The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-03-23
CHAPTER XIV

as she received the guests. CAPTAIN
e1ilhg was watching her in the pauses
OF his chat with Bertha Collins. He
caught her eye presently and smiled at
ner reassuringly, for she had confided to
MIN her dread of the awful occasion.
You are an old friend of theirs, are
you notT Bertha was saying to the
captain. 1--WE all think Miss Mailing
quite charming 1 took to her from the
nrst; but. do you know, she is not easy
TO get on with. Of course she is all one
could wish as hostess; but it is impos-
slble to gush with her. She has a way
OF sitting all one says and showing up
anything that is absurd without certainly
IN the least intending to give offense.
You would hardly believe it, dare say,
but 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. Will you adopt
the same practice with me?'
Il should not dare" she replied, with
mock gravity. IF I were to get a repu-
tatloa for seriousness l 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, a 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-looklng artist if she chose
to do So,
WAS she very much gone on him ?"
lawfully! 1t must have been a terri
BILE blow to her when her husband turn
ed up"
Rather! Isn't it odd, his being
hereT
Il don't think so. He was very good
to Sir Godfrey when he was in less
aft1uent circumstances, believe"
Things seem bit mixed From what
l could make out, he had believed him
self widOwer, just as she had thought
herself a widow, until they met in the
church. Don't you think it 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 l 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 wife! 1t looks like
the finger of Fate. doesn't it-though
which way the finger is pointing I can't
see."
As 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 l was disappointed when l
heard that she had taken the family
jewels with her." he said, in allusion.
to Pauline. Pm afraid she has inher-
tied some of her fathers want of prin-
ciple. The Luftons were never particu-
larly distinguished for honesty. What
do you mean to do about it, Geoffrey p
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"
IAN 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
Pelling 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 un-
conscious. Thinking this a good opening
to talk of Jack, he said:
IF you are not too tired, 1 want to
show you delightful style of title page
that l came across this morning.
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 II
Captain Polling. 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 itv'
''That is just it," he returned. laugh
ingly. II have become so accustomed
to working in company that find l
can't move a step by myself"
You would not be offended at any
thing / should say for your good?"
go on" he said, and waited with
knitted brows for what she had to say.
Ethel, in her short life, had often had
unpleasant tasks to perform, but never
one SO unpleasant as this.
"Out of your own mouth shall you be
Judged" she began. smiling at him to
hide the trembling of her lips. You
say you have become SO used to working
Ia company that you cannot move steI
yN7$ n "a