Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-01-12


the names Each of these windows was
tastefully and luxuriously furnished |
There We're two very fine paintings on
the walls, and the whole room was lit |
tered most picturesquely with valuable
curiosities brought home by Captain
Polling.
Ethel looked round her with a sense
of supreme delight. Mrs. Crichton mis-
took the look, and apologized for the
general untidiness of the roon.
you see, miss. Captain Peling took
the house only three weeks ago. He
don't allow Martha or me to touch his
wonderful curosties, so l am obliged
to put up with this dreadful state of
things. You will find this couch more
comfortable for rest than either of
those small ones. If you will allow me,
l will throw this light wooden shawl over
your feet. Let nae raise your pillow the
least bit. Thereafter carefully ar
ranging it, that is more comfortable. l
will bring the tea in a few minutes
How good the tea was, and how enjoy
able the great quietness and peace seem
ed to Ethel after the distracting roar
and rattle of the London streetsl
Captain Polling came through the win
dow by-and-by and was surprised to see
Ethel lying there. aIe had expected Mrs.
Crichton would take her to her own sane
tum. He stood irresolute for moment
just inside the window, and then crossed
the room to look more closely at his
pretty young guest.
She's as pretty as a picture, and as
good as gold, if l know anything about
physiognomy. She has a trouble of some
sort, poor little child! | should like to
kiss those tears aawy. | wonder what
she's worrying about. Perhaps Mallett
is hard up; he seems careless soft of a
fellow. I'll see if l can't help them a
bit in that direction, anyway"
This was genuine red-letter day for
Ethel She was SO intensely interested
in the Captains description of his trav-
els that for the time she was drawn out
of herself and her own affairs. Mr.
Mallett, too, was heartily pleased. And
Polling was equally satisfied with his
| guests. When the evening was over. he
was surprised to find how well he had
talked, and he felt convinced that sue
| cessful conversation as often depends on
the quality of the listener as of the
| talker.
There was not much progress made in
the ostensible purpose of the visit, seeing
| that the little ketches"-which turned
out to be rather good specimens of their
elass-led the way to so much descrip-
ton that they looked only at some hall
dozen before they came to one that ere
ated a diversion which lasted until they
started for home
The Captain had been holding forth OF
the pluck and fidelity of a native ser
want at whose portrait they were look
ing. when Ethel said:
Il wonder you did not persuade him t,
come to England with you. Your rela
tives would have worshiped him in thei
gratitude for having saved your life 3,
often"
Il have not one relative in the world
| Miss Mallett,' answered the Captain
gravely.
EtheIs glance was full Of sympathy.
Il beg your pardon" she put in hast
lily; 81 am sorry l made the remark"
Don't be sorry. I'm very glad. / Of
ten leng to talk a little about myself
You can't believe what an awful fselin.
it is to know that there is not enc per
son in the world who is sufficiently in
terested in yeu to care for your privat
eoneerns-"
Decidedly unpleasant" murmure,
Mr.. Mallett.
"Yoa'll hardly believe, Aallett, tina
this is tho most domestieated evening
I've spent for the last six years. Joll.
hard, when you consider that l am nat
urally fond of home and all that kind o
thing! l was just getting weary of tn
loneliness of this place, but your beini
hero tonight has changed the whole as
pect Of affairs. 1t looks so homelke 4
see you sitting there as if you belonged
to the place, Miss Mallett Tomorrow
night | shall fancy l see you still there
and be reconciled for a time at least"
'You should marry-best recipe in tn
world for lonelinessw Mr. Mallett OBJ
served, laughingly.
'''Tried it, and round it n failure"
"Eh"' Mr.. Mallett sat upright an,
stared into mis- hosts face Il beg you
pardon, Polling, if l have said anythin
unpleasant"
mot at all-in fact, if l shouldn't Dor
you 80 horribly as to prevent your eve
taking compassion on me again, shoul
like to tell you about my marriage. Some
times l think 1t must all have been
dream, ii seems so unreal"
He sat for a moment gazing ABSENT
into the garden, which was beginning I
look dim and shadowy In the summe
twilight, as if he were calEng up tn
past from it's gloomy depths. Ethel fel
a SILVER of superstitious awe pass owe
her, and the movement seemed TO br;n
back the captain from the momentar