Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
se
12 =|
LEOLUS,
Fo tite rt
2! men . , :
we .
$
YPUNWRITER,.
secretary. Ts se T shall be making love
: to one of the ¢ wont.” ;
voy The express of the beautitul face was
nearer to amusement than any that had
sbadowed it since that death on the top floor
‘ » o£. the tenement, that Leonie Cuyler had
os called her home.
: The black derby was pulled down to care-
fully conceal the broad brow, and witha very
boyish swing to his gate, Neil Lowell passed
out of the house again.
The few necessary purchases were made,
the suit that Andrew Pryor required at his
dinner-table was ordered, and Neil Lowell re-
turned home. :
He had scarcely completed his preparations
when the chimes announced dinner.
With a heart that thrilled with embarrass-
ment, but well concealed by the most com-
posed exterior, he descended to the dinner-
room.
Andrew Pryor received him.
“* My dear,” he said to his wife, “you have
known this young manasaboy to whom I
have taken a great liking, but for a service
rendered me to-day that shows his capability
‘ to fill such a position with credit to himself, I
have made him my private secretary. Iwish
him in future to be received as a member of
my family. Gwen, my dear, come here,
Miss Pryor, allow me to present Mr. Lowell!”
The formal introduction was made to his
eldest daughter, who bowed courteously, then
followed by an introduction to the others,
twoin number. —
Gravely, and with the polish of a courtier,
Neil Lowell responded to the introduction,
filling Andrew Pryor with more surprise than
“ ever.
‘*Where in thunder did the boy get his
polish?” he kept asking himself all through
dinner, but the end came fwithout bis having
found a reply.
‘He is a charming boy!” Alice told her
sister, Gwendolyn, when they were alone in
their own room. : .
And Gwendolyn, contrary to her custom,
did not negative the assertion,
It was altogether a triumph for Neil Lowell,
and the tears that moistened his pillow that
night were girlish, but they were not tears of
sadness entirely,
CHAPTER XIII.
>
** Lowell!”
“¢ Yes, sir!”
«* What are you ig
«« Answering that batch
by the morning delivery.”
“‘ Well, stop! I’m tired of it. It seems to
me that you do nothing eternally but work
from morning until night!”
’ The sweet face was lifted, all dimpled with
smiles. :
- Was not that what you engaged me
for ¢” ,
‘Not exclusively. I don’t want any fel-
low to make himself a slave for me. Are
you going to the Dorlans to-night ?”
** No, sir.” :
“ Why ?’—testily. :
“‘ Weill, I don’t know any one, sir, and it
did not seem tome that I should be missed.
It was very kind of Mr. Dorlan to ask me, but
J did not think that he expected me to accept.
He only did it because he thought you would
like it.”
“‘ Then you acknowledge that you have not
as much consideration for my feelings as he
as.”
“* ¥ don't see how you make that, sir.”
“ He, you say, invited you because ‘I want-
ed him to, and you won't go, knowing that I
am yery anxious that you should!’
*© [ did not know that, sir!”
“Well, youknowit now. 4
**Not if you will excuse me. .
“‘T will not press you if you wish that I
should not. By the way, Lowell, won’t you
have a cigar?”
The silver case was lifted and held upward
for the young man to select one to his own
liking. Half a dozen dimples played about
his pretty mouth as Neil Lowell suppressed
an outright laugh.
«J never smoke, thank you, sir,” he an-
swered, os
“What? Oh, hang it, I always forget you
areonly aboy. You have so few of thefrivoli-
doing ?” . .
of letters that came
re you going ?”
