Grey Highlands Public Library Digital Collections

Flesherton Advance, 15 Mar 1888, p. 6

The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

TTT" The WHfiher\voman*A Sontf. Wriufi out the nid. wring out rho :ic\Â¥. Wriiimmt tlm black, wriui{ out thtt Rtay. Wrin:,' out the white, wriug uiit ilia blueâ€" And tltiiH I wriiit: my life away. Au oncupatiou Btraiigo h tny tnlne ; At tttaHt it Mi'L'um to i>u<>plu droll That whilu I'm v/orkiuti kI. ilio liuu J'ui (;<'ii>t'* too, fruui jiulo la pole. Wlmre'er I j;a I strive to ploa^e, l-'roui iiiiiru to uiiiht I nib aud rub . I'm BOMU'thiojj like i)io;;oui'fiâ€" 1 aluioal liVu wittiiii ti tub. Tti acrolifttH v. ho vault and Prrinf; In circ'UHuti 1 take suiue ; Tbey nmki' thi'ir liviui; in tha iuik. And by the wringer I niako mino ftlv i-alliu^'i huuiblt! I'll a^roe. Itui I uui no rhcap cuticit As B(>in<' folk'< ari- whn Muoer at nie ; I'tii b miL-thitiK that will w&sb. yuu know. 1 Kiiiili- in ralu!. 1 dtrivt) in .storm, Wuh lirodiliiLMi ti«.'ti I unpi', My dutu-rtchufrfiilly iiurfunu. My uu^tui ; Whilo thoi'w'rt lifo iberi? fi ^oal' Wrin^ I'Lit tho (.Id, wrin^i out iht* nt-w, Wriij;; "Ut tht- hlark. uriiiii >'Ut tlm t;ray. Wriny i-i;t the wluto. wrinK out ih*; hluoâ€" And ''â- â€¢Ai\ I wring my Uiv away. SHIRLEY ROSS : A Story of Woman's Faithfulness. ClIAPTEU XI \. Whiio Mrti. Homo and the barmaid were discussmt; with Latn.'illo Shirley'u chniices of happiiieue, and admiring; Sir llu){h's de- votion to her, bhirli-y, in the lilllo bitting- ruuiii upstairs, waa Biitferiii^ a mart} rdoiii Of anxiety and siisiifaac, nlthov.^li uhv tried to conceal it from Kir Uti:;h, who waa pre- Bidiii;^ over the cot.'ec-Cijiiippat^o with aH tiiucn awk^sardiiuss hh it wad pOBbiblt-' for tin I sseiitially i;rai i-fn! man to fxliibit. fjhrirley liad uiadu a Blight niovejiient toward the tray when it had been pluced before her, but ahu had Kuen:ed ho lan^luid •nd indilfiTcnt that Sir llnjjh had kiit;h- iiiKly told her to rest, and that ho would pour out the coffee. Shirley had mmk baek wearily into the depths r<f the old Jauti'uil, And tried to withdraw h(r tl ouHhtH from Jack anil the delay, and tu take in xouic idea of her aurrouiuhnga. The iittinn- roomâ€" which waH on the first story of the houso-waa juat the kind of room which one would !m'. c been likely to expect from the oiilside appearance of the Half' Moon ln:i. It waa wnle and low. ceiled, with two ijuumt !att::-"d windows Overlookini! the inarkjt jilafe, and u wide old faHlii'jiH'd ^r '.t!! with ill! open chimney. It was ftiriiuhed with more attention to comfort than the hiitun; root:i3 of country inns generally exhibit. There was a tnick Car^x't iiu the lloor, ai.d there were heavy reil damask curtains at the wiiidowa. There was an ulil lauhioned bureau in one of the rdctisae.'i on either tii le of tht* lireplace ; in the other there waa a what not which tVkU decorated with tioine antiquated pieiea of china. Hhirley'ii •â- y-i 'vaudtTeil over them ; and she reiiienibired lon|4 afterwar 1 wonderin; va){uely what the bu«k.s could bu vhioh Aere on ilie lower shelf of the what not. She noticed, too, iajjuely cnou^li, that there were some pictures on the walls, eii;;raviiii;H after Ijandbif-r, .and a photo Craph of MiUias'B " itUicIc Hrunswicker." Iler eyi a rested on the latter for a few tnomeiitii; something in the yoiiu^ ulli* '-r's /ace reminded her of (itiy. (iny wiia not â- o haiidaonio perhaps, !.;:: tie had Ibat teaoliite >rt tender look iibont the niiiiitli. Then her eye.s left tlie pr tnre and i aine back to Sir ilu^h, who wna still busy with the i-otfi e. How linndsnme 111! was hand- •omer far than (iny, liiii,<1:ior.i. r than the Jilack Ilrunewicker, the bambiomeat iiiiin she had ever seen she th><:i^ht, as nbe watched liim siiliii;; thei'u in bia dark tweed suit, he had thrown olT his driving. coat. As she looked iit hi.".'., ho rai^eil bis blue eyes, and as they met hers, he â- miled. " Are >Lii thinkini{ that I am a Xouf time over this colleeV" !:o said !:^!it!y. "The fact is that it is made in a I'reiicli colted. |)ot, and It has not yet all run thro i|{li aoiiie complicated buainoaa .