The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-02-02
CHAPTER XII.

The rain was coming down in torrents,
and there was a general expression of
disappointment ON the mems faces round
the breakfast table at Mallingford Park.
But you know it Is really too 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-menw said the Hon.
Miss Collins, refectively. 1.-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 11th,"
Pauline interposed, 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 big
AFFAIR on the happy occasion"
"a ball? Delightful! exclaimed the
ladies.
"And l shan't be herew mutsered &C.
Gil.
His attention was suddenly arrested
by an advertisement in the Times. which
he held in his hand.
by all that's mysteriousw 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 nys-
tery! Pauline said; and Bertha read out
the following advertisement:
Mallingford Park-If this should
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
1t could mean. Jack, glancing at Pan
line, was surprised to see her agitated
and white to the lips. She motioned to
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 filling in the cards for the sev-
enteenth?" she asked Jack, as she left
the breakfast room.
Jack promised to join them In the
boudoir In a 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 he
| would not make her his wife if he did nor
believe her life to be spetless and with.
out flaw. This was the idea that haunt
ed him as he recalled her lock at the
breakfast table If ever a woman's fa.a
expressed suddenly aroused fear, mis-
fiancee's had done so when Bertha Col
ms read that advertisement in the Times.
lie went back to the breakfast room be-
fore he Joined Pauline, read the adver-
tisement again, and copied Tho address
into his note book.
IF l am in the neighborhood with n
few moments to spare, may look them
up and 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 filling in the invitations
from the list of names given him. Mrs.
Seton left the room after time; and
Pauline, turning to Jack, put her hand
entreatingly on his arm.
Il know what you are going to ask
me; but / can't talk about it just now
NOT to-day. I win tell you tomorrow.
or the day after; but don't speak of it
now. 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 disQuiet. He felt unhappy and wor-
ried, yet he could hardly force her to
speak upon a subject that evidently dis
tressed her.
OF course, don't want to worry you,
darling" he answered; but 1 must con-