The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-07-21

be. He went so far as to hint that he
was unlike himself, but his suggestion,
though 1t appeared to annoy Winstan-+
ley, only produced hasty denial that
he was out of sorts. He could not con-
fde even in his old friend and chief
what Ursula had desired to keep a
secret till her own father knew.
Nothing, sir, really. I assure you
never was better in my life"
but there's a lot of that beastly in
f1ueEza about again, and Mrs. Kenyon
is rather anxious about you.. She looks
on herself as kind of proxy mother,
you know. Spoke to me about it last
night, and asked If I thought you
have. only to say if you do, my dear
Winstanley. We're confoundedly busy
just now, as you know, but think we
could manage to let you go.'
mo, indeed, sir! There's not the
fa1ntest necessity, though it's exceed
fngly good of you and Mrs. Kenyon to
have troubled about it, But I assure
you I never was better in my life-I
don't want leave-in fact, I wouldn't
take it if it were offered to me just
now.'
"Just as you like The general
shrugged his broad shoulders. "You
youngsters are of different sort from
what we were at your age. Cad! If
any one had named leave to me, I'd
have snatched at it on all and every
occasion. don't understand the pres
ent day generation, must confess"
Perhaps if he had known the reason
that held Winstanley fast to Ports
mouth just then he might have admit
ted that the generations of men were
not so different, after all.
It drew on toward the end of the
hunting season and the long, soft April
days were come. The hunt races took
place and there was the usual gather
ing of all the countryside and of half
Portsmouth as we'll. The members
enclosure was gay with drags and
coaches and carriages-the regiments
in the garrison had tea and luncheon
tents. Countess Ilka was there in a
well-appointed landau from the hotel,
her old chaperon on the seat beside
her, and the other seat at the disposal
of whoever it might tempt.
She was in Partisan race gown that
put to the blush the hard lines of coat
and skirt, severe in their gauntness, in
which so many of the other women
we're clothed Her hat was full of
spring flowers and her carriage was
piled with them; she looked fresh and
smiling and dainty and fragrant as
flower herself Her carriage became
more and more encircled as the day
went on She had an invitation from
each mess tent to luncheon, but she
had brought lavish hampers, and the
men she invited to share them were
not to be lured away by any other
bait. The occupants Of. brakes and
coaches cast glances of interest and
perhaps little envy at the groups
about her landau and the mirth and
merriment that seemed to reign.
The Shuttelwaites were in their vic
toria. Mrs. Shuttelwaite moved pres
emily to the grand stand. 1t was an
isolated dignity not much patronized
by the younger part of the spectators,
for nobody in the stand had many peo-
pie to talk to them. Ursula would not
have minded the lack were it not that
it seemed to include Capt. Winstanley.
He came and greeted them with pleas
ure when they first arrived, and at in
tervals he snatched a moment from
his duties as steward to some and say
a few words to them, but mostly he
was in the little improvised paddock
or on the course. 1t was tritle dull
up there in the stand, where he could
so seldom make his hurried way. Ur-
sula had to be content with distant
view of him, and much of that view
seemed to find him at Countess 1!ka's
carriage. 1t was strange how often he
was called over there.
ITO Be Continued.)
Bo tons Earthquake of 1855.