The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1906-02-24
CHAPTER XIV

~, and Ethel felt just little nervous
as she received the guests. CAPTAIN
[elilng was watching her in the pauses
OF DIS chat with Bertha Collins. He
caught her eye presently and smiled al
ner reassuringly, for she had confded to
hlin her dread of the awful occasion.
GU are an old friend of theirs are
you mott? Bertha was saying to the
captain. I'VE all think Miss Mailing
quite charming. l took to her from the
nrst; but, do you know, she is not easy
10 get on with. OF course she is all one
could wish as hostess; but it is impos-
Side to gush with her. She has way
Oh sitting all one says and showing up
anything that is absurd without certainly
IN the least intending to give offense.
lou would hardly believe it. l dare say,
out have adopted the habit of trying
TO talk seriously when she is listening. F"
think that is the greatest compli-
ment you could pay her. Will you adopt
the same practice with mef''
should not dare" she replied. with
mock gravity. IF were to get a repu-
tatlon 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 dron-
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 I'D of the
party when Pauiine's intended Maria %
had been discovered.
Now tell ma-nould tbaro h.
more ridiculous than her running axaT
from her own house and marrviuo o
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. Sefton ro,d
us the note she had left behind. as we
dropped in, one after another. TO Inncb-
con! AT first everybody looked very sur
prised, and then the absurditv Of tho
whole proceeding struck us. WHY could
sue not nave 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."
Awfully! 1t must have been q tarri-
ed up"
Rather! Isn't it odd, his being
here? 'ns
Il don't think so. He was verv GOOD
TO Sir Godfrey when he was in lose
ah1uent circumstances, l believe"
Ihlngs seem bit mixed. From what
1 could make out, he had believed him
ser wldower just as she had thought
herse!f widow, until they met in the
chureh. Don't you think it probable
tnat' Whiie he was under the impression
.hat MS wife was dead, he may have
had liking for Miss Malling?'
II believe you are right" Bertha re-
pied, energetically, ''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-thoupb
which way the finger is pointing l 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 tho
less glad to have it over. Lord Sum-
mers stayed behind, talking earnestly
with Sir Godfrey.
ADMIT L was disappointed when |
heard that she had taken the family
jewels with her." he said, in allusion
TO Pauline. I'm afraid she has Inber.
ited some of her fathers want of nr,n-
c1ple The Luftons were never m rticu.
larry distinguished for honesty. What
do you mean to do about it. Geoffrev ?"
Nothing openly. l am In communico.
tlon with her waiting maid, who had
promised to let me know if there Ia anv
IDEA on Pauline's part of selling them
and l shall, unknown to her, become the
purchaser"
AN excellent idea and very rener.
Gus one. BY the bye, as things have
turned out, how fortunate 1t Ia that tba
between our charming Ethel
and young Dornton was-"
de stopped suddenly as Ethel md
FEELING came back from bidding farewell
to Miss Collins. They both caught tho
drift of his words, and Ethel glanced M
FEELINGS face; but it was calmly nm.
Thinking this a good openiny
to talk of Jack, he said:
IF you are not too tired, I want ~
show you delightful style of title noge
that came across this morning 7
thought you might elaborate the idea FOR
for your Central Africa. 1t is on This
table somewhere"
II am afraid my share of Central
Africa will not be anything to be proud
'f," he replied with a smile. !
That is nonsense, and you know II !
Captain Polling! have made up INV
mind that your sketches are to be the
principal attraction of the book, II ia .
eally unkind of you to make light of
rour work after all our interest in itp' 6
THAT is just it," he returned, laugh
ngly. Il have become so accustomed
o working in company that l find | a
ant move a step by myself" i
You would not be offended at any r
hing l should say for your good?" I
go on" he said, and waited with t
united brows for what she had to say. Q
Ethel in her short life, had often had c
unpleasant tasks to perform, but never $
me so unpleasant as this. h
"Out of your own mouth shall you be n
udged," she began, smiling at him to n
Tide the trembling of her Inns HYou | .