The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-10-21
CHAPTER I.

All that sort of thing Is a dreadful
mistake" said Mrs. Garland's sister
tn-law to her severely.
What sort OF thing my dear?" in
quired Mrs. Garland. mildly. "Oh."
following the direction of the other
woman's eyes. "that?"
The two ladies were seated in the
shade, upon the smooth lawn that
sloped from The Cottage down to the
river. The little garden was gay with
flowers, the summer air was full of
sweet scents and sounds. The tea
table, with its dainty white cloth and
Japanese tea-service. had been set
upon the grass beneath the shelter of
q wide-spreading plane tree.
The Cottage faced one of the most
lovely -back-waters on the Thames.
being secluded from the more public
traffic OF the main stream, by long
wooded island with a fringe OF grace
full willows. that bent low over the
shadowy water.
The object which at the present
moment aroused Lady Garland's dire
displeasure was, as a matter of fact.
one OF the most delightful river pic
lures that could possibly be imagined
young girl dressed all In white
and fair az any dream, was standing
up in punt halfway across the
stream. Her slender figure. seen to
best advantage against the deep
green's of the background, was per-
feet In it's supple grace. and she piled
her long pole slowly and with dexter
Gus ease as she approached the bank.
Her companion. a good looking young
fellow Of six or seven and twenty.
lay at full length upon the scarlet
cushions in the stern. his arms flung
Idly back behind his dark curly head,
and his brown eyes fixed upon the
girl in dreamy absorption.
1T is a horrible mistake!" repeated
Lady Garland once more almost with
anger.
THAT irene should amuse herself.
Anna?" inquired the girls mother,
with gentle smile; why should not
the poor child have a little pleasure %
But who is this young man. pray.
with whom you allow her to go punt
Ing about on the river from morning
till night?''
Rupert Carroll? / think he seems
= very nice young man indeed"
Seems, but what do you know
about him? Who is he. where does
he come FROM"
"Oh. he Is just staying at the
George for fishing" replied Mrs.
Garland placidly.
My dear Gertrude. you really are
the most aggravatlng person in the
world, AS If staying at a country
Inn for fishing could be a sufficient
guarantee for anybody's respectable
Ity! How do you know, pray. what
this man Is? He may be an impos-
| tor"
Il think not. Mr.. Carroll is a gen
| tleman.''
Anyhow. he Is probably a pauper
Pray. Gertrude. think of your child's
future. She is beautiful and barely
eighteen, she ought to marry well
for she has no other fortune but her
face. And believe me. my dear, these
| meaningless fiirtations only get girls
talked about. and are horribly preju-
dicial to their settling In life."
| A flush came suddenly into her
mothers gentle face. 1--WE do no,
think of such things. Irene and l." she
said with little dignity. 81 do not
want my girls head TO be filled with
with ideas Of what you call mar
rying well'I would rather keen he,
| at home with me-"
At this moment the punt grated
against the shallow shore at the END
of the garden, and Rupert Carol
sprang out to assist his companion tc
land. AS he took her hand. he held
1t a moment clasped tightly in his.
Wont you really do as / ask you
| Miss Garland?"
! Mamma would not like me TO go
Mr.. Carroll" the girl answered. trem.
bling a little. and not daring to NEE
his eyes.
But why tell her? Why not com,
out quietly as 1 ask you to do. with
out saying a word? 1t is not as 1
we had not been out after dinner be
fore. and you have no idea how beau
tiful the weir looks by the light o
| this harvest moon-it is a dream,"
Irene's downcast face was a pictur'
of indecision and confusion AS
! rule II was a face that was "A trifl'
| cold and proud. but now somethin;
new and wonderful had TRANSPORTED
| and changed IL. so that ii was onl,
sweet. and tremulous and timid. Flo
q fortnight past the girl had beer
| living in Dreamiand. This man, whom
| three weeks ago she had never hear,
Of, had entered into her quiet life on
| golden summer day, and had takcl
| ct IF bar xvbn1a
chance Introduction to Mrs. Gar
land and her daughter bad brough
about the intimacy, and very sooi
| Carroll bad found that no3 ting wit
Irene was a laI more enhancing oc
cupation that fishing b. himself. Mrs
Garland. an Irishwoman by birth
! was as are all her countrymen an