>f a aieve like nature at the top. Hut it is ready now," bu added, "and 1 hope It will prove (jood Cnout^h to reward our patie:: â- "." He poured out a oup of cotTee, added milk •ind .suK«rinciiiefulpro|iortif.nsand hrdu^bt it to her side. " You are to drink it," hn saio, with iiii. ()orativ« i^entleneaa. " Voii are bound to obey me, yon know. Wives always obey thiir lord:i and masters, don't iheyV ' 'â-  l)iiti(ul wives," HJiB answered, forcing a •mile. "And are not all wivesdutiful .'' he asked «»>iy- " iou do not expect mu to abuse my own sex? ' she returned, as lightly as she could. " No one need <:riniinate tliemselvcs. Sir Huwh.' " I ex|iect nothing from you biutlmt you will drink this lolfee." he naid, siiiilin;>. *' When you have ilone so, we will discuss the foiblea of your sex. Well," he went on, 418 she put the cup to her lips, " is it £ood .'" " KxcellentI I did not know that this was Onuof yuuracconipliBhmcnta,"3lioRn8wereil graciously. " Never exorciaod but for you," he said 4]iiietly, aj be went back to the table , and (he tenilernens of his voice brought the color to her cheeks, and Bho bent over the COtlee Clip to hide the hot IIiihIi. It was an awkward and dillicult position in which she found herself, and every minute as it went by made it more awk- ward and ililticuit. If she could have looked <ipon Sir Hu;{li merely iia Uiiy'u friend and williiifj to help her in her troiilile for the Aako of the friendship he boro her fnliire busbaiid, three parts of the ililViciilty w.jiild bavt! disappeared ; but he was not <iny'a friend only â€"he profesaed a deep pasBionato love for Guy's Jhiww, and, altliont;li ho bad promised to uomjuer that lovo, every tone of his voice, even when his Wonls sounded indifferent, every glance of the tender blue eyes sliuwed fihirley that the luve was not yet sub 'duod. The ynung tjirl felt lier position keenly, «nd it aitded considerably to her anxiety And iineasiueas. Moreover, she waabauiited by a terrible fear of her uncle and aunt diacovering where she had spent the after- •looii, and ascertaining by chance that she bad not ({one to the Manse to have a chat with the K>rls there, as she bad said she yrttB f{oin){. It was true that she had called At the M«nB(^ bat she had iiot stayed there five minutes, having hastened away to meet " It reminds me of the Place of an old Sir ^lugh at the cross-roads. What would town in France where we spent a few Iwcoine of her if they met Sir Gilbert or days," Shirley said. "How the lamps are any of the family and household on the fliokeriii(>. Sir Husjh! I am afraid the way back'/ How could she excuse herself wind has risen verv much." without betraying Jack'/ And she could " X am afraid it has," he answered regret- not do that if it cost her all the happiiieas fully. " I must wr»p my little wife up well of her life. Slio would tell Ouy, of course, going homo." and Sir Hugh knew it already. But no Again the hot blood rose in Shirley's one else should over know how her brother faci' ; but, befori' she c^ould answer, had fallen under temptation and risked his Latreille threw opiii the room door, and disgrace and dishonor. And, if Sir announced, in ratlier an elevated tone of voice â€" " The gentleman to see her ladyship. Sir Hugh." A little cry of dehi,'ht broke from Shirley as she turned from the window, and the waa clasped in her CHAVTERXV. (iilbert and her aunt oven got a hint of that long drive with Sir Hugh, what would they thinkâ€" what would they say ? How could she bear their re- proaches ? She drank the coffee, and Sir Hugh, who next moment she had been watching her furtively, rose and brother's arms, took the empty cup. As she tried to thank him, her lip ipiivered, and the beautiful hazel eyes looked up at him so piteoualy It waa growing dark in the little sitting- that for a moment he felt remorse and keen room when Sbirlny lifted her head from her pain on bis own part, not in her present brother's shoulder with a long sigh of half auffering, but in that which this liiiy's work pain, half relief. Tlie fire waa dying out, would cost her. It was too lite now to for they had both liien too much abaorbed draw back, and, even hud it not been so, the to tliiiiK of repleiiisliing it ; and Sir Hugh passion of his lovo and jealousy and the had left the room when Jack had entered girl's great beauty were urging him on irre- it, hurrying over Shirley's nervous intro- sidtibly down that swift ]iath which leads