The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-12-21
CHAPTER XII.

The rain was coming down In torrents,
and there was a general expression of
disappointment on the mems faces round
the breakfa It table at Mallingford Park.
But you know it Is really foo 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 creatures-men!" 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, l hope you will have got over
the first rush of slaughter by the 17th,'
Pauline i~nterposed, bringing the CONVEX
sation back to the original object.
"Why by the 17th?" several asked.
Because l shall then attain my long
deferred majority, and dear old Lord
Summers insists that there will be a b.s
affair on the happy occasion"
"a ball? Delightfulr' exclaimed the
ladies.
And 1 shan't be here!." mutsered 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 establishment.
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 sbou,d
meet the eye of Sir G.. NJ, he will hear
Of something to his decided advantage
by applying to Messrs. DAVIS & Raven.
IL Leman street, E. c."
There was general establishment and
various were the surmises as to what
It could mean Jack, glancing at Pau
line, was surprised to see her agitated
and white to the lips. She motioned 70
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 filing in the cards for tie sew.
enteenth?" she asked Jack, as she left
the breakfast room.
Jack promised to Join then in the
boudoir in q quarter of an hour. He did
not like to think Of Pauline's look. He
was a poor struggling artist. who had
hitherto lived by the exercise of his nm
aided talent, and Pauline was a rich
high-born woman. his superior In most
things that count In this world: vet be
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 a woman's facs
expressed suddenly aroused fear. mis-
iancee's had done so when Bertha Col.
Inns read that advertisement in the Times.
he went back to the breakfast room be-
tore he joined Pauline, read the adver.
tisement again, and copied Slo address
into his note book.
III am in the neighborhood with a
few moments to spare, I may look them
up n 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 given him. Mrs.
Seton left the room after a time. and
Pauline, turning to Jack, put her hand
entreatingly on his arm.
Il know what you are going to ask
me; but l can't talk about it Just now
mot to-day. l will tell you tomorrow.
hsr the day after; but don't speak Of II
now. l ask it as a favor"
Jack felt perplexed. He had expected
the moment they were alone together
that she would tell him what had caused
her disqdet. he felt unhappy and wor-
ried. yet he could hardly force her to
speak upon a subject that evidently dis
tressed her.
"Of course, I don't want to worry you,
darling" he answered; but / must con-
fess l am curious, and I shall be glad
when you can tell me all without dis
tressing yourself"
Thank you very much, dear. And
now want to ask you If there II any
one you would like me to send Z card to
for this ball" 3
Jack flushed as he replied:
Yes; there are two people I should
like you to invite-Mr. Mallett and his
daughter. They are everything desira-
bic. or should not suggest it: and the
Old gentleman was very kind to me in the
days that are gone"
WAS the daughter kind, too. Jack9''
-playfully.
Again Jack flushed q little.
Il think you are a bit Of q WITCH"
ne said, with a laugh II may as well
tell you, and then there will be no secret
in my past for you to find out by and
by. Yes, she was kind to me, and once
1 thought / liked her well enough to
make her my wife; but that was before
| met you, you sireny
lyon don't think so now?"
III / did. should / be here?~
The rain continued to pour down
steadily, and the scratch, scratch Of the
busy pens wen on without interruption.
Pauline finished her list first, and sat
back In her chair. with a thoughtful,
chastened look on her face which was
strangely unlike her usual imperious air.
Jack noted It, and thought her moro
e that were posEfble, although