Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-16

Edith, at the sound Of wheels, fingered
In the garden. The Countess Of Av0n'1
carriage drew up, and stopped at the
gate. Miss Dane went out to 1t. Grace
spoke first, her eyes running In all d.
rections while she did 10, as II they were
in search Of some object not In view.
Edith, we could not 30 home without
driving round to ask after your mamma"
THANK you, Lady Grace. Mamma IL
in little pain to-day, and her cough IL
not troublesome. l think her breathing
is generally better in hot weather. Will
you not come inf"
up the countess. Our dinner will be
ready; you know I have to take 1t early.
Grace forgot to order James round till
We were half way home"
HAS Mr.. Baumgarten got back from
church yeti" carelessly spoke Lady Grace,
adjusting the lace Of her summer mantle.
HE is in his study, I fancy" replied
Edith, and she turned round to hide the
blush called up by the question, Just ~
Mr.. Baumgarten approached them. At
his appearance the blush in Grace oar
mel's face rivaled that In Edith's.
"You surpassed yourself to-day" cried
Lady Avon, as she shook hands with
him. II must hear that sermon again.
Would you mind lending 1t to met"
"Not at ALL" he replied, "if you can
only make out my hieroglyphics."
when shall have It? Will you
bring 1t up this evening, and take tea
with us7 But you will find the walk
long, perhaps, after your services to-day;
and the weather is hot" she added.
Every long; too far. Could you not
return with US now, Mr.. Baumgarten?"
interposed her daughter. Mamma will
be glad of you to say grace at table,"
Whether 1t pleased the countess or not,
she had no resource, in good manners,
but to second the invitation 80 uncere-
moniously given. Mr.. Baumgarten may
have thought he had no resource but to
acquiesce-out of good manners also, per-
haps. He stood leaning over the car
riage, and spoke, half laughing:
"Am to bring my sermon with me-
If so l must 60 In for It. 1 have Just
taken 1t from my pocket"
He came back with his sermon in its
black cover. The seat Of the carriage
was exceedingly large, sweeping round in
a half circle. Lady Grace drew nearer
to her mother, sitting quite back In the
middle of the seat, and Mr.. Baumgarten
took his seat beside her. Edith Dane
cast look after them as the carriage
rolled away, panied, envious look; for
her the sunshine of the afternoon had
goe out.
Miss Dane did not like these visits of
his to Avon House, and he seemed to be
often going there on one plea or another.
There, he was surrounded by all the glory
and pomp of stately life, and that Is ant
to tell upon a mans heart; Grace Car
mel, too, was more beautiful than she,
and singularly attractive. Not that Edith
did, or could, suppose there was any
real danger; the difference in their 30
cial positions barred that.
Some cloud, unexplained, and nearly
forgotten now, had overshadowed Lady
Avon's later life. 1t had occurred, what.
ever 1t was, during the lifetime of hef
lord. She had chosen ever since to live
at Avon House In retirement.
An inward complaint, real or fancied,
had set In, and the countess thought
herself unable to move to London. Lady
Grace had been presented by her aunt,
and passed one season in town then she
had returned to her mother, to share per-
force jp her retirement, at which she
inwardly rebelled. Over and over again
did Grace wish her brother would marry
and come home; for the place was his,
and 1t would oblige her mother to quit it.
But Lord Avon preferred his town house
to his country one, and told his mother
she was heartily welcome to stay in it.
He liked a gay life better than a dull
one; as all the world had known when
be was young Viscount Standish.
It is just possible that the ennui of
Grace's monOtonous life at Avon had led
to her falling In love with Mr.. Baum
garten. That she had done so. that she
loved him, with a strong and irrepressi-
BILE passion, was certain and she did not
try to overcome 1t, but rather fostered
1t, seeking his society, dwelling upon his
image. Had it occurred to her to fear
that she might find dangerous rival in
Edith Dane? No. for she cherished the
notion that Mr.. Baumgarten was attach
ed to herself, and Edith was supposed to
be engaged to a distans cousin, young
man who had been reading with her faith
er during the last year of his life. The
young fellow had wanted Edith he asked
her parents for her, he implored her to
wait until he should be ordained Edith
had only laughed at him; but the report
that they were engaged had in some way
got about; and Lady Grace never thought
to doubt IT,