duction with an awkward haste very to treachery and sin. " Vou are getting very said cheerfully; "but h(.w you will laugh at Your brother will bo here now." foreign to his uj lal manner. And for anxious," he ' nearly an hour the brother and sister had by and by been alone. your fears ! They had had much to Bay to each other, very shortly ana Shirley's sentences had often been interrupted by broken aoba which she " Do you think 60â€" do you really think could not repreas. although she tried her so?" she asked unsteadily. "1 have no utmost to check thim in order not to add courage left; such a terrible foreboding to Jack's already keen self-reproach. Tie seems to have como over me. I am young man had confessed all his folly. He so afraid that something has happened to had told her how he had sutTered himself Jack." ; to bt led away by his companioBS and lost " What could have happened tohim ?" Kir the money â€" seventy pounds -a large sum Hugh said lightly. " In all probability he to themâ€" and how. rendered deaperato by has either niissed the train at (ilasgow, or threats if the deit were not paid, ho bad he has had to wait ever so long for a train taken the money from the cash. box in- at Weldoii." | trusted to him, hoping that he might bo " I think he would be careful not to miss able to refund it Ijv degrees without detec- the train at Glasgow," Shirley observed, tion ; but some unforeseen circumstance " becaiiao be would guess liowanxioUH lam. had occurred which made it imperatively Indeed I do not think he has treated me neeeesary that tlie money should be kindly at allâ€" although, poor boy, I suppose forthcoming on the morrow, and he he was too uuha[ipy to be thoughtful or had been in deapiiir wheu he wrote to his conaiderate " He must be careful in future not to get into such scra[>es," Sir Hugh said. " I must tell him that if be should get into trouble again, ho mii8t not trouble you, my child ; he must write direct to me." " liut, Sir Hugh, that is imp(»sible," Shirley rejoined i|uickly, looking up. "What claim has Jack upon you? I eould not allow Huch a thing." • Jack is my wife's brother, and there- fore my brother inlaw," said Sir Hugh, sister. " 1 thought you would manage to help me, Shirley, ' he said fomUy ; " you were alwavs such a good little sister." "But how couM I have done so but for Sir Hugh'.'" ahe asked pitifully. "I could not oven have sent to Guy â€" there was not time. Oh, Jack, >uu don't know what it lias cost me !" I'oor child, sh^' little gaesaed herself what it had coat h-r! She did not know until soma weeks later when she paid the Jack said re- re my brother inlaw." said Sir smiling: and the color rose shghily m his pnce face as he averted his blue eyas for a mo- i " 1 *"> very sorry, dear, ment; •and 1 shall be only too happy to gretfully; but the load U|)On his heart hail Bhhiat him ill anv iKjssible way. Hv the bye. ""en relieved, and hia elastic nature and we must see if wo (•aiinot tind him some naturally good apitits resumed their sway, better berth than the one be fills at present. ! "-ven while he felt -riovwl at Shirley's sor- Such a good linguist as he is ought not to '"*• " Vou may Iw <|uito sure that I shall be vegetating in a merchant's oince. Tell never give you aucli cause for unhappineaa me," he continued, leaning hia elbow on the again. Sir Hugh must be an awfully geiier- iiiantel. piece, and looking down inlothered e"" fellow, Shirley " kIow of the fire " how name he to get him si'lf into this trouble? He is rather steady usually - is he not?" " He always used to bo very steady," said Shirley eagerly, lifting her earnest depre eating eyes lo Sir Hugh's fsie. " He was always most thoughtful and good ; but Hince he has iM-eii all alone I dare say he baa felt having no home, and p>'rha[>a he has been led away by sonis of his coiii- [mnioiiH." " Most likely. " Sir Hugh agreed promptly. It IS very hard for young fellows who are He is a friend of Guy," Shirley said, thankful for the narkness which liid her bliishes, " .