Middletown transcript., 1905-01-14

had been pronounced great success
and. she herself WAS looking as happy
and as bright as possible. But in the
house all was not quite peaceful, for the
ewes which we're regarding Lenore were
no longer quite 30 satisfied or quite 90
admiring as they had been. Angus
looked at her sharply enough sometimes,
and watched her continually, though iil
a half.unconscious, half-furtive manner.
Car tain Perciyal was no longer alone in
the field. A cousin OF Lady May Mel
ford's, Dick Farquhar, had also fallen
under the spell Of IGNORES charms.
Lenore smiled impartially on both. She
thought that it was quite natural and
pleasant apparently that they shonld be
devoted to her, and consequently at
daggers drawn with each other.
Lady May arrived the day before the
dance, and Lenore had looked at her
with frank interest. So this was cousin
Angus's bride-cousin Angus, ''the great
and good" she mockingly called him
to her mother, and took Mrs. Daiutrev's
inevitable reproof with her usual smiling
good-humor.
II know him only from your own ac-
counts, mother. He does not deign to
speak to me very often-he only pats me
on the head when he happens to see me-"
pats you on the head ?"
"Metaphorically, of course T.
Lenore watched Lady May, and came
to the instant conclusion that she did
not care for her, and that no one could
call her eood-looking. Beside IGNORES
own glowing beauty that might be true,
but Lady May had had many admirers,
though strictly speaking she was not
beautiful nor even pretty. She had
good figure, which was tall and slim,
pretty features, moderate complexion,
and a mass of rather colorless hair +; her
brown eyes, too, we're handsome in their
way it was the cold expression of her
face which detracted from her charm.
She took very little notice OF Lenore,
who was indeed kept very busy-even
Captain Percival and Mr.. Farquhar found
it difficult to see much OF her-but she
asked languidly of Angus one day
rs that little girl going to live here,
too%
There was something in her tone which
caused Angus to color as hs answered
rather shortly
"Certainly-with her mother, if you
have no objection"
What objection could | have r. May
asked sharply. "She is trying to make
fool Of Dick-unless she means to marry
him ~
"She can't marry them both. She
seemed to like Perciyal, thought, before
Farquhar came"
"Dick will be surprised if she refuses
him" said May, rather unkindIy. He
is not used to finding girls backward in
accepting his attentions. Not that"
She paused abruptly, and Angus filed
up her sentence with trown on his
handsome face.
''Not that anyone could say that Of
Lenore? You are right. She is playing
them off one against the other. and-I
won't have it! / shall speak either to
her or to her mother, butt seems go
soon-Percival has only been here day
or two."
"He is head over ears in love with
her! shouldn't interfere, Angus; you
will only make them both your enemies
for life, and You won't do the least bit Of
good Miss Lenore seems quite capable
Of managing them both. Let her amuse
herself"
'I don't care for such amusement" he
answered shortly.
He said nothing to Lenore, however,
but watched her little more closely.
That day her conduct was surely inoffen-
sive to the most circumspect, for Mrs.
Daintrey kept her SO busy that until
afternoon tea she was hardly visible,
though Hope could have told OF innum-
erabe small services which she had rem
dered her very eagerly and very pleas
antly. The floral decorations under her
hands, too, had proved most successful.
AS her mother had said, she had genius
for such matters.
"Where have you been all day ?" Cap
tain Percival asked her, when large
party Of them were having tea in infor-
NAL fashion in the billiard-roonl, for most
OF the rooms were already arranged for
the dance. 81 have hardly seen you"
He spoke with distinct sense Of injury
and Lenore looked at him with plying
sweetness as she answered softly
Il have been SO busy. Did You really
miss me?'
He burst into feryent and earnest
declaration OF his dulness whenever he
was not in her. presence, but she was
called away in the middle Of it, and lett
him with a sympathetic glance. Perhaps
it comforted Percival, but it made Angus
feel very angry, especially as he saw her
the next moment laughing with Dick
Farquhar,g who, had kept her back for
a moment as she passed him.
"You will promise me heaps Of dances,
Miss Daintrey ?" he asked her.
"Of course will-if you dance well ~
II believe that ] am supposed to dance
pretty decently," he replied, rather
superciliously. As his cousin had said,
Dick Farquhar had been spoiled He
was rich and young and free, and he was
thoroughly aware of these facts.
''Then win give you two"
1.-TWO! Look here"
II am afraid that / can't look any
where just at present, except at my
mother, who wants me-" Lenore laugh
ingly replied as she escaped from him.
As she went across to her mother she
met Angus's eyes, and they were SO full
of anger that she started and almost