The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-08-20
CHAPTER XVI.

More than once Sir Howard Champion
had met his granddaughter. Winifred
Eyre. in society. He had spoken very
little; and the result of his quiet scru-
tiny was that he felt unfegnedly pleased
with her. She was graceful, natural and
ladylike, and possessed a certain frank
ness of manner which could not fail to
win for her liking and admiration.
One day he called on Lady Grace Far
Guhar. She and Winifred were sitting
alone together in the drawing room.
My DEAR" he said to Winifred, 1--WE
must not be strangers any longer. My
other granddaughter are coming to stay
with me in Hurstshire after the season is
over, and l want Lady Grace to spare
you. You will not refuse?'
81 think you would like to go, dear,
would you not?'' Lady Grace said, quick
ly.
Winifred answered a little hesitating-
ly in the affirmative She would rather
not have gone; but she could not bear to
seem stubborn, or as if she bore malice.
The London season was over, the park
deserted, the handsome carriages gone
from the streets. Winifred was staying
at Hurst Manor with all her cousins
Flora and Reginald Champion, and
Laura and Ada Fordyce, Lady Valan-
toms daughters. She had met the two
latter constantly in town, and been on
speaking terms with them; but nothing
more. The elder was rather plain, but
aristocratic looking, and very proud. Ada,
the younger, was pretty, good-tempered
and unaffected. She took to Winifred at
once, and soon became very fond of her;
but her sister Joined with Flora In be-
ing disdainful and cold to the farmers
daughter There were two or three young
men, friends of Reginald's, staying in the
house, and Mr.. Maxwell, to whom Miss
Champion was now formally engaged.
Il have news for you, Laura" said
Reginald one day, entering the room in
which were his sisters and cousins; in
deed. news for you all. Hastings Is not
going to Norway in his yacht, but is COM
ing down to the Court, and has invited
several people with him, so we shall all
be enlivened little, | hope, in this dull
! hole. Lady Dora Amnesty is TO play
hostess, so there is sure to be plenty of
fun
Some days after Lady Dora Amnesty
uIIlNtt NJ tue tpull Win ICl huSbdhi, a
young, good-tempered man, very fond of
her. and not in the least inclined to be
jealous.
There had been a very decided fiirta-
ton between Mr.. Hastings and Lady
Dora some years ago, before she was
married or engaged; they sometimes re-
vived it even now. He let her have her
own maynard will in the matter of COM
| ing to stay at the Court and inviting
/ guests and turning the old house upside
| down for private theatricals, and in re-
! turn she was very bright and kind to
! him and consulted his pleasure in every
| possible way.
Lady Dora made all her plans and Err
roll carried them out. He called on Mrs
| Champion gave her some hints about the
! tableaus end a desire for her co-opera-
! ton. She responded Immediately by
calling on Lady Dora. and two days af-
terward Dora appeared at Hurst Manor.
The ladies, especially the young ones.
were charmed with her, she was so
| bright. SO fascinating
There were great many calls, CONVEX
sations, hints. proposals and suggestions,
and finally everything was arranged pre-
cisely as the mistress of <he ceremonies
had intended it should be. Then, of
course, there were rehearsals at the
Court; lunches, dinner parties, all man
ner Of pretexts for getting the young
people together to perfect their parts.
Scenery and dresses came down frcm
London. Mr.. Hastings spared neither
trouble nor expense, and the Court ball
room was transformed into an elegant
theater. All the country round was in
vited; there were to be two hundred
guests.
Winifred's heart beat fast for the first
time she visited HAZEL Court. She re-
membered how in the olden days that
stately gray mansion into which she had
never hoped 10 enter had been invested