The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-11-30

visitor. She was greatly surprised at
the introduction, her father having kept
her in strict seclusion since she left
school a year before.
II taught Coptain Polling the rudi-
ments of sketching before no went on
an expedition to Central Africa three or
four years ago, and he is SO delighted
with his own efforts that he wanted to
carry me right away to Wimbledon at
once, to see and praise them"
That Is scarcely a truthful statement,
Miss Mallett," put In Captain Polling
with a smile. Il don't want praise, but
judgment. The expedition l went out
with is going to publish the result of our
Investigations, and they want some of my
sketches to Illustrate the work. When ]
saw Mr.. Msllett in PicadiIly I thought,
Here is the man who will tell me hon.
estly If 1 dare to allow them to be pub
lished;' and l pounced upon him. And
now l have obtained two judges in the
place of one. Ny trap is waiting out
side, and / trust you will let me take you
both down to my little boz. My house
keeper will find US something to eat, and
in the cool of the evening we can so.
quietly through my little pictures and
arrange them together"
Ethel looked puzzled. Mr.. Mallett
could hardly conceal the surprise he felt
at the adroit manner in which his late
pupil had managed to include "the child"
Ethel glanced at her rather worn but
prettily made dove-colored cow and her
bibbed holland apron.
Il am not in p~resentable order" she
began.
But you viii see nc one but the house
keeper and the present company. Show
yourself superior to such considerations,
Miss Mallett. 1t will be a positive favor
to me, for they are hurrying the prep
arations forward, and l should not like to
be the cause of delaying the publication
Of the book.
"Very well; I will come. But papa
will tell you / am of no use in a ca e of
this sort"
Ethel leaned back in the well-cush-
Toned phaeton and listened lazily to the
conversation between the two men, her
father sharing the back seat with the
groom.
Captain Pelling's horses travelled well.
and, the breeze blowing right in her face
Ethel gradually lost the depressing pain
in her head and began to feel interested
in the places they were passing.
Win at last the horses stopped at a
tiny cottage, consisting to all appear
ances entirely of bay windows and
creeper covered porch, and looking timer
still by comparison with the gigantic elm
trees that surrounded it, she had a slight
tinge Of pink in her cheeks. and the dark
! rings had nearly disappeared from round
her eyes.
A pleasant middle-aged woman came
to the hall door, and Captain Polling
handed Ethel over to her at once.
"Give Miss Mallett a cup of especially
good tea, Mrs. Crichton, and make her
lie down until a quarter of an hour be-
fore dinner. Above all, don't let her
talk; she has had a bad headache
Ethel looked at him in mute surprise
land it will return if she exerts herself
before she Dimes"
MI. Mallett looked amused; but the
captain. supremely unconscious Of having
said or o anything unusual, led the
way through the long, low hall and out at
a glass door at the end. =,
This way, MISS" and Mrs. Crichton
opened the door, through which she was
followed by Ethel.
CHAPTER VII.
It was the loveliest room the young
| girl had ever seen. The walls were a
subdued stone green, the curtains and
| general decorations were Of the same
color, artistically touched up here and
there with gold. There was a soft old
looking Persian rug that covered the
whole: floor, except a few. inches BIZ the
walls. The floor of the windows were
bare, save for some exquisite specimens
of skins which Ethel did not ever know
the names. Each of these windows was
ta~stefully and ~luxuriously furnished.
There were two very fine paintings on
the walls, and the whole room was lit
tered most picturesquely with valuable
curiosities brought home by Captain
Polling.
Ethel looked round her with a sense
Of supreme delight. Mrs. Crichton mis-
took the look, and apologized for the
general untidiness of the room.
"You see, miss, Captain Pelipg took
the house only three weeks ago. He
DON'T allow Martha or me to touch his
wonderful curiosities, so / am obliged
to put up with this dreadful state of
things. You will find this couch more
comfortable for a rest than either of
those small ones. If you viii allow me,
l viii throw this light wooden shawl over
your feet. Let me raise your pillow the
least BIT Thereafter carefully ar
ranging It, shat is more comfortable. 1
will bring the tea in a f~w minutes.
How good the tea was, and how enjoy
able the great quietness and peace SEEM
ed to Ethel after the sdistracting roar
and rattle Of the London streets!
Captain Polling came through the win
dow by-and-by and was surprised to see
Ethel lying there. He had expected Mrs.
Crichton would take her to her own. sane.
tum. He stood irresolute for a moment
just inside the window, and then crossed
the room to look more closely al his
pretty young guest >
She's as pretty AZ q picture, and. a
good A. gold. If I know anything about
physiognomy. She has q trouble Of some
sort. poor little child! I should like to
kiss :hose tears aawy. I wonder what
sizes worrying about Perhaps Mallstt
isshard up; he seemG . careless ssoft Of Z
fellow. I'll see IL I can't help them q
bit In that direction, anywsSs"
This wal q genuine red-lettev day for
Ethel She was SO intensely interested
in the Captains description Of his tfav-
els that for the time she was drawn out
Of herself and her own affairs. Mr..
Mallett, too, was heartily pleased. And
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