Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-05-07
CHAPTER II.-(Continued.)


whether you enjoyed your ball."
"Yes, that l did; l got lots of dane
ing, and l do like that, you know. But
how about yourself, Gren? l don't think
you quite did your duty"
Pretty fairly, fancy. We can't be
expected to consummate the amount of
pirouetting that your sex delight in. /
danced a good deal, and it was real pleas
ure to me to see the little sensation you
made. l like to see my pretty cousin
appreciated as she should be, and taking
her legitimate position in the county"
"And what's that, pray?"
"Why, as the belle of all Hampshire,
of course. / wish, though, you hadn't
danced with that fellow Pearman last
night. I've a sort of presentiment ill
will come of it."
you stupid Grenville; what can come
of it? | am not likely to see him again
for months-perhaps never. At the
worst, recognition of his existence on
meeting is all that quadrille entails"
"Well, suppose you are right, Maude ;
but it is time | was off. Good-by." And
Grenville's pulse tingled little, as his
lips touched the fair cheek so quietly
yielded to him. kind regards to my un-
Gle and aunt; and drop me a line now
and then.
Don't be afraid Of that" laughed
Miss Denison; don't | always write to
you when l want anything ?-and am
not always wanting something? l think
the past might testify in my favor. Good
by; don't be long before you come and
see us again"
Grenville Rose pondered moodly over
his visit, as he drove to the station. He
had not quite mastered the fact that he
was in love with his cousin, but he had
arrived at some close apprehensions on
the subject He felt that he would have
been a good deal better satisfied had his
parting salute been much less easily ac-
corded.
Maude, fresh as a rose; after turn
round the garden, comes in just in time to
greet her mother on her return to the
dining room. Petting her mother is one
of the chief pleasures of Maude Denison s
life. On this occasion she conducts her
into the easychair next the fire, makes
the tea, and then, drawing a stool near
seats herself at Mrs. Denison's feet, and
with girlish delight recounts all her sue
cesses of the previous night to which
the fond mother listens with quiet happi-
ness, as her hand plays with her daugh-
ter's silken tresses. That nobody could
eclipse, that nobody could ever be wor-
thy of mating with her peerless Maude,
was thing that Mrs. Denison would
have deemed absurd to argue.
"And uothar daor ~ coid tho GIRL nj
last, "Grenville said, before he went away
this morning, l was quite the belle of the
ball. What do you think of your daugh-
ter now? Won't that satisfy papa, al
though he did grumble so about the ex-
pense of the dress?"
'Yes, love. He will be quite content
ed when he hears how thoroughly you en-
joyed yourself. l am only so sorry that
was not strong enough to have been
present myself at my darling's success"
Harold Denison entered the room in
his usual listless fashion. He kissed his
daughter carelessly asked if she had en-
joyed her ball, scarce listened to her af-
firmation, and then plunged at once into
the letters and papers that lay piled
alongside his plate. He was a TALL slight,
handsome man, with keen, cold eye and
rather undecided mouth verging on fifty
years of age. The slightly grizzled eye
brows knit as he SKINNED his correspond
ence Duns, lawyers letters anent mort
cages and sundry other liabilities, form
ed the staple of the daily missives that
constituted the accompaniment to his
breakfast. Can it be wondered that the
mans temper was soured?-that the
whiom gay frolic squire of Glinn had
become cold, caustic and selfish man of
the world?
"Things seem to be getting worse and
worse, Eleanor" he observed, throwing
down an epistle on the best superfine
blue post, and slipping his tea moodily.
'The old cry from Reynolds and Gibson
that that interest on the mortgage will
be due next month, and begging prompt
settlement this time, as the fellow is get
ting rather uneasy about the stability of
the security, on account of the delay of
last half-year. 1t will be hard to scrape
the money together. Sheep, too, are
down to nothing almost-so Thompson
tells me-or else / have a hundred to
sell that | looked to to help me through
NlUu thlS'
Mrs. Denison sighed. She had gone
through good many such breakfasts in
her time, and felt as helpless as ever in
suggesting expedients for the occasion.
'Its very unfortunate" she said at
length. "Mr. Pearman is not pressing,
at all events, hope"
'No; he has the grace to remember
that two-thirds of the property have al
ready fallen into his hands. He is al
ways tolerably lenient about his money.
The fellow knows, moreover, that his is
the first mortgage on the estate; and, l
daresay, at times looks forward to being
the eventual owner of Glinn. Shouldn't
wonder il he was, too, some of these
days." muttered Denison bitterly. II
used to grieve once, Nell, that we hadn't
a con 7 heoin to think now il was nj