Charlevoix county herald., 1908-06-27

You honor our poor house once
more?" she said, dropping a mock
courtesy. II thought you had desert.
ed u.s."
Not l." said stoutly, holding out
my hand. saw there was little play
to be carried on for the benefit of Mrs.
Knapp. For some reason she had not
confided in her mother. Not |.
am always your humble knight"
/ saw that Mrs. Knapp was looking
at us curiously, and pressed my ad.
vantage. Luella took my hand un.
willingly. | was ready to dare a good
deal for the clasp of her fingers, but
! scarcely felt the thrill of their touch
before SHE had snatched them away.
There's nothing but pretty speech.
es to be had from you-and quotations
at that" she said. There was malice
under the seeming innocence of a pre-.
tended pout.
There's nothing that could be so
becoming in the circumstances"
Except common sense" frowned
Luella.
THE most uncommon of qualities,
my DEAR" laughed Mrs. Knapp. "Sit
down, children. / must see to Mr..
Carter, who is lost by the portiere and
will never be discovered unless l res
cue him."
Take him to dear Aunt julia" said
Luella as her mother left us.
Dear Aunt julia" l inferred, was
Mrs. Bowser.
Luella took a seat and I followed
her example. Then, with chin in hand
and allow on the arm of her chair,
the young woman looked at me calmly
and thoughtfully.
WELL" said Luella at last, in cut
ting voice, ''why don't you TALK"
ITS your lead" said gloomily.
You took the last trick"
At this reference to our meeting, Lu-
ella looked surprised. Then she gave
little ripping laugh.
Really" she said, Il believe l shall
begin to like you, yet"
That's very kind of you; but turn
about is fair play"
"You mustn't do that" said she Sc.
verely, "or l shan't"
Il meant it" said l defiantly.
Then you ought to know better
than to say it," she retorted.
I'm in need of lessons, fear"
How delightful of you to confess
it! Then shall tell you what to do?''
This was very charming. FASTENED
to say:
DO, by all means"
The young woman sank back in her
chair, clasped her hands in her lap
as her mother had done, and glanced
hastily about. Then in a low voice
she said:
BE yourself"
1t was an electric shock she gave
me, not more by the words than by
the tone.
l struggled for a moment before
regained my mental balance.
Don't you think we could get on
safer ground?" 1 suggested.
NO." said Luella. There isn't any
safe ground for us otherwise"
The sudden heart-sickness at the
remainder of my mission with which
these words overwhelmed me, tied my
tongue and mastered my spirits. II
was this girls father that | was pur
suing. Oh, why was this burden laid
upon me? Why was 1 to be torn on
the rack between inclination and
duty?
Luella watched my face narrowly
through the conflict in my mind, and
felt as though her spirit struggled
with mine to win me to the course OF
open, honest dealing. But it was i'm
possible. She must be the last of all
to know.
Her eyes sank as though she knew
which had won the victory, and a
the grave good humor that had been
there a moment before. Then, on a
sudden, she began to speak Of the the
aters, rides, drives and what-not Of
the pleasures of the day. Suddenly
she stopped with weary look.
There's Aunt Julia waiting fol
you," she said with a CLEAN of ma
licious pleasure. Come along. | de
liver yor over prisoner Of war"
wait a minute" pleaded.
NO" she said imperiously motion
ing me. Come along" And with a
sigh l was given, helpless, but ST
lently protesting, captive, to the mer
cies of Mrs. Bowser.
That eloquent lady received me
with flutter Of feathers, if / may Dor
row the expression, to indicate hel
pleasure.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Dogs Homing Instinct.
The other day, writes a CORE