Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-03-23
CHAPTER XIV.

~, and Ethel felt just little nervous
as she received the guests. Captain
Polling was watching her In the pauses
Of his chat with Bertha Collins. He
caught her eye presently and smiled at
her reassuringly, for she had confided to
him her dread Of the awful occasion.
"You are an old friend of theirs, are
you not2" Bertha was saying to the
captain. 1--WE all think Miss Mailing
quite charming l took to her from the
hrst; but, do you know, she is not easy
TO get on with. OF course she Is all zone
could wish as n hostess; but il is impos-
sible TO gush with her. She has n way
Of sitting all one says and showing up
anything chat Is absurd without certainly
in the least intending to give offense.
You would hardly believe it, dare say,
but j have adopted the habit of trying
TO talk seriously when she is listening"
Il think that is the greatest compli-
ment you could pay her. VIII you adopt
the same practice with mel"
Il should not dare" she replied, with
mock gravity. IF | were to get repu-
tation for seriousness | should probably
die an old maid. Men always prefer
frivolous takers for their wives. There
Is the dinner bell. Are you to take me
DOWN.
Later in the evening Miss Collins drop
ped into quiet corner and discussed
the things with the utmost freedom with
an Intimate friend whom she had not
seen since the end of the season. She
was describing the breaking up Of the
party when Pauline's intended marriage
had been discovered.
Now tell me-could there be anything
more ridiculous than her running away
from her own house and marrying. or
trying to marry, man secretly, when
there was no one to prevent her doing
1t openly? My dear, you should have
seen our faces when Mrs. Seton read
us the note she had left behind, as we
dropped in, one after another to lunch
con! At first everybody looked very sur
prised, and then the absurdity of the
whole proceeding struck us. WHY could
she not have been married properly? No
one could have OBJECTED to her marry
Ing that good-looking artist If she chose
to do 30"
was she very much gone on him 2"
"Awfully! 1t must have been a terri
Bile blow to her when her husband turn
ed up"
''Ratherl Isn't II odd his heins
here?"
II don't think so. He was very good
70 Sir Geoifrey when he was in less
"tnuent circumstances, l believe"
Things seem bit mixed. From what
l could make out, he had believed him
self widower, just as she had thought
herself n widow, until they met in the
church. Don't you think 1t probable
that, while he was under the impression
that his wife was dead, he may have
had liking for Miss Malling?"
Il believe you are right" Bertha re-
piled, theoretically, "for | saw him look
Ing at her before dinner with his heart
In his eyes"
1t is certainly very strange that he
should have fallen in love with the girl
who was being kept out of her right
position by his own wifel 1t looks like
the finger Of Fate, doesn't it-thougb
which way the finger is pointing | can't
see."
AZ the guests, one after another, took
their departure. Ethel felt her burden
tightening. Her first party had been an
unqualified success, but she was none the
less glad to have It over. Lord Sum-
mers stayed behind, talking earnestly
with Sir Godfrey.
Il admit ! was disappointed when |
heard that she had taken the family
jewels with her. he said, in alusion
TO Pauline. I'm afraid she has inner
tied some Of Der fathers want of prip
ciple. The Luftons were never partieu-
larry distinguished for honesty. What
do you mean to do about it, Godfrey 2"
Nothing openly. | am in communica-
ton with her waiting maid. who had
promised to let me know if there is any
idea on Pauline's part of selling them.
and | shall, unknown to her, become the
purchaser"
AN excellent idea and a very gener
Gus one. by the bye, as things have
turned out, how fortunate it is that the
engagement between our charming Ethel
and young Dornton was"
He stopped suddenly as Ethel and
Polling came back from bidding farewell
TO Miss Collins. They both caught the
drift Of his words, and Ethel glanced at
Pelling's face; but it was calmly nm
conscious. Thinking this a good openinr
to talk of Jack. he said:
IF you are not too tired, l want 10
show you n delightful style of title page
that | came across this morning 7
thought you might elaborate the idea for
for your Central Africa 1t is on this
table somewhere"
81 am afraid my share of Central
Africa will not be anything to be proud
Of" he replied with a smile.
That is nonsense, and you know IL
Captain Pelling l have made up nv
mind that your sketches are to be the
principal attraction of the book. 1t Is
really unkind Of you to make light of
your work after all our interest in itp'
THAT is just it," he returned. laugh
ingly. II have become so accustomed
70 working in company that / find
can't move a step by myself"
"You would not be offended at any