\nd how supeibly handsome he iai" continued Jack, whose artistic eye had caught Kir Itugli's beauty at a glance. " He you kiioiv that they all think you are his wife here, Shirley ' How do you like being • her lailynhip?' Will you be ve.xed if I say I wish you were engaged to him iiiHteail of Major Stuart? " " You do not kiioiv Guy," Shirley said simply. "Sir Hugh has been very good and alonein large towns tokefplhemselvos.iuitB It'"'!, but he is iiotGuy." „trHiglit." I "^'"* •"" '"' "» » '"'"=•> " 1 am afraid it is," Shiiley sighed, grander and handsomer richer and personage, ' An. I at (ilacg.iw I dare say If e( t hi get rejHitn d Jack smiling. " Ami I should bo no other amusement but going ti t ,y club '>elter pleased to see my beautiful sister where his friends m-ft ai.d where ''ady Glynn than Mrs. Stuart." they play cards and smoke, and drink too, ' " Vou would not if you cared for 1 am afraid," ^he added mournfully. "Oh, yoor slaters bappmei^s. Jack," Shirley I wihh he was » little tinire determined, so "»"' earnestly. " 1 love Guy with all my that when thev ask him to play ho would heart, havn eon. age to refuse I' I " 1 cannot imagine how you fell in lovo •This IS the first time he has applied with him when Sir Hugh was to the fore," to you for assistance?" asked Sir Hugh •'»i-'' oliserved rather disoontentedlv gently. •' No, once before." she answereil, coloring; •but he wanted only a small sum, and 1 was able to send it to hini. Hut now I had spent all my allow- ance and " " Voiiiig ladies generally are in a state of iinpecunioaity, are they not?" he said, hiniliiig. " I have often heard girls com- ' plain of being 'short of cash;' and my opinion is that their incomes are never large enough to cover their ex|)efiditure I However, I will tell your brother to look upon iiie as his banker in Intiiro. My dear chilli, don't attempt to diaauado me. I have heapa of money, as you know but not enough to piindiaso happiness, though," he added mournfully. " 1 hope Jack will have too much aelf- reapect to need any more assistance," Shirley answered gravely. "And indeed you must not tell him so. Sir Hugh. It will only lead him into further teiiiptatiim it he thinks that he can obtain money so easily . You see this time," she added, the hot i^olor rising all over her fair pale face, from the chin to the soft rings of chestnut *''''f,', ''*''^,,' liBir on her forehead, " ho wont on playing. rerha|is Alice has marked Sir Hugh i for her own," Shirley said lightly. " Jack, you are going back to night .'" I " Vos; my train leaves in an hour." | " I wiah 1 dare stay," Shirley said wiat- fully. "but 1 am afraid 1 shall get into trouble as it is. Wo shall have to drive home fast." { " Will you, l.ady Glynn?" interrogated Jack. " Shirley, dear, you have not given me the money," he added in ashaineil hur- ried manner; and Shirley started almost guiltily. "How stupid of mo!" she said. "Sir Iliigli has It. I wonder where he is. I had better go and ask him," she added, shrinking a little at the thought. " No, don't go," Jack advised, iutorpiel ing the little gesture rightly. "Write a few liiica and send it to him. You must not be seen down there now, Shirley. The passage and bar are full of men." " But there are no writing materials here," ahe said ; "audi could nut see to Wo will remedy that," Jack returned, carelessly, striking a match and lighting the candles on tlie mantel-piooe. "And here are pens and ink," he added, crossing to the whatnot and bringing to the table a heavy leaden inkstand adorned with two or three ipiiU pens. " Hero you are, Shirley," ho said, lightly. " Theao are the pens you most delight in ; and hero is a about of hoping to win, and he lost and lost until be was almost mad, and then he took that inoneyMr. Iioesoii's money â€" to pay his debt of honor ; and and but for your kind- ness what would have become of lis both ?" she liiiished brokenly, and there waa a little embarraased pauae. " It is getting dark,' Shirley said nervously then. "It will bo very late by the time we got home, Sir \ paper," bo concluded, tearing off the blank ][,iyl, â- ' I page of a letter which he took from his lie smiled a little; it was very pleasant pocket, tohim to hear her aay "WO got home," and I "Von are qttite a man of reaouroe, the blue eyes grew very tender as they went, •'»"•«." Hhirley remarked, smiling. Her to her face. spirits had risen now, and she was full of "Tippoo shall do hia boat- and his best joy at the thought of her brother's deliver- ia a very good best, you know," he returned , ""'"f ""'• '"" promiseB