Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1905-12-07
CHAPTER XII.

The rain was coming down in torrents,
and there was a general expression of
disappointment on the mems faces round
the breakfast table at Mallingford Park.
but you know it is really too bad"
Cecil Danesford observed to Miss Mall
ing. "Your head man had fixed to-day
for the north end covers, and he says
| they are the best on the whole estate;
and now this rain comes and spoils the
whole thing. 1t is annoying, you must
allow"
"Poor reimbursement. said the Hon.
Miss Collins refectively. The comfort
of their lives depends upon the one
amusement of the hour Deprive them
of that and they are stranded helplessly.
Glad I'm a woman!'
well, hope you will have got over
the first rush of slaughter by the 11th,'
Pauline interposed, bringing the conver-
sation back to the original object.
"Why by the 17th?" several asked.
Because | shall then attain my long
deferred majority, and dear old Lord
Summers insists that there will be a big
affair on the happy occasion"
"A ball? Delightful"' exclaimed the
ladies.
And l shan't be here.' muVered Ce-
Gil
His attention was suddenly arrested
by an advertisement in the Times, which
he held in his hand.
'By all that's mysterious.' he exclaim-
ed; and then he sat gazing at the news
paper in mute astonishment.
Bertha Collins leaned across and look
ed at the place he was pointing at.
How extraordinary" she exclaimed.
'For PHYS sake, let us into the mys-
tery"' Pauline said; and Bertha read out
the following advertisement:
'Mallingford Park-If this should
meet the eye of Sir &. NJ. he will hear
of something to his decided advantage
by applying to Messrs. DAVIS & Raven,
IL Leman street, f. c."
There was general astonishment and
various were the surmses as to what
it could mean. Jack, glancing at Pau
line, was surprised to see her agtated
and white to the lips. She motioned to
him not to notice it. and fought deter
minedly with her emotion The others
were too much absorbed by their curiosity
to take much heed, and she bore herself
as usual until breakfast was finished.
"Will you help Mrs. Seton and me
to finish filling in the cards for the sew
enteenth?' she asked Jack as she left
the breakfast room.
Jack promised to join them in the
boudoir in a quarter of an hour He did
not like to think of Pauine's look. He
was poor struggling artist, who had
hitherto lived by the exercise Of his un-
aided talent, and Pauline was a rich.
! high-born woman, his superior in most
things that count in this world; yet he
would not make her his wife if he did not
believe her life to be spotless and with
out flaw. This was the idea that haunt
ed him as he recalled her look at the
breakfast table. If ever woman's face
expressed suddenly aroused fear, mis-
/ fiancee's had done so when Bertha Col
lins read that advertisement in the Times.
lie went back to the breakfast room be-
fore he joined Pauline, read the adver-
tisement again, and copied LAo address
into his note book.
IF | am in the neghborhood with a
few moments to spare, | may look them
up and see what it MEANS" he decided.
Then he followed the ladies' to the
boudoir. Pauline, still looking unlike her
self, was sitting with Mrs. Seton. Jack
said nothing TO them, but went straight
to his work Of filing in the invitations
from the list Of names given him. Mrs.
Seton left the room after time; and
Pauline, turning to Jack, put her hand
| entreatingly on his arm.
Il know what you are going to ask
me; but | can't talk about it just now
not to-day. | will tell you tomorrow.
or the day after; but don't speak of il
now / ask ii as a favor"
Jack felt perplexed. He had expected
the moment they were alone together
that she would tell him what had caused
her disquiet. lie felt unhappy and wor-
ried, yet he could hardly force her to
speak upon a subject that evidently dis
| tressed her.
"Of course, / don't want to worry you,
darling" he answered: but l must con