Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-02-09

Poor Jack" she sighed. Il wonder
if he thinks few civilities of this kind
will make amends for his conduct in the
past? Does he imagine he can repay me
for the loss of his love by holding out
the hand of friendly patronage? Can
he believe it would give me pleasure to
spend an evening in watching his atten-
lions to his handsome hostess?" She
threw the card from her with an impa-
tient sigh. How contemptibly foolish it
is of me to care so much after all this
time! Perhaps dad would like to see his
old home again; and, as 1t does not really
matter much whether l go or not, l will
do as he wishes about it."
As she heard her fathers step on the
stairs she turned as brightly as usual
toward him to say, "Good morning"
Then she held his envelope behind her
playfully saying: "A thousand guesses'
and you will not guess where this letter
is from, papa"
II shall not make ohe-so tell me.
at is an invitation to Malilngford
for the seventeenth of this month-from
Miss Mailing herself, for ball"
"A ball!'' he repeated "Why in the
world should Miss Mailing invite me to
ball2' He looked at the envelope
curiously, and then said: at is addressed
to q. Mallett ESQ., and in Jack Dorm
tons writing! Oh, l begin to under
stand!' he went on, in voice of genu-
inc relief as he took the card from the
| envelope. II feared for the moment that
| Summers had been doing a kindness, as
he calls it, and persuaded Pauline Mall
ing to invite her poor relatives to her
ball. But this civility is evidently due
to Dornton's good nature, and is sent in
all good faith, to the Malletts, old
friends of mine as he would say in de-
scribing us"
'Who is Summers, papaT'
Lord Summers is your cousins guar
dian"
"Of course-I remember-the kind
looking old man we met at the Exhibit
ton last May"
Eyes. I've been in constant dread ever
since that unfortunate meeting that he
would seek me out and try to do some
thing for me. That was why was so
annoyed when you told him you copied
in the galleries. / thought he might
pounce on you and worm our address out
of you"
do you think he would tell Miss
Mailing about my copying at the gal
leries, papa?"
mo doubt of it; he is an inveterate
1 talker."
Ethel had sudden conviction that
Miss Mailing had used this information
to obtain their address, if Lord Sum-
mers had not and believed she had at
last found out to whom she was indebt-
ed for her anonymous letter This be-
. tie H.. Nc
Malilngford; but she held to her resolu-
ton to leave the decision in her fathers
hands.
"Do you want to go to the ball?'' he
asked.
II don't care one bit about it, if you
don't want to go, dad"
II don't care about the ball, either
but should like you to see the old place
, Ethel If we were to go to the ball
, should most likely run up against some
one who would remember me as GeOffrey
Mailing, and there would be quite a littl,
sensation over my temperance; but this
invitation entities us to call on Miss Mall
ing, in any case. Send an acceptance
my dear; we can follow it up by an ex
: ouse on the morning of the 18th. In thu
meantime we will run down one day anC
leave our cards and take a look rounC
just as ordinary strangers, and no on,
). will think we are anything else"
Ethel was glad the question was set
= tied in this way, for she, too, wished t
!, see the old house that should in justic
= have been her fathers. Mr.. Malett open
ed the other letter and threw it across t
her.
"Read it out, Ethel. It's from Polling
:, = I've talked so much that I've no time t
4 eat"
= Ethel read the letter, which ran a
: follows:
:. my Dear Mallett-I send some bird
|. by to-night's train; hope they win arriv
:, all right. l am tired of this place, bu
= can't get away under the promised for
). night. My old friend has taken a wifi
since ! last saw him. Said wife hs
:, three sisters at present staying with hel
and, as they are all of the genus blu,
stocking my life has been burden
me since my arrival here. Sport is e.
cellent, but Just the least bit monotonou
The house is full of pleasant people
5 and vet l miss your society more than
v could have thought possible;, and l a.
e really anxious to get back to our wor
y Tell Miss Mallett not to forget her prom
- ise-
y. "what proinise was thatY' Mr.. Ma
lett asked.
" I'm not quite sure what he mean
"a unless" Ethel blushed slightly.
Of "Never mind; finish the letter to you
re self, my dear, for must be off directly
After seeing her father off and fnis
ut ing the letter, Ethel did not feel alt
us gether happy. She was afraid CAPITA
OF Polling had set too high a value on h
pc words, and she tried to recall exact
s. what she had said when he had call,
~ 20 sav 0ood-hv. What had really occurs