of amendment, eliec rily. " The days close in so early now, i " "hat am 1 to say / I yon know, that even when it ie dark, it is Jack laughed. I still early in the afternoon. And " 1 don't Mnite know how wives addieas I should think that oven on a I t'leir husbands," ho said; "but you had hot Slimmer day it would be gloomy in I hotter write m that manner, m case tho this room." I person who takes tho note is inciuisilivo > Shirley rose restlessly and went across to enough to look at its contents. Vou see I the window. Sir Hugh followed and stood ai" » "i»" <â- '' precaution, Shirley, aa well as behind her, looking over her ahoulder into a man of resource." the market.place. The market was over 1 " I>o yo" think I ought to put ' Dear now, and the shops were htginiiing to light «"• Hugh V " asked Shirley, dubiously, up; the lamps round the marketplace kneeling by the table, pen in hand, were already lighted, and it looked ipiaint »» w'h pu/,zled eyes ahe looked up at her and curious and picture8i|ue with ita old- , brother. fashioned houses and the grotesijue ugly ' " I «m sure yon ought not," he said, fountain just facing them under the laughing. " Do you think that the window. future Lady Qlynn would call her husband ' Sir Hugh ' daring the honey- moon?" " I don't know," Shirley answered, color- ing. " Rut I cannot aay ' Dear Hugh,' " she added, smiling a little. " Then eay ' IJear husband,' " Jack sug- gested, lightly. "Sir Hugh will appreciate the joke." Sliirley heaitated a moment and then wrote iu her pretty half- foreign hand- writing the words he had suggested. They looked very strange and startling, she thought, as she looked at them gravely. " Well, dear," Jack said, " can't you con- tinue?" " Yea," she replied, hesitatingly. " Shall I aay that he has forgotten the object of our visit here, and tiiat I am waiting?" "Something to that effect," Jack said. " I'ut it as prettily aa you can, Shirley. He haa been ao good to ua." " I need send only a few lines," ahe re- marked, writing rapidly for a minute, with a little amilo on her lips; and when ahe had finished the note she passed it to her brother. " Wdl that do?" ahe asked, smiling; and Jack read, smiling, also the few light words that she had written, every one of which told 80 terribly against the writer a few weeks later. "That will do capitally," Jack said, approvingly, and, after hehadrungtbe bell, tlioy stood together before the dying tire, waiting in silence. A smai t knock at the door was followed almost immediately by the entrance of the neat-looking maid-aervaiit who had already waited UDon Shirley and Sir Hugh. " l>id you ring, my lady ?" ahe aaked. Jack glanced it his Bister with a little smile which b: ought tho color into her face. " Yea." ahe said, ([uietly. "Will you take this note to â€" to my husband ?" she added, with a little effort. " Yes, my lady," the maid anawered, look- ing somewhat aurprised aa she tookthenote and left the room. Shirley waited with her hand on her brother's arm until the girl came back with a little twiated note and a pocket book from Sir Hugh. Coloring crimson, Shir- ley handed the pocket-book to her brother and glanced over the little note. It ranâ€" " Dkmi Litti.k Wikkâ€" I do not like to hurry you; but as we want to keep our little escapade a secret for the present, it will be safer to start at once. Y'our devoted husband, HfoH Glynn." " What a brick he is I" Jack said, warm- ly, aa be glanced at the contents of the pocket-book. " I can never be grateful enough. I will begin to savs at once, Shir- ley ; you may be sure of that." '• Now. we had b<tter go," Shirley aaid, nervously, crushing Sir Hugh's little mis- sive in her hand ami throwing it carelessly uixjii the table. "It is getting very late. Oh, I am afraid" She brokeoff suddenly, unwilling to grieve her brother with the thought that he might have got her into trouble at home. "Yes, I must not keep you," answereil .lack, huskily. "My darling, how can 1 ever thank you enough ? ' •â-  Vou will not " she began, wistfully, her sweet eyes looking up into his through a mist of tears ; and, although the sentenco remaned unfinished, Jaok tiuished it rightly in Ilia own mind. 