”
eats, ~
THE TY
: a a a eo can,
tiegol youth that Few never 283%
how that vou. are NOt je seb fi T have no
prejudice against smor ins, z20"gh, tor. oid or | 1
young, if not carried to exces? Yott mest
learn. It isa great comfort,asi-- -? °°
Andrew Pryor paused as the sivor of his
study was thrdwn open without permission,
and Alice, his youngest daughter, entered:
“Papa,” she cried enthusiastically, ‘I
have just had a letter from Edith. It has
been delayed somehow upon the road, and
find’ by comparing the dates that she will be
here to-night. Isn’t that just perfectly love-
ly? She said it would be impossible for her
to tell exactly by what train she would arrive,
but that we need not trouble to meet her, as
her cousin would be with her, and he could
bring her to the house at once, but that she
would arrive in time for dinner! I am’so
pleased!” : : :
She threw her arms around the old gentle-
man’s neck, and proceeded to half suffocate
him inher demonstrations of joy.
“ Gwen is as happy asI am,”'she continued,
her black eyes dancing with delight. ‘‘ Lhave
already planned a thousand different things | _
for her entertainment, The dinner to-night
must be justlovely, Don’t you think I had
better invite a few people, impromptu, don’t
you know ?”
“‘I dare say that would be very pleasant,
but Iam going to Dorlan’s to a stag dinner,”
returned Pryor sheepishly, as though know-
ing that his absence from home would be re-
garded very much as a crime.
“Oh, papa!”
The pretty face fell, the corners of the
little mouth were drawn downward, and the
tiny hand fell from his shoulder.
‘* Now then—now then!” cried Pryor, rising
and patting her cheeks lightly. ‘ You need
not look as though I had locked you up in
the closet, This dinner has been arranged for
a week, and I could not possibly decline. But
that need not hinder your arrangements at
all, for Lowell will be here, and he can actin
my place. Ishall perhaps be able to make
my own excuses before I leave, and just
authorize him to do the honors. I don’t think
I would ask any one but Edith’s cousin, then
you can make a little family dinner of the
first one.” .
“ And are you not going to thestag dinner,
Mr. Lowell?” asked Miss Pryor, lifting her
sweet eyes to his face, glowing with good
humor again.
ton, bad
* That is just lovely of you. Ishould kiss
you if I dared.”
“Tshall not resist in the least,” laughed
Neil. .
“* Well, some other time! Then we shall
have the family dinner to-night. Oh, I shall
be so glad to see Edith! I do wonder what
her cousin is like? I hope he will be pleas-
ant and companionable for you, Mr. Lowell.”
“That is very kind of you, Miss Alice, but
I much prefer the society of the ladies.”
“Right again, Lowell! Gad! you are the
most sensible boy I ever saw!” exclaimed Mr.
Pryor.admiringly.
**Then we may count upon you for dinner
to-night, Mr, Lowell?” interrupted Alice,
“Tam always at your service, Miss Alice.”
“That is so good of you. But there is one
warning that I haveto give you. Don’t fall
in love with Edith. She is already engaged,
but the greatest little flirt in existence.”
“‘T am not susceptible, Miss Alice. If Ihad
been——”
A look completed the sentence, a look that
brought the quick color to the pretty, round
cheeks, which Neil Lowell was not slow to
see. ‘
The girl kissed her father and hurried from
the room, The old man glanced from Lowell
to the closed door, and back again, in much
surprise. ~ .
“Neil,” he said, after a long, thoughtful
pause, ‘* that {3 a subject upon which jests
are not admissible.”
“‘T understand you, sir, and I beg that you
will feel no anxiety whatever upon that point.
I am too young to fear.” \
“No, you.are not. Your face is unusually
handsome, and—— Remember, boy, Ido not
speak for my daughter's sake alone, but yours
as well.” - _—
“¥. made up my mind; Mr. Pryor, some
ime ago, and I shall. keep to my resolution,
m- | tht 1 shall never marty.’
‘| jects, while Lowell and Pyne mainta
tbe
‘ a x OTe,
yotoxcuse me? * neithé?Pot v ve
much time in which to dress sor diune:::
_“#Jrew Pryor nodded itensent, aniswith
intie?!*“amusement iv vs ~heart, and erquse- =
ment that.was to be piteourly short-led;
Neil, Lovell” sought his room: to dre:
that dinner that was to liager long
memory. : re *
ib: .
