Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1886)
208 THE WEST SHORE. Joan passed through, then half turned. " I think," she said with energy, " there are few tilings more contemptible and underbred than a practi cal joke." " What an idiot I am! " thought Emeraon aa bIjo dia apK!areL lie stood leaning on the gate-post for nwliilo, ah Horlmd in thought The moon wag rising aa he walked alowly hack, lie scarcely rawed his eyes from the ground, but kicked the stones along aa lie went, as if they had a share in his discomfiture. "Hi!" He looked up. The call came from Lonthall, who, with a oigar between his lips, was idly sitting on a stilo. "Well?" Emerson waited until Fred Lenthall came up by his side. "Kane," said tho latter, looking him over, "if it pleases you to make yourself look like a stupid, pray do so; but if you frighten Miss Kennot again like this, you shall answer for it to mo." "Indued!" said Kano coolly, " how long has it taken you to compose that secch?" " Whorover you acquired a tastfl," Lenthall wont on, ignoring this last remark, " for this vulgar niasquerad-ing-" "Fred, you are an idiot!" interrupted his friend. " Don't grand-languago me! If you want to punch my head, do it like a man. I'm ready! " He threw off his rough " gulMrdino," and mado a feint of rolling up his shirt sleoves, but Louthall did not movo. " You evidently want to bo laid up with rheuma tism," he said, " tho air is full of moisture." Kennet pick-Hi up tho coarse garment and proceeded to put it on once more. " You're a nice friend, ho said," as they walked on together. " As soon aa I am in trouble you jump on mo." "In trouble?" Lenthall repeated. " Yes. I've mortally offended Miss Kennet Fred, old man, I'm awfully fond of that girl, and she does not care a straw for ma" " I wonder at that," Fred said dryly. " Well, I don't know, but I don't think its my fault I don't think that sort of thing amies from anything you do or say. Uy Joro! Isn't she strong, too? Still, I shouldn't have gi.no down so easily if I hadu't been just on tho edge of the diteh. Oh, here's my hat-wet through, of course. Capital disguise, wasu't it? " Ho picked up the soaked head-gear from the road and became silent Ho was out of humor with himself, wliila IxMithall would say nothing thst would bring back his elf-reaieot Tho latter was inwardly eniM that hit friend should have made so false a stop with respect to Mis Kennet A little group was collected on the smooth lawn at Heathfield, as the Heath family called their pretty, ga bled, red-brick house. The occasion was that of a gar den party, at which were present nearly all who had been in the pic-nio at the ruined castle. The center of this little group, toward whom even the tennis and croquet players cast now and then an in quisitive glance, was the fair Phyllis, in a complete cos tume of pink, with hat, gloves and sunshade to match. Her interested listeners were Joan Kennet and her mother, Carter Abbott, Fred Lenthall, and one or two others. "I suppose," Phyllis was saying, "that he must have been riding carelessly. I was just peeping out of my window, and there he came, looking a wee bit mel ancholy, I thought, but perhaps that was only my fancy; I know I am foolishly sentimental." She gave a quick glance at her large admirer, who tried very hard to think of some complimentary remark. Howevor, ho hod no sooner constructed one beginning with " Well, I sh " when Lenthall nipped it in the bud by saying " Pray, go on, Miss Heath." Phyllis complied. " He was about opposite our house when his horse stumbled, and then scrambled and seemed to try to save itself, but could not Down it went on its knees, and Mr. Emerson was thrown completely over its head. I scroamed." She dropped her sunshade on the grass, and clasped her pink gloves at the recollection. Her hearers looked so pale, especially Lenthall and Joan, that she felt en couraged to proceed. "He came down on his head with oh! such a horrid thud! And then, somehow, he and the horse seemed to be all mixed up, and it sprawled about trying to get up, and at last did get on to its feet, and galloped away. I just saw from the window that there was blood on his face, and that he did not move. "And what did you do then," asked Abbott breath lessly. " Oh, I dou't like to toll you," and Phyllis hung her head and looked at the ground; " I am such a little goose, I know; I fainted." " You aro too graphic, MiBs Heath," said Lenthall, seeing Joau's ashy face. " Let me take you to a seat Miss Kennet" " No, thank you," she said decisively. " I would rather hear tho rest Is ho is he dangerously hurt Phyllis?" b 3 " Whou I came to," she answered, declining to give the conclusion of the story before legitimately reaching it " mamma being in a great fright, and pouring lots of dreadfully cold water on me, he was down in tho dining room and the doctor had been sent for-and his father, old Mr. Emerson. Papa wanted him to stay here so as not to be moved, but Mr. Emerson would have him homo at any oost I didn't see him, but I crept down to the door, and, oh dear, it was so horrid! "