'Never, again, my dear little sister," he said, fondly ; and the kiss which ratified the promise had something solemn ill its tenderiuss. " I ought to thank Sir 'lugh," Jack re. marked presently ; and then, while Shirley iK'gan putting on her heavy sealskin jacket, he added, hastily, " 1 will go down to him, dear." He left tho room, returning after a few moments with Sir Hugh, who was already e<|uinped for the drive home. Jack's face was pale and earnest, while Sir Hugh locked a littlo nervoua and agitated, Shirley thought. She fancied that Jack's gratitude had distressed hiui. '• The dog cart is (piito ready, Shirley," he said, ipiietly. " Are you well wrapiwd up ? Latreille was thoughtful enough to pjt a shawl in the dog-cart. It is too soon lo take your brother to the station, 1 think." " Yes, he has three quarters of an hour yet," Shirley answered. " You had better get something to eat. Jack." " Ves. l>on"t linger, Shirley dear,"" he counseled <|uickly. " 1 had no idea it was ao late."' They went dowii-staira together, and the landlady and the barmaid and two or three atragglers hurried out curiously to have a look at the distinguished company who had caiiseil no littlo excitement at the Half Moon Inn that afternoon. Not that there was anything wonderful to see â€" simply a tall handsome man in a fur lined I coat, a slender, shrinking, closely-veiled girl leaning on his arm, and a young man i at her other side who bade them farewell at tho door, leaving Sir Hugh to lift his ' companion into the dog-cart. I" Good-by, Jaokâ€" dear Jack !"' Shirley whisiiered, stooping down to her brother. Sir Hugh said a word or two iu a quick undertone to Latreille, who left the horse's head and re-entered the inn for a minute, returning almost immediately with the same impenetrable impassive countenance, . and taking up hia (loaition at Tippoo'a head . without a trace of diacomposure. I Sir Hugh climbed to his place and took ' the reins. Jack stiftd back upon the pave ment with a very self-satistled look, while I INIrs. Home's beribbonod cap rose and fell in a succession of courtoaies which at any other time would have e.xcited Shirley's merriment. j " Take care of her, Sir Hugh," Jack : said, earneatly. I" Trust me, Uoaa. I can and will take care of my own," he anawered, smiling as ho drew the thick soft shawl around her care- ' fully. " All right, Latreille." 'Xhoy drove off ([uiokly across tho lighted market-place; and Jack Uoaa stood watch- ing the dog-cart as it disappeared in the darkness, then he turned back iuto the inn, I with a look of anxiety and care uixin his ' face. t He ordered a oup of coffoc, and returned to the sitting-room, whore the lire had died out, but where the candles were still i burning. Tho pens and ink remained upon the table, but tlie little twisted note which Shirley had thrown there waa no longer lying on the red cloth table-cover. But Jaok Koas bad no thooght for it ; saying lo himaelf, sorrowfully, what pity it waa that Shirley did not care Sir Hugh, and hoping that aomelhingw occur that would make her change mind. Montha afterward the thoughts which had occupied hia mind aa he eat before the empty grate ic the sitting- room at the Half Moon Inn came back to him with a keen sting of remorse and pain, and a thrill of almost horror at the part he had unwitt- ingly played in hia sister's betrayal. Meanwhile, through the cold east wind and over the dark country roads. Sir Hugh Glynn drove rapidly and in almost unbroken silence ; while Shirley waa in an agony of dread lest her absence should have ccciasioned remark at Fairholme Court. Once or twice Sir Hugh bent down with* tender little inquiry as to whether she waa tired or cold, but Shirley felt more grateful to him for the consideration which left her (juiet. Aa they drew near Fairholme, he said, smilingâ€" " I think I had better drive you up to the houae, Shirley. I am aure you would be terrified to death to walk up that glioatly avenue alone. " Oh, noâ€" oh, noâ€" indeed, I can go I" ahe said, eagerly. " They wotrid hear the wheela." " But I could say that I had picked yea up on the way," answered the baronet •• Severthe'loss I'ncle Gilbert would be seriously angry." she declared. " Indeed. Sir Hugh, it will bo kindest to leave me." " I certainly did not intend to let yoo walk up the avenue alone, Shirley," ha said, decidedly. " They won't hear my footsteps, you foolish child I" (To bo continued.) C.VKKYINti A •• LI CKY PIKCK." Uo\i I lie Cn^tuiil is Maiiitiillietl liy All Claaaea. Two ladies met on Woodward avenue. Aa they stopped to speak one of them dropped her pocketbook and the money in it rolled out on the sidewalk. " Too bad," said the other, as she assisted her friend to restore the contents. " It's such bad luck to drop money unleaa it belongs to some one else." " 1 don't mind." answered tho owner of the pocketbook, " because, you see, 1 carry a lucky piece." 