Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-01-12

the names. Each Of these windows was
tastefully and luxuriously furnished.
There were two very fine paintings Oh
the walls, and the whole room was lit
tered most picturesquely with valuable
curiosities brought home by Captain
Polling.
Ethel looked round her with sense
of supreme delight Mrs. Criehton mis- |
took the look, and apologized for the
general untidiness of the room.
'You see, miss, Captain Peling took |
the house only three weeks ago. He
don't allow Martha or me to touch his
wonderful curiosities, so l am obliged
to put up with this dreadful state OF
things. You will find thiS couch more
comfortable for a rest than either OF
those small ones. If you will allow me,
l will throw this light wooden shawl over
| your feet Let me raise your pillow the
least bit Thereafter carefully ar
ranging it, that is more comfortable.
will bring the tea in a few minutes.
How good the tea was, and how enjoy
able the great quietness and peace seem
ed to Ethel after the distracting roar
and rattle of the London streets!
Captain Polling came through the win
/
Ethel lying there. He had expected Mrs.
Crichton would take her to her own sane
tum. He stood irresolute for a moment
just inside the window, and then crossed
the room to look more closely at his
pretty young guest.
"She's as pretty as a picture, and as
good as gold, if l know anything about
physiognomy. She has a trouble of some
| ghO Ia IN
kiss those tears aawy. l wonder what
she's worrying about Perhaps Mallett
is hard up; he seems a careless soft of a
fellow. I'll see if 1 can't help them a
bit in that direction, anyway"
This was a genuine red-letter day for
Ethel. She was so intensely interested
in the Captains description of his trav-
els that for the time she was drawn out
of herself and her own affairs. Mr..
Mallett, too, was heartily pleased And
Polling was equally satisfied with his
guests When the evening was over, he
was surprised to find how well he had
talked. and he felt convinced that sue.
cessful conversation as often depends OF
the quality of the listener as of the
talker.
. There was not much progress made in
the ostensible purpose of the visit, seeing
that the little sketches"-which turned
J out to be rather good specimens of theil
: elass-led the way to SO much descrip
ton that they looked only at some hall
} dozen before they came to one that ere
t ated a diversion which lasted until they
started for home.
. The Captain had been holding forth OF
the pluck and fidelity of a native ser
want at whose portrait they were look
ing, when Ethel said:
Il wonder you did not persuade him tt
come to England with you. Your rela
= tives would have worshiped him id thei
gratitude for having saved your life s
often"
Il have not one relative in the world
= Miss Mallett,'' answered the Captain
: gravely.
;, Ethels glance was full of sympathy.
Il beg your pardon" she put in hast
: ily Il am sorry l made the remark"
Don't be sorry. I'm very glad. l of
y ten long to talk a little about myself
You can't believe what an awful feelin
i. it is to know that there is not one pei
= son in the world who is sufficiently in
: terested in you to care for your privat
:, concerns"
=. Decidedly unpleasant" murmure
It Mr.. Mallett
i You'll hardly believe, Mallett, tina
this is the most dOmesticated evenin
e I've spent for the last six years. Joll
hard, when you consider that 1 am mai
urally fond Of home and all that kind q
" thing! | was just getting weary of tn
! loneliness of this place, but your bein
y here tonight has changed the whole as
pect of affairs. 1t looks 50 hOmelike t
= see you sitting there as if you belonge
ii to the place, Miss AIallett. To-mOrrOl
night l shall fancy L see you still ther,
q and be reconeiled for time al least"
d You should marry-best recipe in tn
world for lonelinessr' Mr.. Mallett oil
i served, laughingly.
le Tried it, and round 1t a failure"
II "Ehv' Mr.. Mallett sat upright an
le stared into his hosts face. II beg you
, pardon, Polling, if l have said anythin
H. unpleasant"
e Not at aIl-in fact, if shouldn't Dor
~ you SO horribly as to prevent your eve
~ taking compassion on me again, | shOul
like to tell you about my marriage. SOM
times l think it must all have been
dream, it seems so unreal"
~ He sat for a moment gazing absent
9 into the garden. which was beginning I
~ look dim and shadowy In the summC
u. twilight, as II he were calling up til
past from its gloomy depths. Ethel fe
~ a SILVER of superEtitiOus awe pass OvC
her. and the movement seemed to br;n
ie back the captain from the mOmentar
u reveris into which he had fallen.
FTO be continued.I