The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1905-12-29
CHAPTER Ill

"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
clination."
The moon came out by and by, throw
ing from behind a curtain of tender gray
clouds a soft, silvery, shimmering 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 blind fool I have been," he
told himself, wrathfully, ito stay hera
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 a very inferior
class to her own; and 1, to show my
gratitude, must return her womanly
kindness by presuming to fall in love
with her! Apart from nay supreme con-
ceit with regard to Miss Mailing, I have
behaved shamefully to Ethel" he went
on; and 4 flush Of self-condemnatiop
crept over his handsome face. I've
been away from her 4 whole week, and
only one short note have 1 sent her."
He seated himself at the writing table
In the window and seized a pen. He
nibbled the penholder, as if 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 a rustic at the door.
and Miss Mailing entered in her elegant
travelling costume.
How shall miss your pleasant lit
tie morning chats, Mr.. Dornton''-with Z
gentle sigh-"our happy sketching expe-
ditions, and our delightful eveningsv'
"You canot miss them a. l SHALL"
Jack returned.
you think mott" raising her eyes
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 nonotoA
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 to
have a real object in life; how we long
for the affection Of one disinterested
creature!"
Here Jack would have precipitateA
himself bodily into the yawning chasm
she had 50 conveniently opened for him,
but for tie entrance Of Mrs. Seton, who
proceeded to dispense the comforts Of the
breakfast table In her own inimitabls
manner. The carriage was at the door
before the meal was properly over.
"Good-by, Mr.. Dornton," said Pauline,
as she stood with one dainty foot upon
the step. IT shall hope to find you here
when l return; and l fear" she contin-
ued, again lowering her voice dangerous
". II shall not be able to endure much
of London's vapid society after tho in
tellectual intercourse we have enjoyed
lately. l shall be back in a fortnight.
You will not forget ME in that time"
Go be continued)