Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1906-03-03
CHAPTER I.

know how silly 1t 10 Of me to fret
over this separation of few weeks.
Jack, but I'm suffering from that most
feminine Of all feminine ailments-a
presentiment. l have a horrible dread
that you will not come back to me just
the same as you leave me-"
Jack Dornton knew this was all very
foolish. He loved pretty Ethel Mallett
very dearly; so, instead Of putting his
thought Into words, he kissed the fearful
face and lovingly comforted her with
vows Of eternal constancy.
you know l needn't stay down there
until the pictures are finished" he said.
AS soon as | have the sketches well
forward, l shall come back and complete
the larger pictures from them at home;
and, though | shall be working very
hard, that will not prevent you from
coming every day to watch my progress
and cheer me up for an hour or so In the
afternoon"
Ethel smiled-it was rather a pitiful
attempt-and turned resolutely to the
breakfast table.
1T was good Of voc to think of com
Ing TO breakfast with us, so that we
might see the last Of you before start
ing she said bravely, as she busted
herself with the coffee cups. Mr.. Nal
lett came down few moments later,
and breakfast was got through with due
decorum, In Difference to "papa's dislike
to emotion"
Shortly after the meal Jack was
tramping away-his portmanteau in one
hand and a portable easel In the other.
III haan An "A e. Ill I'll
for two months, and they were to be
married as soon as he could provide a
suitable home for her A fortnight after
he had obtained the reluctant consent of
MIR. Mallett to this arrangement, a GER
tain Lord Summers, attracted by two
water colors Of Jacks in fashionable
gallery, had found him out and offered
him liberal commission to execute a
series OF six pictures, the subjects to be
selected from the immediate neighbor-
hood of his lordship's place in Exbridge-
shire. Jack had jumped at the offer, see
ing that 1t would enable him to place
little Ethel in a home of her own two
months sooner than he anticipated.
SO here he was, after two hours
run, hard at work In the woods of Nal
lingford skillfully and rapidly filling in
the leading features Of Mallingford
House and its surroundings. While his
fingers were thus busy, he was recalling
the conversation he had had with Lord
Summers upon the place Of his first sub
ject.
Would you wish me to begin with
Summerheldr Jack had asked. when
taking his final instructions from his
Lordship.
mo; should like to be at Summer.
field myself when you are there. | think
you had better make Mallingford House
your first subject. 1t Is about ten miles
from Summerfeld, and you can work
your way toward there. l shall be down
by the last week of July, and hope tC
have the pleasure of showing you some
hospitality"
| Jack bowed his thanks.
you will be delighted with Mailing
ford" his lordship went on. 1T is A
noble place, and have a rather peculiai
interest in the property. The late owner
Sir Paul Mailing, was a most eccentric
man, with very exalted notion of his
own importance as head of the house
He had never married, and was MORALLY
offended with his brother Godfrey be.
cause he took unto himself a wife at the
age Of thirty-eight without first consult
ing him. Poor PAUL He was a great
friend of mine; but I'm bound to confess
that he was of a most unforgiving dispo-
sition. Would you believe It, Mr.. Dorm.
tonF He was so unjust as to disinherit
Geoffrey and leave the whole of his prop.
erty TO his only sisters only child. Pau.
line Luton. his will confirmed his rep.
utation for eccentricity, for he made even
her Inheritance conditional; first, upon
her taking the name Of Mailing. and
secondly, upon her not marrying under
the age Of twenty-five without her guar.
dams approval and consent. A very
awkward thing for the guardian. | am
that not-to-be-envied person. So. Won
see, should the young lady In question
happen to fall in love with some poor
beggar Of fellow, | could not consist.
emily give my consent, and she would
have to give up either her love or her
position as owner of Mallingford, one
of the finest seats in the county"
'1n which caseT Jack said, interroga.
lively.
I'm which case the dlsinherited broth.
er would have his own. But | am PLAID
to say that my charming ward will he
twenty-five in September and will then
be In position to please herself in her
choice Of a husband-for which | am do.
voutly thankful, as 1t relieves me of q
serious responsibility"
Il can quite understand that"
Il was In hopes at first that should
not be called upon to exercise my guar.
dianship at ALL When Sir Paul died
Pauline was away with her father In
Italy. He was a sad reprobate. and
spent his time chiefly In gambling houses
leaving his motherless girl among all
kinds Of people. Well, as fate willed
this Luton died just a month before
Sir Paul, and. though we made every
effort to find his daughter, we could oh
tain no tidings Of her. We traced the
father and daughter to Naples. where the
former died; but after that we could
hear nothing Of her. We sent out agents,
we advertised, we did everything we
could. At last, after FIVE months of
truitless inquiry. and just as we were
losing heart, and wondering whether we
should not begin to hunt up poor Geof-
frey, she appeared suddenly at my So
licitors' Offices. She looked wretchedly
III, said she had been working her heart
out as a teacher Of English at Spanish
school, and had only recently seen one
Of our advertisements. She was nine
teen then-and that is nearly six years
ago."
And now, as Jack Dornton stood iE the
shady wood, with the MONDAY sun max
ing little patches Of white here and there
wherever 1t could pierce the thick foil