“So soon, eh?” laughed Leonard, gazing around into his face.
“What do you mean?” asked Carlos, starting.
“Why, you haven’t seen her half an hour yet.”
“Pshaw!” exclaimed Carlos.
He made no further reply, nor could his cousin induce him to enter into conversation during their entire walk to the hotel. Little did Leonard care for this. He whistled merrily, and walked along in undisturbed spirits.
When they arrived at the hotel he asked the clerk if there were no sources of amusement in Dalton—it was insufferably dull.
“Well,” replied the clerk, “you can play billiards, or youcan hire a horse or buggy and drive to Rocky Beach, some four miles off, where there’s splendid fishing.”
“Just the thing!” exclaimed Leonard. “I’ll go off and make the arrangements at once.” He turned around to speak to Carlos, but he had disappeared. “I won’t wait for him,” thought Leonard, “he’ll be ready enough to go after I have made arrangements.”
And straightway he proceeded to a livery stable to engage a horse.
Carlos, meantime, had strolled down the street, and stepped into a news-room. Here he picked up a daily paper, and read an announcement of a concert by a celebrated artiste, to take place in a neighboring town that evening.
He was a passionate lover of music, and had studied the art himself. Here was an opportunity he had long wished for, and he determined to embrace it.
Briefly, then, Leonard Lester set off in one direction, on a fishing excursion, and Carlos Conrad in another, to hear the celebrated Madame P―― sing.
Now, if both could have foreseen what was to take place within the next twenty-four hours, they would probably have materially changed their course; for a great tragedy was about to be enacted—the whole village was to be thrilled through and through with excitement.
The road which Carlos took was the same which led to Elm Grove; so that, in making his journey, he was obliged to pass the residence of his uncle.
Carlos drove swiftly along until he came near Elm Grove, when he brought his
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