Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-04-07
CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V.
"After all, I'm rather glad we decided
on coming" says Mrs. Clarence, drawing
the carriage rug closer round her. Moth
ing at this dreadful woman's party can
be duller than the hours we should have
spent at home. wonder if she has
changed, and what direction the change
has-has-"
Here the landau drives into heavy
rut, so that whatever Mrs. Clarence
would have said about Madam O'Flaher-
ty is lost to posterity forever. The
shock is sufficiently great to unseat them
all, in a measure. This to Mr.. McGrath
seems a most suitable opportunity of max
ing himself unpleasant all round. sc with
wild shrek of dismay he seizes May
in his arms, and holds her closely to him,
while a frenzied expression grows upon
his brow.
LET me go, Owen! Don't" cries May,
angrily pushing him from her.
What on earth do you mean, Nc
Grath?" exclaims Grey furiously.
II thought she was killed." says Owen,
with rather suspicious excitement "Oh,
Grey, what should What should you
have done-had she been killed."
Il don't know" returns Grey, SO
grufly, so indiferently as it seems to
May, that for the whole of the remainder
of the day she refuses SO much as to look
at him.
Her roads haven't changed, anyway
says Mrs. Clarence with disgust; her
laces have been shaken little out OF
place. Il expect neither Is she We
shall have an awful time here, l know
what is she like?" asks May.
CAS- l remember her, she was a big
fat, dreadful creature, with a brogue you
could sit on without fear, of breaking
down. think it is a monstrous thing
perfect infiiction, to be compelled to
come here to-day just because this ridicu.
lous old woman happens to be sort oil
connection of Sir Lucien's. He has made
us come-said he'd arrive after u.s."
''She is so fearfully inquisitive," says
Everard. You know | met her at the
Brownies the other day. She asked me
every question under the sum-"
They have driven up to the hall door
of 1.-The Larches,' Madam O'Flaherty's
house, by this time; the hostess comes
numbering down from the topmost step OF
the stone fight to receive them.
So far as May can see, Madam O'Fla-
herty is distinctly remarkable. She Is
a gigantic woman, with three chins and
a topknot. On the topknot rests hat
sailor hat, that a girl of fifteen might
have worn-perched at an angle of 4S
degrees.
Here you are, here you are" cries
she, prancing up to the door of the Ian
dau, and pushing the footman triumph
antly to one side. 80 glad to see you
all. But where's Lucien? No nonsens.
about his being engaged now. l know al
about that. He can't be. Faith" with Z
sudden thought" 'twould be fool would
be engaged to him. Here she pause.
in her rapid utterance, to give way to &
loud and raucous laugh In appreciation
of her own wit.
Mrs. Clarence shudders.
"He-he's coming :" says she, which i,
the readiest lie that occurs to her.
HE gave us distinctly to understand
that nothing would keep him away" sup
plements her brother nobly.
well, come along, come along" erie.
Madam O'Flaherty, with great hospital
ity. Teas over there in the tent"
With their hostess they go round tn,
corner of the house, and into full view o.
the guests already assembled.
A miscellaneous lot enough. Some yer,
charmingly and daintily clad, who stant
in groups together; others a little i'm
possible perhaps, but not so altogether
out of the running as to be beyond know
ing; on the outskirts of both these, som,
really awful beings.
Beyond all these, little, slender, grace
full figure, leaning over the bank, ans
dropping leaves or twigs into the stream
below, catches Hilary's eye.
1t is Amber In a fash he knows
her. What other form On earth could b,
like hers? Who else could claim sucf
delicate coloring, and that half-petulant
half-haughty turn of the chin?
'Eere we all are now ~ cries MADAM
in her loud and strident tones. Her,
we all are--I really don't think hav,
any more folks to expect. So now" will
glance round at her guests, sort your
selves and go for little stroll round tn,
place. The gardens are looking lovely
and we can't ell play tennis"
A rather alarming silence follows upol
this noble command to go for a send
mental promenade" In the strawberries
even the impossible ones sit motionles
waiting on events. Madam has forgot
ten to make formal introductions.
Mrs. Clarence and May are strugglin,
with wild desire for laughter, wherea
Mr.. McGrath looks sad. Madam O'Tla
herty sees his detection.
whats the matter with your ask
she anxiously.
II feel such a difficulty about sortinI
myself says Owen modestly.
my darling boy" cries Madam. 'No
at all-not st all. You see those girl
on the bench over there, the Moore girls
you know them. eh7 No? oh, tina
won't matter: there isn't one of Their
won't be delighted to go for stroll wit
you, II you'll only ask them To tell yo'
the truth, they've been eseecting you
party all the day long. Society here, M
dear Owen. is going to the bad for wan
of few men. But now that you've a
come for a while. well Be looking up
bit. To let you into a small secret, I'r
thinking of giving biz of dance.
"Msdam the FIRST waltz is mine." erie
Owen enthusiastically.
ooh, get out with yoa. Pom me hon
or and word, don't know what you boy
are coming to. But look here. Owen.
think il give hop, Sir Lucien Nigh
well give another. BE cwes IL to Us al
down here. But he's such an old hunks
there's no being up to him. Just to thinl
my dear boy, that he should be alive al
kicking, and my poor darling Denis, VIII
used to keep the table In q roar gon
forever. IT'S queer world. my dear"
ITO be continued.)
4
They Get Over Ii.