The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-12-28

tons writing! Oh, l begin to under
stand!' he went on, in a voice of genu-
inc relief, as he took the card from the
envelope. II feared for the moment that
Summers had been doing a kindness, as
he calls it, and persuaded Pauline Mall
ing to invite her poor relatives to her
ball. But this civility il evidently due
to Dornton's good nature, and Is sent in
all good faith, to the Malletts. old
friends of mine as he would say In de-
scribing u.s."
"Who Is Summers, papar
Lord Summers Is your cousins guar
dian"
"Of course-I remember-the kind
looking old man we met at the Exhibit
ton last May"
"Yes. I've been in constant dread ever
since that unfortunate meeting that he
would seek me out and try to do some
thing for me. That was why / was 90
annoyed when you told him You copied
in the galleries; I thought he might
pounce IN you and worm our address out
Of you"
do you think he would tell Miss
Mailing about my copying at the gal
leries, papaF
mo doubt of It; no Is an inysterate
talker."
Ethel had a sudden conviction that
Miss Mailing had used this information
to obtain their address, if Lord Sum-
mars had not, and believed she had at
last found out to whom she was indebt-
ed for her anonymous letter. This be-
lief did not increase her desire to 60 to
Malilngford: but she held to her resolu-
ton to leave the decision in her fathers
hands.
do you want to go to the ball?" he
asked.
II don't care one bit about 1t, II you
don't want to go, dad"
II don't care about the ball, either;
but l should like you to see the old place,
Ethel. If we were to go to the ball !
should most likely run up against some
one who would remember me as Geoffrey
Mailing, and there would be quite q little
sensation over my temperance; but this
invitation entities US to call on Miss Mall
ing, in any case. Send an acceptance,
my dear; we can follow 1t up By an ex-
cuse on the morning Of the 18th. In the
meantime We will run down one day and
leave our cards and take a look round
just as ordinary strangers, and no ono
will think we are anything else"
Ethel was glad the question was set
tied in this way, for she, too, wished to
see the old house that should in justice
have been her fathers. Mr.. Malett open
ed the other letter and threw it across to
her.
Read it out, Ethel. It's from Polling.
I've talked so much that I've no time to
eat"
Ethel read the letter, which ran as
follows:
MY Dear Mallett-I send some birds
by to-night's train; hope they will arrive
all right. / am tired of this place, but
cane get away under the promised fort
night. My old friend has taken a wife
since l last saw him. Said wife has
three sisters at present staying with her;
and, as they are all of the genus blue
stocking my life has been a burden to
me since my arrival here. Sport Is ex-
cellent, but just the least bit monotonous.
The house Is full Of pleasant people
and yet / miss our society more than ]
could have thought possible; and / am
really anxious to get back to our work.
Tell Miss Mallett not to forget her prom
ise-"
what promise was that?" Mr.. Nal
lett asked.
I'm not quite sure what he means,
unless-" Ethel blushed slightly.
Never mind; finish the letter to your
self, my dear, for l must be of directly"
After seeing her father of and finish
ing the letter, Ethel did not feel alto
gether happy. She was afraid Captain
Polling had set too high q value on her
words, and she tried to recall exactly
what she had said when he had called
to say good-by. What had really occurred
was this. When Ethel put her hand into
Pelling's he held it while he said:
Il wish l could fatter myself by be
lieving you would miss me a little while
1 am away. Miss Mallett; but perhaps il
would be a welcome miss, for / know
I'm a terrible bore sometimes"
He looked so wistful that Ethel felt
quite a thrill Of sympathy for him, and
on the impulse Of the moment, respond
| ed:
Pm sure l shall miss You, and 1 shall
be glad to see you back again."
And Polling had left her with a face
so glorifed with delight that she -had
feared and wondered continually what
such glorif cation might mean. and had
alternately blamed herself for her inn
pulsive words, and him for his misinter
probation of them.
Pauline was rather staggered Z coupl,
Of days later when she received afHrma
tive replies from Mr.. and Miss Mallett
but she was In such a whirl of excite
ment by this time that 20 small a peri
as a visit from her uncle and cousin pass
ed by unheeded.
1t was now the Sth Of September, and
she was tc be married on the 18th. Ba
bette was the only member of the house
hold who had been taken into her mis-
tress' confidence with regard to her ap
preaching marriage. and the vivacioul
French woman was delighted at tn,
prospect Of going up to town every da,
between then and the 18th, to see aftel
the piles Of new fnery indispensable a
such q time.
CHAPTER XIV.