relaxed into a
smile.
well, really" he remarked, "she
seemed to me very sweet and kind ami
anxious to please every one. l caught
some Of her remarks to our host during
dinner, and l confess they gave me the
idea that she was n very charitable, good
person; and then l thought she behaved
so nicely In offering to remain with him
'afterward and to 60 and see the child up
stairs"
THAT shows, then" retorted Madge,
how little any one not behind the scenes
Is able to judge She only stopped with
Tom and talked about going up to see
little Tom to %aggravate June"
Really Z" with evident %incredulity. 81
thought Lady Nevil seemed quite dis
posed for a tete-a-tete with Broke, and
your sister good-naturedly offered to stay
and amuse Sir Thomas"
"OhT' exclaimed Madge, growing still
angrief, "that rs just the delightful way
Agnes has Of giving people wrong i'm
pressions. Do you suppose" with some
i~vehemence, that June cares two straws
about Dallas? She Is simply wrapped up
in Tom and the child"
Il ~ sorry l have offended you by