'Una habit of carrying a piece of money for luck has become something more than ft superstition, since it is a practice common among all daaaes. " I wouldn't take $100 for that six- pence, " said a staid business man recently. " I found It 111 my mother's purse when she died and I have always kept it as ft souvenir." He did not say that it brought him luck or that he had any superstition connected with it, but he unconsciously valued it aft a charm. There is a piece of t>oiie that ia taken from a fl-rh. called a sheep's head, which shows plainly the imprint of the letter " L." Theatrical people value this very highly as a lucky piece. The Scotch have a fashion of handing back a trifling bit of coin when a paymeaV is made. This is called a lucky pcuuy and is always carefully treasured. It is impossible to find a pocketbook tliat does not have some triding charm in it to bring luck to its owner. 1< may b« • aoin. a stone, a chicken's wishbone, a child's first tooth or a smooth sixpence, but it is ex- pected to accomplish some or all of these missions ; Keep off disease ; avert tho evil eye ; protect the person carrying it from bodily harm ; bring prosjierity in business, love, courtship and marriage ; thwart the evil designs of enemies . insure a safu jour- ney and [lerform many other apparent miracles.- Drlruit I'ree I'reii. Hill N.ve Diseiiiiraeii on Capital I'uiiisliiuen Too many people are now committin<{ capital crimes for tho purpose of getting into tho pai>era. Some day the gontlemau who kills his parents because they will not pasa the molasses will not be permitted In make a speech on the gallows, but be wiU step into a seventytive-doUar scarlet plush chair, and while lie is reading tho morniuK paper the Governor will touch a small collar button in his office, which connects by wire with the plush chair, and a brief autopsy is all that will be necessary. That element in our natures which aeema to demand dying speeches, long blackfunerala, harrowing details, blood, horror, wails of anguish, dull thuds, cold creepy eraiie. anil tho sickening smell of coflin varnish in ft close room, is a relic of the tiiiiBS when we used to live in hollow trees and eat acorna. A Vsorul Hog. Lady of tho house to new servant- What do you mean by giving that dog that good meat ?" " I do it to encourage the poor animal." "Kncourago him to do what? " " To keep on helping me to wash the dinner dishes clean. I don't havo to wash them hardly at all, he licks them ho clean." Lady faints. Court Item. Hugo Stanly (a young dude who is very attentive to the fair sex in general, and to Mias Hummel in particular, who detests hiin)~ls Miss Hummel in ? Servant â€" Yes, Hugo, she's in. Hugo- reriiapa you had better tell her who it is. Servantâ€" No ; if I do that she will say that she is not in. The 1.4iiii;e(l-f(>r Li-tter. Aa the laat note of that touching little ballad " The Letter That He Longed for Never Camo " vibrated on tho evening air, she turned to tind a tear trickling slowly down hia cheek. " Ah, Mr. Sampaon," she said aympathetically, " you, too, havo ' longed.' " " Y'es," ho replied huskily, " two years ago a very dear friend of mine went west on ?'25 which 1 loaned him, and for aught I know ho may bo dead."â€" jTAe Epoch. ♦ Twoyearold Dorothy haa had a severe case of chicken-pox. She came down with it the very day that tho family had cMoken for dinner. No onoimagineil that Dorothy thought that there was any connection be- tween the dinner and the disease until, ft few days afterward, just as the baby was getting better, a turkey waa brought on for dinner. Doiothy refused to eat it, saying: " The chicken made me havo chicken pox, mamma, and I don't want to eat turkey and have turkey-pox." â€" Woman'n Tribune.

Powered by / Alimenté par VITA Toolkit
Privacy Policy