The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-11-08
CHAPTJER I.


over this separation Of 4 few weeks,
Jack. but I'm suffering from that most
feminine Of all feminine ailments--a
presentiment. have a horrible dread
that you will not come back to me just
the same ~ you leave me-"
Jack Dornton knew this was all very
foolish. He loved pretty Ethel Mallett
very dearly; %. instead Of putting his
thought into words, he kissed the fearful
face and lovingly comforted her with
ycwR Of eternal constancy.
you know needn't stay down there
until the pictures are finished" he said
As soon as have the sketches well
forward, l shall come back and complete
the larger pictures from them at home;
ana, though ! shall be working very
hard. that will not prevent you from
coming every day to watch my progress
and cheer me up for an hour Or 30 In the
afternoon"
Ethel smiled-it was rather a pitiful
attempt-and turned resolutely to the
breakfast table.
1T was good Of zoe to think Of COM
Ing to breakfast with Us, 90 that we
might see the last Of you before start
Ing" nhe said bravely, a. she busted
herself with the coffee cups. Mr.. NAL
lett came down a few moments later,
and breakfast was got through with due
decorum, In difference to "papa's dislike
to emotion
tramping away-his portman teau in one
hand and a portable easel in the other.
He had been engaged to Ethel Mallett
for two months, and they were to be
married a. soon as he could provide a
suitable home for her. A fortnight after
he had obtained the reluctant consent of
Mr.. Mallett to this arrangement, 4 Ger
tain Lord Summers, attracted by two
water colors of Jacks in a fashionable
gallery, had found him out and offered
him liberal commission to execute q
series Of SIX pictures, the subjects to BE-
selected from the immediate neighbor-
hood Of his lordship's place In Exbridgs-
shire. Jack had jumped At the offer, sss-
ing that 1t would enable him to place
little Ethel In 4 home Of her own two
months sooner than he anticipated.
80 here he was, after a two hours
run, hard at work in the woods Of NAL
lingford, skillfully and rapidly 6lling in
the leading features Of Mallingford
House and its surroundings While his
fingers were thus busy, no was recalling
the conversation he had had with Lord
Summers upon the place Of his FIRST sub
ject.
would you wish me to begin with
Summerheld?" Jack had asked, when
taking his final instructions from his
Lordship.
''No; should like to be at Summer
6eld myself when you are there. think
you had better make Mallingford House
your first subject. 1t 10 about ten miles
from Summer6eld, and you can work
your why toward there. shall be down
b. the last week Of July. and hope to
have the pleasure of showing you some
hospitality"
Jack bowed his thanks.
you will be delighted with Mailing
ford" his lordship went on. ut 10 a
noble place, and have q rather peculiar
interest In the property. The late owner
Sir Paul Mailing, was 4 most eccentric
man, with very exalted notion Of his
own importance a. head Of the house.
He had never married, and was MORALLY
offended with his brother Godfrey BE-
cause he took unto himself wife at the
age Of thirty Eight without first consult
Ing him. Poor Paul! He was q great
friend Of mine; but I'm bound to confess
that he was Of most unforgiving dlspo-
sition. Would you believe II, Mr.. Dorm
toni He was 20 unjust as to disinherit
0sofrey and leave the whole Of his prop
erty to his only sisters only child. Pau
line Luton. his will confirmed his rep
utation for eccentricity, for he made even
her Inheritance conditional: first, upon
her taking the name Of Mailing, and,
secondly. upon her not marrying under
the age Of twenty-five without her guar
dams approval and consent. A very
awkward thing for the guardian. am
that not-to-be-envied person. So, you
see, should the young lady in question
happen to fall In love with some Door
bssgar Of fellow, could not consist.
emily give my consent, and she would
have to give up either her love or her
position A. owner Of Mallingford, one
Of the finest seats In the county"
"In which caser Jack said, interrosa-
lively.
''In which case the disinherited broth
Or would have his own. But am clad
b. say that my charming ward will be
twenty-five In September and will then
DO In 4 position to please herself In her
choice Of 4 husband-for which am de-
voutly thankful, ~ It relieves me Of q
serious responsibility"
II can quite understand that"
II was In hopes at FIRST that should
not be called upon to exercise my guar
dhnship At all. Whsn Sir Paul died.
Pauline was away with her father In
Italy. He was = sad rspfobate, and
spent his time chiefly In gambling houses,
leaving his motherless girl among ali
kinds Of people. Well, a. fate willed.
this Luton died just Q month before
Sir Paul. and. though We made every
effort to and his daughter. We could ob.
tain ne tidings Of her. We traced the
father and daughter to Naples, whore the
former died: but after that w could
hear nothing Of her. We sent out agents,
w advertised. We did everything We
could. At last. after i've months Of
fruitless inquiry. and just - We were
losing heart, and wondering WHISTLER W
should not begin to hunt up poor Gsof.