The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-03-12

His eye scanned the carriage has
tily, and there was perhaps a slight
lifting OF his gloom as he saw thai
only the two ladies were there.
lie greeted them with a lift OF
his hat, and remarked that he had
better get on the box on account OF
their furbelows. This, with an eye
on Vernon's white frock. Mrs. Bards-
ley told him not to be foolish, seeing
that they we're driving the pair, and
both the men we're there. He got
in accordingly, and they drove on.
Where's your visitor" he asked
I'VE don't know" said Mrs. BardS-
ley. He went of by himself with
out any breakfast, and has not turn
ed up since. We nave left word for
him to come on in the cart II he
makes his appearance"
What have you done to him."
asked Jem. turning to Vernon.
Nothing" she replied, the color
flaming up into her face. He was
quite calm and amiable when he
went to bed last night. But he turn
ed faint at breakfasttime, and went
out of the room. dare say he finds
the climate here trying after Van
couver.'
How long IS he going to stay?'
Il thought he was leaving today,
but he will certainly not stay after
tomorrow, said Vernon, before her
aunt could reply.
And what have you done in town
Jem?" inquired his aunt
He proceeded to tell her. Vernon
sat silent. but stole a look at him
now and again. He was not looking
well She thought him paler and
thinner than he had been when she
knew him first: his eyes seemed lar
ger and deeper, and they had shad.
ows under them. These details i'm
proved his appearance. Had he real
ly fined down in these few months or
was 1t her fancy. just because she
vas accustomed to his face? She
used to think the expression of his
mouth so forbidding Now, either il
had changed, or she had. 1t was
rather fine mouth, though not a
smal! one by any means.
Il don't mind him a bit now" she
thought. Il do wish that he could
get used to me-"
What a crowd" remarked ha
with some impatience, as they ap-
preached Ponthewel
Yes; everybody will be here
even the Trents. | suppose said
Mrs. Bardsley, with Multiplying
smile.
There were tents in the Park for
the exhibits. but when they came
out from the house into the garden
1t seemed as il all the visitors were
assembled upon the lawn in a large
large crowd, broken into small
groups, all busily discussing some.
thing.
1t was not long before Miss Tarl-
ton had discovered them. and has.
tened to be their informer. "Oh. my
dear Mrs. Bards!ey. have you heard 4?
Do you know? Such shocking
thing"
we do not know Of any shocking
thing. | am thankful to say" replied
Aunt Emma, her mind flying piteous-
ly to Jem's pecadilloes.
Vernon, who was walking behind
her aunt at Jem's side, turned to
him. Don't let us wait to hear her
nasty talk" she said in an under
tone; let us go to the tents and
see things before the crowd flows
in"
He stared. Would you like to?"
he asked. in such surprise that sne
hastily replied
"Oh, not if you would rather no,.
of course"
And As the words left her lips
the sound Of what Mss Tarlton was
saying suddenly made her pause and
turn pale.
"Oh yes. there is no doubt abou,
it. Mrs Trent is dead The doctor
was fetched about nine o'clock this
morning, and said she had been
gone several hours. An overdose of
some opiate, they don't appear to
have discovered what It was. Poor
soul, it seems she had suffered from
insomnia"
Why, yes, she told me so. only
Yesterday" cried Mrs. Bardsley. She
complained that il was growing in
tolerable. and said she was trying
every remedy she could think of.
warned her against taking drugs
without a doctors advice"
We'll, it seems that she drove in
her car to Yeominster and visited
a chemists shop. Then she returned
hon