Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-03-30
CHAPTER XVI

spring began to send out its forerun-
ners. 1t had been a mild winter, and
the big horse chestnuts In the Mailing
ford woods sent forth their round pale
buds quite fortnight earlier than usual.
A young fellow named Harrington, the
son of a friend of Sir Geoffrey's youth,
had been among the Christmas visitors
at Mallingford, and it was soon appar-
emit that he had fallen desperately in
love with sweet-faced Ethel. He was
a most estimable young man, with a
substantial rent roll, and he went to Sir
Godfrey and asked his consent, feeling
quite satisfied as to what would be the
result
Then Sir Godfrey spoke to Ethel.
and was astonished on receiving an emf
phatic refusal, coupled with the declara-
tion that her heart was not her own to
bestow. &c. Sir Godfrey, bearing in
mind the girls happy excitement over
Pelling's letter, which contained moth
ing but accounts of DorntOn's industry,
talent and success, put two and two to-
gether and decided that she was still true
to her first love. He was a little dis
appointed that it should be so; but he
had married for love himself, and he was
not going to attempt to influence his
daughter in the selection of her husband.
So warm invitation was sent to the
roaming artists, and Ethel settled down
into a beatific state Of anticipation; and
one soft spring day toward the end of
April they arrived.
Sir Geoffrey actually drove over him
self to meet them, and Ethel put on her
prettiest hat and accompanied him. She
did not 60 on the platform with her
father but sat there watching the few
passengers pass by ones and twos
through the little station door. She won
dered what could be keeping them.
At last her father came out and with
him a handsome sun-burnt, broad-shoul-
dered, bearded giant, whom Ethel re-
graded with no little surprise, Could
this self-possessed courteous creature be
Jack-her Jack, whom she used to chide
sometimes for his little mistakes, who
had often confessed that he owed what
little polish he had to his intercourse
with her and her father? She was so
astonished at the change In the man
and his manners that some of her feeling
found its way into her face.
How changed you are!' she had al
most said improved" "YOu look as If
you had enjoyed your winter very much"
Il have; but / hope to enjoy my
Spring better"
Something In the words Jared Ethers
nice sense Of tact She glanced quick
y at him, blushed again, and changed
the subject.
Where's Captain Polling, papa ?"
That gentleman stepped forward from
behind the pillar of the pOrtico where,
with strange longing, he had stood
watching the eloquent little pantOmime
Of bushes and glances that had just
taken place. The girl looked at him for
q moment in even greater surprise than
abe had at Jack She grew very pale,
then extended both hands quickly.
II am so glad to see you again." she
said. though am sorry to see you look
ing 80 tired. / don't thiak travelling
agrees with you. You must stay at Mall
ingfOrd, and be nursed until you are
quite WE'LL
A dusky red--called up perhaps by
the warmth Of her greetiug-suddenly
spread over his face, then left 1t again
aS eOlOrless as before.
II am all right" he returned. smiling
ct the anxious look in her eyes. "I'm
- hard a. nails; nothing ever ails me"
I'VE won't argue the question now"
she said, with her usual brightness. Are
all your belongings Fightl Let US get
home, then. and have some luncheon; l
am absolutely famishsd. Come, papa"
The three men took their seats In the
ROOmy barOuche, and the talk became
general. Ethel, leaning back IN her cor
nor, and taking mental note Of the trOu-
bic and suffering written 80 unmistaka-
bly, on Feelings face, did not notice that
she in turR was being watched as closely
BY some one else, who, by the end Of the
GVe-mile drive. had come to the conclu-
sion that he had been decOyed to Mall
lngtOn under false pretenses, and had
made up his mind to take the FIRST op-
portunity Of ascertainlng the truth from
her own lips. But the opportunity did
not present itself 80 readily as he had
hoped, and three days passed without
q chance Of tete-a-tete. On the fourth
however, things changed. 1t was the
day of the private view at the Academy
OF course Sir Godfrey, by the right of
his old associations, had the entree; so
equally, of course, had Jack as an ex,
hibitor.
The rooms were, as usual, crowded to
excess. Jack and Sir Godfrey were in
front, and Ethel was with Polling. Jack
turned suddenly, with his face aglow and
his eyes shining, and said, in a proud
whisper;
sPelling, it's on the liner
Polling pressed forward and shook
him stealthily by the hand. Bthel saw
the movement and for a moment wished
she was a man to inspire such friend
ship as existed between these two; then
she offered her congratulations warmly
and sincerely.
The other two passed on, leaving Ethel
with Jack to take note of the points of
the picture. Jack, seizing the opportu-
nifty bent his head and whispered: