The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-07-13
CHAPTER XII.
A Bit of Paper.

George Laxon looked after her with
/ an ugly expression in his handsome
face.
you shall kneel to me yet, my
! lady!" he muttered. "You think
you've got scot free of me now, don't
you? Blame you! But we shall see
what we shall see, and sha'n't break
no promises, neither. What I've
swore I'll keep, as long as you keeps
your OATH"
When Enid and the earl reached
the gate at Weir Cottage they found
Dorothy with the cloak round her
and the hood on her head.
"Is that what you call resting?"
asked Gervais, with tender reproach.
II got tired of reading, and so came
to watch for you. Well, Enid, and
how did you enjoy the river? Did
she steer as well cs I do, Gervais?
Did you try to row at all? Were
there many people?"
Gervais laughed at the gay, rafting
way in which Dorothy put these ques-
lions, but Enid did not even smile;
she detected the recklessness beneath
the gayety, and wondered how it
could escape him, and what could be
the matter that had caused so strange
an alteration in her usually cold, i'm
passive cousin. She felt panied and
wretched, as Dorothy laughed on,
hanging to her husbands arm, and
seeming in the best and brightest of
spirits.
AS they went indoors, however, the
spirits died down again, and as she
threw herself YEARLY on to chair
and asked Enid to sing something,
the flush faded from her cheeks and
she looked pale and wan again.
Dorothy flung herself back petu-
lantly on the cushions, and as she
did so she jerked off one of her dain-
ty, black satin shoes.
Gervais stopped for it at once, aud
was going to put it on, when he ut
tered an exclamation:
why, my darling, this shoe is sim
ply wet through; how can you be so
imprudent? 1t is enough to give you
a severe cold"
Dorothy felt inclined to snatch the
shoe from his hand, but she re-
strained herself; and then, seeing his
grave face, she determined to surren-
der to the circumstances as well as
she could.
She stretched out her hands with a
graceful, pleading gesture.
Don't scold me, please, Lord Der
riman," she said, lightly; 81 plead
guilty. have been very foolish,
forgot all about the damp grass, and
in consequence have paid the penalty.
Now don't look SO serious. Enid will
tell you am very, very strong; and
If you insist, I will go to bed at once. "
Il should advise it, most certainly. "
Gervais spoke quietly, and looking
at him, Enid saw that his brow was
clouded and his mouth set. He rang
the bell as he rose.
Send Lady Derriman's maid here
with some other shoes, he command
ed, as the servant appeared.
"Virginie has gone to the regatta,
and no one else knows where l keep
my things. can walk up in these. y
Gervais waved the man away, then
went up to his wife. drew off the Sec
ond offending slipper, and went
from the room.
Enid watched her cousin as they
were alone, and she could not help
feeling, sorry for her-she looked SO
worn and white. She went up to her
gently.
Can I do anything for you, Dor
othy, dear?" she asked.
Dorothy opened her eyes.
Nothing, she replied; then, with
a second thought, "yes; try to induce
Gervais not to worry about me, he is
making me so nervous.
He entered at that moment, and
having put on her a pair of pink satin
quilted slippers, uneeremoniously pro
ceeded to lift Dorothy easily in his
arms.
This is how l treat naughty chill
dren, he said. with a smile, and yet q
look of tender reproach; naughty
children who are so precious to other
people, and refuse to take care Of
themselves.
Dorothy laughed.
Good night. Enid. +" she said, a;
she was carried from the room.
Enid sat down by the table and
opened a newspaper at random.