United States or Ireland ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"I am a permanent citizen of this town and I have no quarrel with you. As your friend, I am obliged to inform you that Barry Lapelle is a dead shot and as quick as lightning with a pistol. I hope you will take this in the same spirit that it is given." "I thank you, sir," said Kenneth, courteously. "By the way, do you happen to have a pistol with you at present, Mr. Trentman?"
Whatever might have been the gift of Kenneth Oer, he does not appear to have used it with an extraordinary degree of discretion; and the last time he exercised it, he was very near paying dear for his divination. On this occasion he happened to be at some high festival of the M'Kenzies at Castle Braan.
As in the distance, I heard one of those butchers cry, "Haste, man; slit me that squalling bastard's throat!" And then I must have swooned." Kenneth shuddered. "My God, how horrible!" he cried. "But you were avenged, Sir Crispin," he added eagerly; "you were avenged?"
This would have been laughable to Kenneth but for the distressing fact that it was even more laughable to others. Several men and women, witnessing the manoeuvre, had sniggered gleefully, one of the men going so far as to slap his leg and roar: "Well, by gosh, did you ever see anything like that?"
"Country life is 'way ahead of city existence," remarked Kenneth, as he made himself useful in passing the teacups. "The whole atmosphere is different. When I marry and settle down, I shall be a country gentleman." "How interesting!" cried Patty. "I should love to see you, Ken, superintending your gardener and showing him how to plant cabbages!"
No persuasion could induce him to leave the place where the joys of his heart had been buried: true, his remaining children yet linked him to life, but his love for them only increased his sorrow for the dead and the lost. Kenneth became a prematurely old man his dark hair faded white as the mountain snow his brow was wrinkled, and his tall figure bent downwards to the earth.
Kenneth liked to tease his sister-in-law, but the young girl was quite his equal when it came to a battle of wits and it was not often that she gave him the opportunity. "What time do you do your love making?" he demanded. Her cheeks reddened a little as she retorted: "I'm never so foolish. I leave that to you married people. My purpose in life is far more serious."
But he was profoundly astonished when the girl favoured him with a warm, gay smile and cried out a cheery "How do you do, Kenneth!" More than that, she drew rein and added to his amazement by shaking her finger reproachfully at him, saying: "Where on earth have you been keeping yourself? I have not laid eyes on you for more than a week."
Rilla carried Jims upstairs and went to bed, but not before she had sat for a long time at her window reconstructing her rainbow castle, with several added domes and turrets. "I wonder," she said to herself, "if I am, or am not, engaged to Kenneth Ford."
Linton peremptorily insisted that she should get to bed; and, having scolded her heartily, threatened to send for the doctor. Mention of Kenneth caused her to exclaim, instantly, that her health was perfect, and it was only Catherine's harshness which made her unhappy. 'How can you say I am harsh, you naughty fondling? cried the mistress, amazed at the unreasonable assertion.
Word Of The Day