Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-10-05
CHAPTER xI-(c5ntinued,

Towards the end of the first week
In December a very hard frost set in
suddenly, with every prospect of last
ing. There was a wide sheet of water
IN the, grounds of Lameny Hall, some
two and a half miles distant from Har
vington, and to this sheet of water in
stantly repaired all the skating popu-
lation of the surrounding country.
Gameny 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,
lovedE"Sir joe as he was caliedThis
jovial, round face and laughing blue
eyes and genial manners were well
known to everyone. He was wild
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 faIher's
loud. jolly laugh. and hearty way of
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, ard Flora, and Nora and Cora
Goodford begging everybody to make
the most of the frost. and some over
in force 70 Lameny Lake.
OF course Miss Carroll and her
brother. and Agatha Dale, were among
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
unsuspected charms. She looked ra-
diant; her talk was full of spontaneous
delight her laughter rang out clear
as a bell across the ice. 1t was not
under Rupert's tuition.
He began to wonder why he had
never found out before how charming
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
" 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 to send it 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.
Nov do tell me, Mr., Carroll. are we
not to have a wedding in Harrington
Church soon?" she asked.
IT am sure I do not know, Miss
Cora" replied Rupert
rob, that is all very well to pretend
not to understand" rejoined the
young lady. IS 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 I? OH really. that is too fun
nv! Now confess at once. If you please.
affair c9me to nothing"
You have the advantage of me, Miss
Cora" replied the young man. very
sttfTly II know nothing whatever
about Agatha's engagement. nor why
1t was broken OF"
"Oh! oh! OH" cried out the playful
darnsel laughingly, foundering deeper
and deeper into the mire. How sly
YOU men are! AS if you didn't know
that she threw poor Lord Nethervile
over: An .or the sake o. somebody
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
s 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 at
the magnitude OF the discovery-a re-
spoasibility of q most serious nature
seemed to have suddenly fallen upon
him: for. what right had he to spoil
the life OF girl he esteemed and liked
him with the most unselhsh devotion +?
For some time after they started
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
elseg'
Yes. Rupert she answered in
low voice. her heart suddenly begin
ming to beat unanimously.
WAS twas it me that YOU cared
for, Aggie?"
II have always cared about you. Ru-
pert-all my hfe." she answered. sim
ply and earnestly.
Don't you thin1 that we had better
get married, Aggie?' he said presently.
prcsaically enough--and then. he knew
not why-he sighed