The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-08-11

her liberty and Independence She has told
me that if her grandfather had hampered her
with lot of restrictions she would have for
felted the property. As it is, she is left per-
fectly free, and, as | said before she thor
oughly enjoys and uses her liberty
Thoroughly abuses it, rather,n said one.
"A great misfortune when girl sets her
self up against public opinion.r said another
Even with Herriot Court TO bestow she
Will find 1t difficult matter to get ashland
! fancy said third; and then nv sister
raised her hands in depreciation of the storm
OF disapproval, and told them that she would
not hear another word against her favorite
Yhe next morning, after breakfast, Lady
Va liant started me out of revere by saying
to me:
Walter, want you to come round the par
ish with me this morning"
Il am engaged said briefly.
My dear Walter, nonsensei1 she said.
with the privileged elder sisters air that She
was wont to assume at times; lit is known
that you are here, and that you have accepted
the living; The Hotonites will not like it if
they think you Indifferent about making their
acquaintance. Ring, and order my pony
carriage, there's good boy"
Il promised to II at Herriot Court this
morning" then | stammered
80 you will call herewith me-
But Laura--" l began protesting, when
she interrupted me.
Don't be foolish, there's dear boy
love and admire Melanie Herriot more than
any other woman in the world f or that very
reason the little indiscretons that | won't t
admit exist before her envious detractors are
most painfully apparent to me. She would
ask regiment to call, if it came into the
place; and, if the whim seized her, she would
make each man believe hat she was in love
with him. She is famous firt Now, |
want her realty to be in love with you, so you
must not go down too quickly before her
Stuff and nonsense" | said angrily.
What would be the good of my going down
before her at all2 She would never dream Of
marrying poor country parson y
1--WE shall see" my sister said gayly; and
then she ordered her ponies; and soon after
ward | reluctantly followed her to the car
riage, and We set off on our little triumphal
progress around Holt0n.
NJ sister was "a very popular oman, as it is
easy for Il rich, childess, good-natured widow
to be. An unmistakable gentlewoman, she
never offended those little below her in the
social scale by holding aloof from them or by
any airs of superiority, in fact. On the con-
trary, the wives and daughters of the profess
sional men in Ilolton shared as freely and full
iy IN all tie festivities that ever went on IN
Lady Naliant's house as did the wives and
sequently our progress was slow one through
the place--a pleasurably slow one TO my light
hearted sister,, mlserabiy slow one to me, in
the first flush of my first love
At last, pretty. merry, laughing Lady Val
laut turned her PONIES nedlo IuwttTu UerriOJ
Court, and my heart throbbed wildly and more
wildly still, us, with every step took, the tur-
reted summit of the house loomed nearer and
larger upon my vision Your lady fair is
well lowered isn't she?" my sister asked,
laughingiy- as we drove up the avenue; and
l. unable TO bear the joke, and unable TO parry
it, could only command myself sufficiently to
say:
Her being SO weI,dowersa makss sIf pe i pfS: fS
sumptious enough to aspire to her. | wish
you wouldn't say such things, Laura; they
will make my future relations with Nj SIS Her
riot embarrassing1
My sister laughed out heartlcssly, l
thought.
Don't istress yourself. Waiter, embarrass-
ment ard Melanie Herriot are never in COM
pany. Don't raise your expectation ons too
highly, by-the-way, now, for very likely she
will have forgotten her engagement with you
this morning, and have gone out"
This probability being put before me sober
ed me a little, oarelcssly as | affected to treat
it. When, in answer to Lady Nallants in
quiry, the servant told US Miss He1riot was at
home, | could not refrain from giving one look
Of triumph at my sister. She saw and under
stood it. and whispered, were being ush-
cred through the fine old hall to the drawing
room.
Il congratulate you so far, Walter; at
least, You will see her.
| did see her; but the doing so was no mat
ter of congratulation. | would rather that
she had forgotten her invitation to me and
gone out than have seen her this morning, as
| did presently, sitting making amusing con-
versation for two blunder-headed county
Squires and one creature who was specifies
whenever he could not make reference to his
regiment as Ours. My sister laughed merrily
and malcousy as she glanced at me when we
went into the room: and Melanie rose up and
merely gave me slight, cool bow. Had she
forgotten how friendly she had been with me
the night before? | asked myself savagely; or
was she feigning this Indifference merely to
try me!
The two obtuse country squires had no sense
of the fitness of things, evidently, for they
staid on pertinaciously, although their pres
ence made my visit most commonplace af-
fair. The officer had the good taste to with
draw, but his parting words were an arrow in
my heart.
Then l may come and see about those
roses tomorrow Miss Herriot?,i
Il shall expect you--let me see-at twelve
yes, that will be the best time; she
answered, gayly: and then she shook hands
with HIM, and smiled upon him, and he de-
parted, leaving me rather low.
Captain Northcot is better gardener than
soldier one Of the sGuires observed. They,
too, perceived, we burning with jealousy,
which she seer ID neither to care to appease
nor Yet to aggrs :C
"He has don one or two gallant things in
action, be- .vc she said carelessly. He
can afford h IN ffected and etfeminate now,
in time o. .ce. 1t isn't always the great,
rough mcn that are always courageous, is it,
| Mr.. Armitagc?'
Certainly not" l said, eagerly, delighted
that she was beginning to recognize my exist
ence at last
What is he going to 60 among the roses to-
morrow, MelanieF' my sister asked.
"Bud them
/ Il have some rare varietes,n one Of her
visitors said, eagerly; will you let me bring
you some Miss Herriot?H
''les-but | won't bore YOU about them
now,' she said, suddenly. Il know you don't
care for flowers the least bit in the world, so
shall leave you here to amuse Lady Valiant,
while | take Mr.. Armitage TO see my rosery. ,
l was in the seventh heaven again in a mo-
ment. She seemed amused at the qualification
l could bot subdue. As soon as we got out of