Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-11-13
CHAPTER III.


"Now you are to consider yourself
quite at home, Mr.. Dornton," Miss NAL
ling said, as she rose from the table.
Stay and mediate here in solitude, or
come out on the terrace, as suits your in
clinaton."
The moon came out by and by. throw
Ing from behind a curtain of tender gray
clouds a soft, sivery, shmmering light
over the landscape.
After Mrs. Seton had gone indoors
Pauline led the conversation in a manner
that quite entranced her companion. The
witchery of the evening, the beauty of
the woman, and the spell of her fasci-
nations wrought upon Jacks impression
able nature. and his dreams that night
were of lovely women with golden hair
and liquid brown eyes
A week later, Jack Dornton stood at
the breakfast room window, apparently
absorbed in the calm, radiant beauty Of
the scene before him; yet his breast was
torn with conflicting passions.
Pauline Mailing was returning to town
by the midday train, and the pain that
her proposed departure had caused him
had also opened his eyes to the hateful
truth that he had been unfaithful to his
little Ethel's memory.
What a blind fool I have been" he
told himself. wrathfully, "to stay here
day after day, and not see my own dam
ger. Miss Mailing has been very kind
and gentle; but I dare say she looks
upon me as belonging to very inferior
class to her own; and l, to show my
gratitude. must return her womanly
| kindness by presuming to fall in love
with her! Apart from my supreme con.
ceit with regard to Miss Mailing, l have
| behaved shamefully to Ethel" he went
on; and a flush of Decentralization
crept over his handsome face. I've
been away from her a whole week, and
only one short note have l sent her."
He seated himself at the writing table
in the window and seized pen. He
nibbled the penholder, as il In expecta-
ton Of receiving inspiration from the
act. Before he had quite made up his
mind as to the wording Of his overdue
love letter he heard rustic at the door,
and Mss Mailing entered in her elegant
travelling costume.
"How l shall miss your pleasant lit
tie morning chats, Mr.. Dornton'-with a
gentle sigh-"our happy sketching expe-
ditions, and our delightful evenings!"
you canot miss them as I shall,
Jack returned.
"You think notY' raising her eyea
slowly to his and dropping her voice
mournfully. THAT shows how little you
know and appreciate your gain in pos.
sessing the hearty love and esteem Of 4
few true friends, instead Of the monoton.
Gus adulation Of horde Of mere fashion,
able acquaintance. You cannot under.
stand. because you have never expert
enced it, how the emptiness Of our lives
sometimes pals upon us butterflies, and
what we would give at such times tn
have real object in life; how we long
for the affection of one disinterested
creature"
Here Jack would have precipitated
himself bodily into the yawning chasm
she had so conveniently opened for him.
but for the entrance of Mrs. Seton, who
proceeded to dispense the comforts of thu
breakfast table in her own inimtable
manner. The carriage was at the dooI
before the meal was properly over.
"Good-by Mr.. Dornton," said Pauline
as she stood with one dainty foot upor
the step. II shall hope to find you here
when l return; and l fear" she contin
ued, again lowering her voice dangerous
", II shall not he able to endure muct
of London's vapid society after the in
tellectual intercourse we have enjoyed
lately. I shall be back in a fortnight
You will not forget me In that time"
(To be continued)