She was inwardly furious with herself at this slip of the tongue that was destined to lead her into self-betrayal. Ah, how true it is that a name that is close to the heart must often rise to the lips.
To distract Jessie’s attention she asked, all in a breath:
“When are you going to marry your grand, rich lover, Jessie?”
“My wedding will be in October,” fibbed Miss Stirling, who had no mind to confess that she had lost the prize, and she continued:
“Mr. Olyphant has gone on a yachting tour with some friends now, and I do not know exactly when they will return. It was expected they would only be gone two weeks, but they extended the trip. I miss him very much, and I shall be quite frantic if he stays much longer!”
“Then you love him very much?” queried Leola, with shining eyes.
“Love him! I should say so!” cried Jessie, eagerly. “Why, Leola, he is as handsome as a picture, tall, with an elegant figure, fine features, brown, curly hair, and beautiful, laughing blue eyes!”
“So has Ray!” cried Leola, then bit her lips in confusion, sighing to herself:
“What a lovesick little goose I am, giving away my dangerous secret in spite of myself!”
“Ray again!” cried Jessie, suspiciously. “Come, now, tell me all about him, Leola. A neighbor, you said, but I knew no one of that name about here last summer. You say he has laughing blue eyes like Chester Olyphant, so you must be fond of him, this neighbor! Confess now, is he your lover?”