Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-03-24
CHAPTER XIV.

caught her eye presently and smiled at
her reassuringly for she had confded to
him her dread of the awful occasion.
You are an old friend of theirs, are
you not?' Bertha was saying to the |
captain. 1--WE all think Miss Mailing |
quite charming. l took to her from the |
first; but, do you know, she is not easy |
to get on with. OF course she is all one
could wish as a hostess; but it is impos-
sible TO gush with her. She has a way
OF sitting all one says and showing up
anything that is absurd without certainly
In the least intending to give offense.
You would hardly believe it, l dare say,
but l have adopted the habit of trying
to talk seriously when she is listening"
Il think that is the greatest compli
ment you could pay her. Will you adopt
the same practice with me?"
Il should not dare" she replied, with
mock gravity. IF l were to get a repu-
tation for seriousness 1 should probably
die an old maid Men always prefer
frivolous takers for their wives. There
is the dinner bell. Are you to take me
DOWN.
Later in the evening Miss Collins drop
ped into a quiet corner and discussed
|
an intimate friend whom she had not
seen since the end of the season She
was describing the breaking up of the
party when Pauline's intended marriage
had been discovered
Nov tell me-could there be anything
more ridiculous than her running away
from her own house and. marrying, or
trying to marry, man secretly, when
there was no one to prevent her doing
it openly? My dear, you should have
seen our faces when Mrs. Seton read
us the note she had left behind, as we
dropped in, one after another, to lunch
con. At first everybody looked very sur
prised, and then the absurdity of the
whole proceeding struck u.s. Why could
she not have been married properly? No
one could have objected to her marry
ing that good-looking artist if she chose
to do So"
"Was she very much gone on him p
"Awfullyl 1t must have been a terri
BILE blow to her when her husband turn
ed up"
"Rather Isn't it odd, his being
here?''
81 don't think So He was very good
! to Sir Godfrey when he was in less
afiluent circumstances, believe"
"Things seem a bit mixed From what
could make out, he had believed him
self a widower, just as she had though
herself a widow, until they met in tn,
church. Don't you think it probable
J that, while he was under the impression
J that his wife was dead, he may hav
{ had liking for Miss Malling?'
81 believe you are right" Bertha re
Piled theoretically, ''for | saw him look
) ing at her before dinner with his hear
4 in his eyes"
1T is certainly very strange that h
should have fallen in love with the gil
who was being kept out of her RICH
} position by his own wifel 1t looks Xix
( the finger of Fate, doesn't it-thoug
{ which way the finger is pointing | can
j see."
} As the guests, one after another too
( their departure, Ethel felt her burde
{ tightening Her first party had been a
} unqualified success but she was none tn
} less glad to have it over. Lord Sun
= mers stayed behind, talking earnest
: with Sir Godfrey.
= Il admit l was disappointed when
heard that she had taken the fami
Jewels with her." he said, in allusio
to Pauline. I'm afraid she has inhe
tied some of her fathers want of pri
ciple. The Luftons were never partic
larly distinguished for honesty. VIII
} do YOU mean to do about it, Godfrey
Nothing openly. l am in commune
l. ton with her waiting maid, who hi
promised to let me know if there is al
idea on Paulines part of selling thel
and l shall, unknown to her, become t
purchaser"
San excellent idea and a very gene
v Gus one. BY the bye, as things ha
VI turned out, how fortunate it is that
Z. engagement between our charming Ell
:. and young Dornton was"
He stopped suddenly as Ethel a
Polling came back from bidding farew
j to Miss Collins. They both caught
- drift of his words, and Ethel glanced
Pelling's face but it was calmly ,
conscious. Thinking this good openi
to talk of Jack, he said:
eff YOU are not too tired, / want
show you a delightful style of title pa
h that | came across this morning.
thought you might elaborate the idea
for your Central Africa 1t is on t
table somewhere.'
81 am afraid my share of Cent
Africa will not be anything to be pro
Of" he replied with smile.
'sThat is nonsense, and you know
Captain Polling! l have made up
mind that your sketches are to be
in principal attraction of the book. 1t
really unkind Of you to make light
'y your work after all our interest in
=. "That is just it," he returned, lau
. ingly. II have become so accustor
O6 to working in company that l fine
. can't move step by myself"
- "You would not be offended at 9