The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-03-13

long drive to-
1 Need I so!', asks Barbara looking
bored. ISL ,ssss, SSsSss n
dear, 4 VAN MI llssss ssy aIiii
says decidedly, ana turns Il George
How Is your dear mother? she locked
but poorly latterly. z I'M sgsis
= think she is all right. Z George re-
plies, standing on the faded hearthrug
in his careless grace. is.S
Altogether the Court ana its In
mates are gloomy all except Barbara.
whose clear young voice rings through
the rooms. +. s3,.s Ii.
Luncheon is announced, and Mrs. sa-
vile rises and puts her jewelled hand
on the arm Of George Bouverie.
You and I will lead the; way q she
says, with q slow, unpleasant smile.
Those two young people like to take
care Of each other"
As they pass across the great vault
ed. stone hall Mrs Savitle looks upS at
the golden-haired young man at her
side and whispers: ..y "a
You must not covet forbidden fruit,
Mr.. Bouverie; land I think, for your
own sake. it would be we'll not to
come too often to, the Court Your
mother knows my wishes for Bar
bara."
The blood surges to the very roots
Of his hair.
y understand you, Mrs. Sayille," he
says. in very low voice; "but has not
Barbara alright TO choose?" There is.
a passionate pride in the whispered
words. &f IS
Barbara. must he kept out OF temp
5 tation,"' Mrs: savilles rejoins as they
enter the dining room. KS
But George Bouverie's eyes are full
of triumph, for has not Barbara made
her choice already? He. flashes q glance
at her as they take, their places, and
Barbara's shy, lovely eyes meet his for
a brief second. F''
Everything at the Court is damp and al
mouldy. The great dining room; has
the atmosphere Eof VAULT "A Very
SMALL fire burnssin the CRATE, and, 4
seedy-looking butler shamblesar round
the table with his satellite: a sbeardless
youth imported from the stables,
breathing hard and walking, round on
tiptoe with awful and. elaborate care
fitness.
The dining table is large; but thece
is. very little on tan alarming ex-
panse of tablecloth and not much else.
Sebastian, fixing his eyeglass firmly,
gravely carves a minute portion off
joint. SO small. it will hardly go round.
The butler very carefully pours out
very minute portion of sherry into
George Bouverie's glass, while the
scared lad from the stables travels la
boriously round with vegetables,
George does not care about luncheon,
so the scantiness Of the repast does not
affect him. Barbara is sitting oppo-
site, and he can feast his eyes on the
beauty of her face; while Sebastian's
unfriendly expression affects him not
at all.
Luncheon over, Mrs. Saville makes
an apology for DESERVING her guest, for
the carriage has been ordered early,
the drive to Barrystown is long.
1T will only be au revoir," George
says gaily, II promised my mother to
take her to the Barry's affair this at
ternoon. A chrysanthemum show,
believe"
1t is distinctly annoying, for this
very handsome young man will COM
pletely monopolize Barbara.
"You will be rather late, Mr.. Bou-
verie," responds Mrs. Saville Jelly.
ooh, not at ALL" George says pleas
antly; while, with nod and smile,
Barbara runs off to dress for the party.
I'll just hop across country and be at
the Grange in half an hour" George
says gaily. Il wouldn't disappoint the
mother for the world"
ITO he continued