Louise realized what a golden chance she was having, and made the best of it.
That was the beginning of the strangest romance that ever was written.
When Jay Gardiner helped his fair companion from the buggy, Louise Pendleton looked shyly into her companion's face, murmuring that she had had the most delightful drive of her life.
"I am glad you are so well pleased," answered Jay, raising his straw hat with a low bow; adding, gallantly: "I must take your sister out and show her what beautiful roads we have here."
Louise was thoroughly diplomatic. A hot flush rose to her face, but she crushed back the words that sprung to her lips, saying sweetly:
"You are indeed thoughtful, Mr. Gardiner. I am sure Sally will appreciate it."
"We will arrange it for to-morrow," he said. "I would be delighted to have you accompany us. I will drop in at the hop this evening, and you can let me know."
Louise and her mother had a long talk that afternoon.
"I think she may as well go with you," said the mother. "I am positive that he will prefer you to your sister. Fair men usually like their opposites in complexion."
The following afternoon the two sisters went driving with handsome Jay in his splendid T-cart, and were the envy of every girl in the village.
He did his best to entertain them. He drove them over to Great Barrington, and through the spacious grounds that surrounded the Castle.
The eyes of both sisters glowed as they caught sight of the magnificent, palatial house, and each resolved, in the depths of her heart, that this should be her home, and that she should reign mistress there.
Jay Gardiner divided his attentions so equally between the two sisters that neither could feel the least bit slighted.
The fortnight that followed flew by on golden wings.
There was not a day that Jay Gardiner did not take the two sisters on some sight-seeing expedition.
Every one began to wonder which of the sisters was the favorite.
Mrs. Pendleton watched affairs with the keenest interest.
"If he has a preference for either, it is certainly Louise," she told herself. "Sally seems content that it should be so."
All night long, after these afternoon excursions, both girls would seek their pillows, and dream the whole night through of handsome Jay Gardiner.
Louise would talk of him all the following morning, but Sally uttered no word; her secret was buried down in the depths of her heart.
Other young men of the village sought a pleasant word or a smile from gay, capricious Sally Pendleton. But she would have none of them.
"I will have a millionaire or nothing," she said, with a little laugh.
On two or three occasions, much to Sally's chagrin, Mr. Gardiner invited Louise to drive without her.
"That shows which way the wind is beginning to blow," she thought; and she looked at her sister critically.
Louise and her mother often had long conferences when she came in from her rambles with him.
"Has he spoken?" Mrs. Pendleton would ask; and she always received the same answer in a disappointed tone – "No!"
"Any other girl would have had a declaration from the young man before this time."
"If I could make the man propose, I would be his betrothed without a day's delay," Louise would reply, quite discontentedly.
Sally would turn away quickly before they had time to notice the expression on her face.
One day, in discussing the matter, Mr. Pendleton observed his younger daughter gazing fixedly at her mother and Louise.
"Love affairs do not interest you, Sally," he said, with a laugh. "My dear," he said, suddenly, "you are not at all like your mother in disposition. Could you ever love any one very much?"
"I do not know, papa," she answered. "I do not love many people. I only care for a few. In the way you mean, love would be a fire with me, not a sentiment."
How vividly the words came back to him afterward when her love proved a devastating fire!
She had turned suddenly to the window, and seemed to forget his question.
No one knew what a depth of passion there was in the heart of this girl. If any one should have asked her what she craved most on earth, she would have replied, on the spur of the moment – "Love!"
CHAPTER III
A month had gone by since the two sisters had met the one man who was to change the whole course of their lives.
Louise Pendleton made no secret of her interest in handsome Jay Gardiner. She built no end of air-castles, all dating from the time when the young man should propose to her.
She set out deliberately to win him. Sally watched with bated breath.
There could be no love where there was such laughing, genial friendship as existed between Louise and handsome Jay. No, no! If she set about it in the right way, she could win him.
As for Jay himself, he preferred dark-eyed Louise to her dashing, golden-haired sister Sally.
The climax came when he asked the girls, and also their father and mother, to join a party on his tally-ho and go to the races.
Both dressed in their prettiest, and both looked like pictures.
The races at Lee were always delightful affairs. Some of the finest horses in the country were brought there to participate in these affairs.
As a usual thing, Jay Gardiner entered a number of his best horses; but on this occasion he had not done so. Louise declared that it would have made the races all the more worth seeing had some of his horses been entered.
"Don't you think so, Sally?" she said, turning to her sister, with a gay little laugh; but Sally had not even heard, she was thinking so deeply.
"She is anticipating the excitement," said Mrs. Pendleton, nodding toward Sally; and they all looked in wonder at the unnatural flush on the girl's cheeks and the strange, dazzling brightness in her blue eyes.
They would have been startled if they could have read the thoughts that had brought them there.
There was the usual crush of vehicles, for the races at Lee always drew out a large crowd.
Jay Gardiner's box was directly opposite the judge's stand, and the group of ladies and gentlemen assembled in it was a very merry one, indeed.
Every seat in the grand stand was occupied. Both Louise and Sally were in exuberant spirits.
It was the first race which they had ever attended, and, girl-like, they were dying with curiosity to see what it would be like.
"Which horse have you picked for the winner?" asked Mr. Pendleton, leaning over and addressing Jay.
"Either General or Robin Adair. Both seem to stand an equal chance. Well, I declare!" exclaimed Gardiner, in the same breath, "if there isn't Queen Bess! It's laughable to see her entered for the race. She's very speedy, but she isn't game. I have seen her swerve when almost crowned with victory."
Sally Pendleton listened to the conversation with unusual interest.
In a few moments all the riders, booted and spurred, came hurrying out from their quarters in response to the sharp clang of a bell, and in a trice had mounted their horses, and were waiting the signal to start.
The interest of the great crowd was at its height. They were discussing their favorites freely.
The buzz of voices was deafening for a moment.
No one noticed Sally, not even Louise or her mother, as she leaned over breathlessly, and said:
"Which