The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-12-09
CHAPTER XI.-(Continued.)

in the grounds of Lameny Hall, some
two and Il half miles distant from Har-
vington, and to this sheet of water in
stantly repaired all the skating popu-
lation OF the surrounding country.
Lameny Hall belonged to Sir Joseph
Goodford. and he was the most popu-
lar and hospitable man on all that side
of the county. Everybody liked-nay,
loved-"Sir joe" as he was called-his
jovial. round face and laughing blue
eyes and genial manners were well
known to everyone. He was a wld-
over, with one son, who was seldom
at home, and a quartette of grown-up
daughters four buxom. blue-eyed.
fair haired girls, with their fathers
loud. jolly laugh. and hearty way or
making everybody feel welcome at
their house.
AS soon as the ice could bear invi-
tation notes were flying about to all
the houses in the neighborhood. from
Laura, and Flora, and Nora and Cora
Goodford. begging everybody to make
the most of the frost, and some over
IN force to Lameny Lake.
OF course Miss Carroll and her
the invited Miss Carroll did not skate,
but she walked about with Sir Joe and
other fathers and mothers, along the
side of the frozen water, watching the
pretty scene. and her own particular
children" among the rest. and waited
for them afterwards in the house.
drinking her tea, and chatting to her
| friends indoors when she had had
| enough of it out of doors.
Agatha did not skate very well, and
Rupert took it upon himself to teach
her. Agatha found it very delightful
to be helped along by the young mans
strong arm--that was ready to support
her if she tottered. or to catch her II
she fell. Flushed with the keen air
and exercise, and her eyes shining with
new glow of tenderness and happi-
ness. the girl developed daily fresh and
unsupported charms. She looked ra-
diant; her talk was full of spontaneous
delight; her laughter rang out cleay
as a bell across the ice. 1t was not
only Agatha's skating that improved
under Rupert's tuition
| He began to wonder why he had
| she could be, and he was angry with
himself because he still retained that
same sisterly feeling towards her,
which precluded all idea of sentiment.
And perhaps to the end of the chapter
| he would never have altered this atti-
| tude with regard to her, had not some
thing been opportunity said to him
that opened his eyes to the truth
1t was the fourth day of the frost.
and there was TO be an impromptu
dance got up at days notice, in the
evening. All the skaters were invited
to stay and partake of kind Of pic
mic meal and to dance afterwards in
the great entrance hall. that, with its
oak polished floor. could be very quick
| Iy prepared for terpsichorean pleas
ures.
| Miss Carroll, with most OF the ED
| ers, went home early, soon after tea /;
| she said that she was too old to dance.
and that, at her age, she hated to be
kept out of her bed, whilst others did
so. She told Rupert to take care OF
| Agatha, and to bring her home safely.
and she drove away in the brougham.
| promising 10 send 1t back for them at
a later hour.
| Carroll naturally did not sit near
| Agatha at dinner: the tables. for there
/ were two of them. were very long. and
| occupied the whole length of the room,
| and Aggie's place happened to be far
| away from his. at the furthest extrem-
| ity of the table at which he sat. He
/ made himself agreeable to Miss Cora
| Goodford, who was seated next TO him.
| Now do tell me. Mr.. Carroll. are we
/ rot to have wedding in Harrington
| Church soon?" she asked.
Il am sure I do not know. Miss
| Cora" replied Rupert.
"Oh, that is all very we'll to pretend
not to understand" rejoined the
Young lady "--s if you did not know
| perfectly well whom l am thinking
about,-that naughty girl disappointed
us all so horribly before."
Are you talking OF Agatha ?" in
| ouired Carroll, with some surprise.
Am 1? OH really. that is too fun
nv, Now confess at once. if you please
that you know as well as / do why that
affair came to nothing"
You have the advantage of me. Miss
Cora" replied the young man. very
stiffly. II know nothing whatever
about Agatha's engagement. nor why
! II was broken off"
"Oh! oh, OH" cried out the playful
damsel Iaughingly. laundering deeper
and deeper into the mire. How sly
YOU men are. AS if you didn't know
| that she threw poor Lord Netherville
as the poet, Burns. said,"
Carroll redeemed. 1t was impossible
now to mistake her meaning; the
knowing look she gave him. the way
| she nodded her head. even the little
| gesture of her uplifted finger all in
formed him with perfect directness
that Miss Cora considered him to be
the somebody" for whose sake Aga
| tina had broken off her engagement.
He turned hot and cold all over al
| the magnitude of the discovery-a re-
| sponsibility of q most serious nature
! seemed to have suddenly fallen upor
him: for, what right had he to spoi
the life of a girl he esteemed and liked
so much, and who must indeed love
him with the most unselfish devotion
FOR some time dIleT tUty
homewards they sat side by side in ST
lence, then all at once without any pre-
amble Rupert turned towards Agatha
and said:
"Aggie, did you throw over Neither
Vile because you cared for someone
else?"
Yes, Rupert" she answered i'm Z
low voice, her heart suddenly begin
ming to beat tumultuOusly.
WAS twas it me that you care,
for, Aggie?"
Il have always cared about yar. Ru
pert-all my life," she answered. sin
ply and earnestly.
Don't you think that we had bette
get married, Aggie?" he said presently
prosaically enough-and then. he kneg
not why-he sighed.
CHAPTER XII.
1t was at Mentone that Lady Car
land and her niece had settled dow
for the winter. The girl. however