¢
CHAPTER XIV. .23,.-5
Nem Lowen had never looked ‘better i
his boy’s attire than when he had completed
his toilet for dinner that evening, and.steod >
before the glass taking a lasc survey cf iiin- ' +
self, very much after the manner ofja gir), "-.-,
Then he opened the door and went jdown-". '
stairs. . ! Joh
As he entered the drawing-room, his first ~ ‘
impression was that it was empty, but as he
advanced into the room, he saw the form of | re
a man leaging over a table upon which: some spe,
rare etchings were carelessly tossed. { “4g
“It is ‘Edith’s cousin,’ I suppose, hp mut- :
tered with a smile. a se ,
The slight noise of the entrance attracted x
the stranger’s ‘attention, and he lifted his
head. : | og
Neil started; an hysterical cry rose to his :
Itps, but before the guest had advanced he. .
had recovered his perfect self-possession." 7
“You are Miss Edith’s ‘cousin,’ I think,” . {
he said with a smile, advancing and extend- ; i
ing his hand. ‘I ‘don’t suppose that Miss -
Alice intended us to meet in this fashion or‘ *. . b
she would have told me your name,| I am :
Neil Lowell.” {
The gentleman paused, looking down upon
the slight figure with a puzzled expression. -
He took the extended hand in his as though é
half unconscious that he had done so, then ;
pulling himself together, he'said slowly: - :
“Tam Lynde Pyne. have heard your =
name mentioned by my cousin as the private “|. !-
secretary of Mr. Pryor, of whom Miss Alice oof.
has made frequent mention in her letters. oe
‘You must really excuse me, but your face 1s 7
So strangely familiar to me, that Icannot.re- . 4
cover from the surprise of it.” pms
“Now that you speak of it, I remember .
seeing you on ‘Change the other day. The
day that Lake Shore took its great, boom. |
Do you not recall it?” ~ :
‘‘No?” shaking his head slowly, “it was -
not there. I did not see you there, but—--~”s.
The sentence was interrupted by the eu--
trance of the girls,, Introductions fo.lowed, .
and were barely completed, when the putler’s
unnouncement of dinner was made. |.‘
With a heart beating almost to suffecation,
Lowell offered his arm to Miss Edith Pyne,
and conducted her to the dining-roor:, seat- ,
ing her upon his right, while he occupied the £
host’s position. i : :
It placed him where every eye res.cd full!“
upon him, and Alice cried gleefully: | oo
‘Is it not extraordinary? Look! Did you. *
ever see so great a resemblance as tat be-*
tween Mr. Lowell and Edith ?” ho ee
There was no need to call-attention to it, jt
for every one in the room had observe'l it be-
fore, but Lowell’s face was crimson. * . i
‘“You compliment me too highly, Miss ty
Alice,” he stammered. ‘No doubt: that is Od pe!
where Mr. Pyne saw a resemblance in me to
some one, if it is true.” £
But Pyne shook his head, Y
“No,” he said; ‘*I must have se-.:
yourself! I can’t——” 1
The sentence was dreamily discon:::.:1:).
and the girls began to chatter upon otl -:
. ee
uncomfortable silence.
“Tt is so delicious to be here!” Edit:: «tir!
joyfully, “only it will be for such s ior
time. Mamma insists that I shall sper
of the visit with Evelyn Chandler. J
to be pleased, I suppose, but I can’t, J+!
pet say it before Lynde, but I don’t hii?
er.” a
If his life had depended upon it,Lowell cou!
not have prevented himself from raisins his
eyes to those dark, compelling ones brfut..
him, They were fixed euriously upon his f
A slow color surged into the pink chee,
the eyes of the boy were lowered. we
An excitement that he could not control. -
we
leaped into Lynde’s eyes. ;