The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-07-07
CHAPTER XIII.
Dinner at Nutwood.

Dinner at Nutwood.
Then, with such an inducement,"
said Winstanley, gravely, IT shall end
my shooting early in the day. I am
devoted to chestnuts. Since you are
rash enough to tell me there are any
going, you mustn't blame me for the
result"
Her eyes danced demurely, and he
thought the little dimple in her chin
the most delightful thing he had ever
beneld. He " bs so rapt in contempla-
ton of it that he started when the ad-
miral's shot addressed him. ''Now,
then, Winstanley. if you're ready, the
dogs are, and we'd better make a
start"
Winstanley shot but poorly that day.
The baron did far better, to his Joy.
He earned the commentator of the
keepers as "a straight shot for fur
riner, though a bit 'asty and RASH"
He was so enraptured by his first day
among English partridges that he half
forgot the commission he had in hand
He was the kind Of tool that can be
worked by a strong hand over it, but
is useless when left to act by itself.
The chief had not chosen with his
usual discretion when he took him for
such fine work.
Winstanley and he were seldom to-
gether, and then there was no chance
for speech. At lunch he was SO bent
on renting his exploits to Mrs. Shut
tlewaite and Ursula, both of whom lis
tened with polite interest to his story,
that he did not even attempt to make
his attack upon her. When he came
in to tea with the admiral, at the wan
ing of the gray afternoon light, Win
stanley was unaccountably missing,
and they both speculatel where he
might be. 1t was only when they
came past the fre-lit windows of the
drawing room, where the red flame
flung a flood on wall and ceiling, that
their wonder was put to rest. There
sat the missing man, on the bearskin
ilearthrug, scorching his face and
burning his fingers with infinite zest.
He picked up chestnuts from the en-
bers and dropped them in haste again,
shaking his hand with a rueful an
guish, while Miss Hamilton laughed by
his side. They were both as merry
ald as happy as two children in the
nursery, and Mrs Sluttlewaite looked
or from behind the petticoat she was
knitting in mild complacency.
"Halloa! What's come to you?"
asked the admiral, as he fused into
the room behind his other guest. 1--WE
lost you over the brow Of the hill and
thought you'd strayed. What is all
this? Dropped anything into the fire,
my dear, eh? Get the tongs to pull it
out Don't let Winstanley burn his
fingers; that's a ridiculous thing to
cor
He likes it, said Ursula, demurely.
Or, at least, he says he 'does.''
And I do, too! adore it," cried
the baron, fastening forward. LET
me also burn nine"
BY all MEANS" said Winstanley,
getting up and ostentatiously yielding
his place. you're just in the nick of
time, then; Miss Hamilton has done
all she wants. You can burn your
fingers to the top of your wishes
can't he, Mrs. Shuttlewaite? Mean
while, Miss Hamilton is going to pour
out the tea for us and I'm going to
carry it round.'
He had undoubtedly detest1ble
way with him, this generals aide-de-
camp. He carried the world as if it
belonged to him, and he was like a
wall of adamant before one, whichever
way one turned. The baron found his
chestnut roasting pail when he was
left to enjoy it alone. He left the
hearthrug and came over to the low
chair beside the tea tray as soon as he
decently could.
Winstanley had perforce to go and
talk to his hostess, since the baron
would not. He listened with divid-
ed attention to her harmless talk about
missions and the new church they
were building in Southsea. He was
aware of answering with some absent
mindedness, and of trying to catch
Ursula's words as she spoke to the
baron. That se1f.satisfied person
thought he was making excellent
headway in the good graces of Miss
Hamilton. She was quite a typical
English girl, unlike what one found
anywhere else he told himself. So
simple, and yet so self:possessed; not
an ingenue, yet not a woman of the
world. She had ncne Of the ahecta'
tions and the wiles that he was used
20 in femin1nity. She looked at: him