Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-04-08
CHAPTER vIII.-(Continued.)

Gsking2 Some people don't like the
Irish; l delight in them. My fathers
great friend is an old general, a dear
old thing-Sir Patrick Desmond; is he
any relative of yours7"
II have heard of him, but II he Is in
any way connected with me 1t is so
distant that l cannot call cousins
with him"
"If he comes down to the Court
while you are here, will ask you to
meet him. Then you are Irish? And
am sure you sing and play?"
II play a little"
"That is delightful. You can play
an accompaniment? I can't bear play
ing; and l want to try some duets
with George Lumley tonight"
II will do my best" said Hope
Don't you think George Lumley
very good-looking? He is very good
style, too, and so like Lord Everton.
am rather glad he is at Hounslow,
This place is too far, and yet too near,
to be amusing" She chartered on till
the gentlemen came to seek them In
their fragrant retreat, when Miss Da'
ere ceased to bestow attention or
words on Hope. They soon adjourned
TO the larger drawing-room, where the
singers discovered that Miss Desmond
had quite a genius for playing accom-
paniments, and time few fast till the
carriages were announced.
IL, en-
that nice Miss Desmond, Mrs. Saville?"
exclaimed Miss Dacre. "She Is 80 quiet
and we'll bred. Lots to say, too. Do
bring her over to the Court. She could
be of infinite use to me in playing &C
compartments"
Very likely; but, you see, engaged
her to be Of use to me-"
"To be sure" laughed the thought.
less girl. How frightfully sharp you
Arel" And she blew her hostess a
kiss as she left the room.
What a glorious night" said Lum.
ley, with sigh of relief, sinking on
An ottoman beside Hope. Couldn't
you manage to come out for a stroll
before saying goodnight nnally?"
Hope looked at him for a moment
gravely, then smile began In her
eyes and sparkled, on Zip and cheek.
Eyes, 1t could be easily managed, &C
cording to neutrality-suspicious." she said.
II escort my kind patroness to her
room, receive her blessing, and return
to my own, then throw a mantilla
over my beautiful locks, steal down to
the garden door, which is of course left
open, and join you in the moonlit
Bhrubbery"
Precisely" said Lumley, laughing.
tits lovely picture. earnestly hope
you will realize it"
"a moonlight stroll Is a harmless
amusement under certain conditions,
which do not exist at present for me, >
and she went away to bid goodnight to
the vicaress and see that she was
wrapped up. Then, meeting Mrs. Sa.
Vile on her way upstairs, she accom-.
panied her to her bedroom, rang for
her maid, and exchanged a few words
with her until that functionary ap.
peared.
81 am woefully tired" said Mrs. Sa.
Vile, throwing herself into low chair
Really, life Is too wearisome in its
disappointing sameness. If Richard
will invite these stupid chattering
boys, l shall dine in my own room.
Mary Dacre is sillier than she used to
be, and Mr.. Rawson writes that he
cannot come down till the Sunday
after next. We must begin 'Froment
Jeune' tomorrow, Miss Desmond, and
get away as much as we can from the
present"
II shall be very pleased. 1t is con,
Sidered one of Daudet's best; and /
have never read It,"
When Hope Desmond reached her
own room she undressed rapidly, and,
putting out the candles, brushed her
long hair by the moonlight, while she
thought earnestly, How disappointing
Of Mr. Rawson! l hoped he would be
here next Sunday; and have so much
to say to him. True, can write; but
few spoken words face to face are
worth dozen letters. II will not be
easy to get him to myself. but as my
own especial friend I have a right to
demand an interview. How weary
that poor woman island far from
well. Poor and nearly friendlsss as I
am, would not change with her. No,
no; / understand life better than she
does. though she has lived 30 much
longer. How her heart must ache when
she thinks of her son! Under all her
hardness and pride she yearns for the
love she does not know how to win.
II she will only love mel" Then she
twisted up her hair, and, throwing
herself on her knees, prayed long and
fervently, with tightly-clasped hands,
while tears streamed unheeded from
the eyes that less than an hour ago
bad smiled so saucily on Captain Lum.
fey.
The two months have nearly sx.
pired, she unused, when, having risen,
she leaned against the window-frams
and looked out on the moonNt lawn.
-But am quite sure shs will not send