The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-22

1 in modulated voice even to myself-a
baronet-Slr Guy Pomfret. My mother had
felt that che was taking almost liberty in
naming her only son after the mighty head Of
her house. But she had done it, aud even dared
to apprize him ofit--which act of fealty Sir Guy
rewarded by sending my brother little morocco
box containing small embossed silver mug
goblet he called ii In his letter; butas il was
not capable of containing halla-pint of any
| thing, we declined using the the more preten.
| tous appellation in familiar converse, and it
! came TO be known in the household as "Guy's
mug" .. .r...
Of course we were sitting at our break fast
table when these two letters arrived. Every
| body is sitting at breakfast when letters arrive
in fiction. We were discussing our probable
| chances of passing remarkably dreary Christ
mas, when the girl who served us in our un.
comfortable lodgings came in with our letters,
which we seized with the eagerness people who
have not received written word for weeks only
can feel.
Mine was the shorter and so was read the
| sooner OF the two; but, short as it was, 1t was
very staggering. 1t was dated from "The
Towers, shire" and was to the folio wing
effect:-
my Dear Miss Dunbar Il was the dear Miss
Dunbar):-M father ana was speaking yes
erday OF regret we often feel, that we did not
see more OF your dear mother while she was
alive; This mistortuuee is, however, not
to be remedied nown-( ''hardly," |
thought)-"but we at least may know
each other. We expect a few friends down a.
Christmas; you must come to us then, as we
very much wish to make your acquaintance
Come down on the 23d, if you can conveniently,
by the II A. M. train; you will be met at the
Playford station. We were extremely sorry to
hear of your brothers death. | send this under
cover to his lawyer, who is most likely in possess
sion of your address.
my father desires his kind regards and joins
with me in hoping that we shall soon see you.
In the meantime, believe me to be your
afectionate consin, RACHAEL PoMFRETr
The reader will agree with me that this letter
IRON my 'at1ectionae cousin, Rachael Pomfretn
an uttel stranger even by name to me, must have
been very staggering. 1t was some minutes be-
fore / could realize that it was not bit of an
absurd dream. But by the time my sister had
read her letter had accepted mine as a fact
and knew that was broad awake.
"Helen," began, as she put her letter back
INTO INTO Its envelope, "heres an invitation to the
"And who are the TowersY" Helen asked
We were such strangers to my mothers kin,
that my brother had scarcely even named them
to his wife.
"Its the Pomfrets," replied, aud then gave
her the letter
"Oh, Guys mug" she sad half smiling, as
she stretched out her hand for her. Then she
read it quickly, and said, "Well dear-youl
goW
l had watched her as she read, and had
marked the flush that spread over her sweet
serious face, as she came to the careless cold
everything to her.
"You will go?" she repeated, as she gave it
back 10 me. 1T may be such good thing for
| you, George. You will go?"
Now was young, and sighed for a change
from the dull routine of the life had led tor
what seemed so long a time. This promised to
be such pleasant change. My ideas of coun-
try house Christmas festivities were gained from
| "Plckwick." pictured the Towers as a sort of
revised and improved manor Farm Sir Guy
already doomed before me--a slightly refined
have transcribed half hoped to find maiden
aunt" amenatle 10 the advances of some
unknown Tracy Tupman. The prospect
was very seductive one to me; but
that cold mention of my brother, to-
gether with no mention at all being made of his
wife, weighed the balance against going doWn
very heavily. So shook my head with a great
ar of determination, and said, mo, l shouldn't
think of it,"
Helen rested her elbow on the table, and put
her cheek ON her hand, and looked at me IN
9uirlngly. l returned her steady gaze, partly
because wanted her to see that / meant what
| sald, and partly because she was so pleasant to
look at.
She was such pretty woman, this widow
OF my brother-such gentle Madonua-faced
woman-with her small, egg-shaped face, her
deep blue eyes, and her shining, smooth
darkbroWn hair. She had a sweet voice
and sweet smile, too-a smile that crept
over her lips, not like ray of sunlight but
like a pure moonbeam. Yet IT was not a cold
or unmeaning smile at all; on the contrary, it
said more than any other smile have ever seen.
she smiled now when my steady gaze began to
relax little AID the silent lips said so sWeetly
and WELL You will 60 W that | answered the
mute appeal by sayng:--
DO you really think had better Helen?r
She nodded, and laughed.
1cS, really, for several reasons. one is that
you are too young and too pretty to drift about
the world by yourself, and when once the Pom
trets see you, they will awake to that fact: for
directly"
"WeIl that's one reason-a very fauering
way you have worded it, too; but that's not
enough; YOU SAID there were several; give me
anothel.n
"Here is another" she said, giving me her
letter. and getting up from the table as she
spoke. II haven't consulted you, George dear,
because it's no use consulting any one about a
step that you ieel sure you'll have TO take what
ever may be said against it." She walked away
to the window as she finished speaking and
stood there looking out, While / read rather
long letter from lady in Hertforoshire, who,
after making out a portentous list OF require
ments, agreed to accept Mrs. Dunbar's services
as resident goyerness, il she (Helen) coald
conscle3nuously declare that she came up 10
them (the requirements).
Why have you done this" asked, hastily
getting up and going over TO her.
Because | was obliged to do it, Georgie,n she
answered, without turning her head; "and |
feared that you would be obliged to follow my
example. Poor Guy how miserable he would
have been If he had ever thought that was
before his pet sister," She put her hand fondly
ON my arm then, and / saw there were tears In
her eyes.
20 Nellie he'd have been ten times more
miserable TO think it was before you,n said,
Kissing her; ana then she told me more about