Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-09-02

urged the girl, $50 sad-looking-al grav'
as 1t he'd known sorrow; and such noble
air! | was confident he must be some foreigner
OF rank. And when we were leaving the music
hall, in the vestibule some one touched my arm
and, turning, Delevan begged leave to Introduce
to me his friend, the Count Mattinn, q celebra
ted Italian noble, III bring him to you,
levee tomorrow night Miss Balfourz-he's q
stranger in town. whispered Delevan. So, sis
ter, you see | could but regard it all as a fatal
ity, and shall meet him again tonight, and my
heart foretels that this is no common meeting. ;
We'll, must say that, for one who expects
to meet her fate before six hours, you are re
markably selfpossessed young lady," coolly re
torted Henrietta. 60 Why, for pityssalse, don !
you. be thinking of dressing? or do you believe
with the poet, some nonsense about beautyiun.
adorned, adorned the most! wonder where
that French hair-dresscr can be that mamma or
dered -
81 should ask that, girls, said portly
lady, " fat, red sand forty entering the
chamber at that moment ~ sent orders .fol
Monsieur Coifure to attend at half-past three
it is now nearly four" she continued, glancing
at the tiny French clock on the mantle q Hen.
rietta, my love, the broad Grecian braids to.
night, and that diamond bandeau and Adelia
darling, the long curls-they are particularly
becoming to your style of pensive, statuesqut
beauty, you know. will ring for James tc
bring up a lunch then, daughters, to youl
toilet" and Mrs. Balour laid her hand on the
bell-pull. " Where is Caroine?' she the1
asked.
:" Busy in the sewing-room, altering over my
dress " replied Henrietta that Modiste mad
a msft too small"
"Ah, did She? Well, you know you chargel
her to make a close ft Henrietta, my dear, Tn
afraid you are getting triae embonpoim. Yo,
must take more exercise. Caroline is gettiny
to be decidedly useful; she's very handy will
her needle to repair these little accidents. AIDE
liza, love, don read any more, but try and &c
a nap in your chair before the evening, if yo
can without disarranging your hair. All, her
is the Monsieur himself! No, it is Mr.. Balfour
What news, John? has Ralph arrived? " sh
continued, as John Balfour, merchant, and hus
band of the lady, entered The chamber with a
open letter in his hand.
"No,' replied the merchant--a PALE hal
rassed- looking man, with the air of one nc
quite so much at home in that chamber as i
his dark, close counting-room down town, ,whe1
he had wrought, early and late, for thirty year,
till his name stood among the safest on Chang
and State Street. no, I've just come from tn
wharf, and the America is not in yet and I'll
underwriters feel little doubtful aoout her al
rival to-day. She was due this morning; bu
the storm of night before last must have delaye
her-blown her off. She'll possibly be in t.
morrow. I'm sorry, after all your expectation
but
"No matter about the butts, John Balfour,
said his lady with much asperity, and the air
one whose authority was unquestionable in tht
stately up town mansion, land, e. passant, Il
us record that the dominant Mrs. B. always aC
dressed her husband as Balfour ~ :"
Ralph doesn't get in, we cant help it; he can
come unless the foreign steamer arrives, that
certain; but it's shameful if it should haxa,e
80, after all our trouble to give this soiTes
: welcome him."
"You know l thought it would be better
! wait night or two, if you must venture
Mr. Balfour
"Oh, yes, you thought no doubt yo
could foresee all this, retorted the lady. &C
thought you didn't want US to give the ente
tainment at all John Balfour. But what's th'
open letter you've been fumbling in your har
ever since you entered. Any more bad news?
L" Brother Eben writes mt that might lot
for Allen this morning" returned the merchal
| with tone of one aware he is imparting q
unwelcome piece of information "but he h
. not yet arrived. and"
| " And what, John Balfour? | can bear an
thing now You expect him here in season
l the levee, suppose ? " sneered the lady.
81 think livery probable he will be here
night. The trains are all delayed since Il
: storm. You will please order room to be
readiness for him, if he should arrive, MI
t Balfour."
i "No doubt but you d like the best receptic
chamber fitted up expressly for brother Eber
d, son, John Balfour," began the lady; but her
rade was aimlessly directed-the merchant hi
t retreated.
e elbow shamefully mean exclaimed He
. rietta, no longer restrained by her fathers pre-
ence. g 1t never rains but it pours 1t is n
n enough that Ralph fails us--Ralph for whom W
: have so exerted ourselves but this rustic mu
9 be forced on us tonight OF course he wor
; know enough to keep out of the parlors b
will insist on proclaiming his relationship befo
d everybody Mamma, | hope you'll give JuE
ter instructions to show him to his attic, al
keep him there till tomorrow "
. : Never fear my love" replied the rubicul
: Mrs. Balfour. " IF your father will persist
. giving a home to all his country relatives, |
u insure that they sha mt disgrace the famil
:, Trust me for managing John Balfour B
u here is James with the lunch and afterwai
dress yourselves with care, my loves, for it is L
: impossible that Ralph may come, after all -
CHAPTER II.
- Tata thot oftnrnnon ,ubon tba r,a,o, a,