Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-04-02
CHAPTER ".

WELL" Lady Bannatyne said, she did
not find you such a dragon, after ALL"
did he say sol"
mo. How was it you never told me
you knew him long agoH"
Mrs. Gerard, leaning back in the vic
toria beside her friend, looked away over
the heathery braes, the lonely sheep
walks, the glowing mountains.
"He was not Lord Trefoil when I knew
him." she said.
HE remembers you, a slim dark-eyed
girl at your fathers rectory in Clare"
81 am rather slim yeti" she said a
little wistfully.
"And your eyes are just as dark.
don't find you so changed" Lady Ban
natyne turned to consider her. But
then I've seen you from time to time,
and that makes a difference"
eyes," Mrs. Gerard said, "it would
make difference"
"He says he should not have recognized
you, but that's nonsense. You are pulled
down, naturally-you've been shut up in
your room for a week. But an old wom-
an! Why, you're only 38!"
"I'm Mona's mother"
'Yes," Lady Bannatyne said, as she
laughed. 81 suppose that's it. Well, he
doesn't look so much too old for Mona
That's where men have the advantage
over us. They're not supposed to put on
velvet mantles and bonnets when they
come to certain age, and care for moth
ing at dance but the supper. Talking
of dances, as soon as you are quite well
/ am going to give a dance for Mona's
own self Jack and Jean would not let
me alone till / promised, SO we've left
the decorations up, and now want you
to settle the night, all being well"
Mrs. Gerard moved restIessly.
81 do so hate" she said, being dragged
into these things-they don't suit me,
and l don't suit them"
'FYou are a very selfish woman" Lady
Bannatyne said, but not naturally.
"You ought to think of Mona this is the
time of her life. If she hasn't little
fun and enjoyment now when will she
have it? That's what l say to myself
when I'm little tired and Jean wants
to drag me about. By-and-by they'll
marry and settle down, and then we'll
go off to the continent together, you and
/, and do the Rhine, and Venice, and the
old medieval French towns, and take
our time over it, with no interchangeable
young ones to hurry us about"
Mrs. Gerard did not seem to think the
prospect so very alluring, but she smiled
as her eyes travelled over the wide heath.
just in front of them, before Lady Ban
natyne had time to speak again, young
man in rough homespun suit and gait
ers jumped over the ditch, using a thistle
cutter as a alpenstock. As the carriage
passed him he raised his Scotch bonnet
to Lady Bannatyne, who gave him a
smiling nod
you know him % she said to Mrs.
Gerard
NO" She drew her eyebrows to-
gether, striving to recollect.
your landlord, Alastair Ogilvie"
81 never met him. 1t was Sir John, you
remember who managed all that for
me?"
ooh, yes, to be surei He's good look
ing, don't you think?"
II scarcely looked at him"
Reddish hair, and freckled, but a good
profile Do you know''-she laughed a
little uneasily-T was half afraid, when
we were here last year, that Jean would
fall in love with him. She and the boys
met him very often, and he came some
tiiIleS To l<Dcn 11lluue. NJlIlS are so silly
when they first leave the schoolroom. But
fortunately nothing came of it, except a
kind of sparring match, which they still
keep up whenever they meet. He's as
poor as church mouse, you know. All
this land you see is his, but it's worth
nothing. We rent his grouse mountain
It matches ours, you know. There used
to be an old castle, but it has fallen into
ruin. Ardcaein, where you live, was only
the baillie's house in former times"
"And where does Mr.. Ogilvie stay
now?'
81 thought he had gone to his cousin
in Oban; else 1 might have invited him to
Jacks dance. suppose, if can find out
where he is, must ask him to this one
not that 1 believe he'll come. Last year
when Sir John asked MIN to dine, he said
calmly that he had no evening dress. Do
you think it would tire you too much to
drive to Glenart Shiel ?" Lady Banna-
tyne added
Il do not feel tired now, all events"
"Then we'll 60 there, and get Mrs.
Murray to give us some lunch"
She gave direction to the coachman.
and he whipped up his horses. Mrs. Ger
Tard, leaning back in her place, drew in
long breaths Of the mountain air.
You are looking better already" LAZY
Bannatyne observed presently. Il don't
know how Lord Trefoil could say
She pulled herself up considering. DO
you think he viii speak to Mona today ~
Today" Mrs. Gerard started. HE