Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-12-30
CHAPTER X.

and, besides this, Sne nad 1elt Ior soule
time what she would have termed an
aching void" for want of a conf
dante A confldante had always been
a necessity to her. as 1t generally Is
to persons much taken up with them
selves. Her last devoted friend, the
deposltary of her secret troubles, pro
jects, and love affairs. had lately mar
ried brutal husband who had taught
his bride to laugh at Mary Dacre's
storms in teacup and two-penny-half-
penny tragedies; so her heart was
empty, swept and garnished, and
ready for the occupation Of another
faithful friend and counsellor" when
fate threw Hope Desmond in her way
In Miss Dacre's estimation, she was
eminently fitted to fill the vacant post
there was just the difference of station
between them which would make the
condolences of the future Baroness Cas-
tleton fiattering to their recipient. to
whom also her friendship might be
useful. There was a short pause. Miss
Desmond's eyes looked dreamy, as If
she were gazing in spirit at some dis.
tant scene, and not as II she were
quivering with impatieuce for the
revelations about to be made to her.
The silence was broken suddenly by
a somewhat unconnected exclamation
from Miss Dacre: He Is certainly
very nice.looking."
who? Lord Everton?" asked Hope
Lord Everton! Nonsensel He
might have been forty years ago.
mean Captain Lumley. There is
something knightly in his look and
bearing: one could imagine him go
Ing down into the lions pit for ones
glove, and that sort OF thing"
81 do not think l could" smiling.
II do not fancy Captain Lumley or
any other logical modern young man
doing anything of the kind. He might,
II extra-chivalrous, bring you dozen
new pairs to replace the one you had
dropped"
"Ah, my dear Miss Desmond, | fear
you are not imaginative. Or perhaps
you have only known prosaic men,"
II have only known very few OF any
kind
And have had such a wide expe.
rience!" said Miss Dacre, with a sigh.
You can see | am no beauty: yet
have the fatal gift of fascination in an
aytraordinorv da1raa Vos rooIi,, a.. a..
quite curious" Another sigh. II feel
In something of difficult position
Just now, and | have no friend near
with whom to take counsel. Now.
dear Miss Desmond, feel attracted to
you. | am certain you could be a
faithful friend. and silent as the
grave"
Il should be very happy to be of
any use to you," said Hope, seeing she
paused for reply.
Il knew you would. I am so tired
OF feeding on my own heart! want
friend. Now dare say you are sur.
prised to see how earnestly advocate
Hugh Saville's cause. All, there is a
little tragic story which will color my
whole life"
Indeed" with awakening interest.
II trust your life will be free from all
tragic ingredients"
"Ah, no; that 1t cannot be. You
must know that | saw a great deal of
Richard and Hugh Saville when I was
a little girl; my father worried a great
deal about politics, and used to live
at the Court all the summer, that he.
might see me sometimes (my mother
died when was baby, you know
Well, as soon as left off playine
with dolls and began to feel, | was in
love with Hugh; and he was yery
fond OF me. Then he went to sea. and
we did not meet for years, until after
had been presented and had refused
half a dozen men. I shall never for.
get our first meeting when he return.
ed from-oh. | don't know where He
was so pleased to see me; but soon
very soon saw that he who was the
light OF my eyes was the one man NJ
all had met who resisted the attrac
tion ! generally exercise" Here she
paused In her voluble utterance and
pressed her handkerchief to her ewes
Hope was so amazed at these unex.
pected revelations that the bright col.
or rose In her cheek-it seemed m
ner delicate nature almost Indecent
to thus lay bare ones secret exner,.
ences to a stranger-and a look of
embarrassment made her drop her
eyes; but these symptoms were lost
on her companion. who Thoroughly
enjoyed holding forth on the delight.
ful topic OF self and exhibiting her
own fine points.
That must have been very trv.
Ing" said Hope, feeling that she ouebt
to say something.
Awful, my dear Miss Desmond Nv
the bye. may l call you Hope? II is q
good omen. your name"
Certainly, Miss Dacre."
We'll, my dear Hope, nearly went
mad; but 1t is curious that never
looked better. / fiirted wildly with
every one; still of course Hugh knew
quite well that / was daunaro+oi