The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-03-24

HareEood said at last TO Sir Stephen
who was dawdliug over bis BREAKFAST
and deyoting most Of bis time to moody
meditation, having been foiled in his
attempt to sit next to Aimee. ape
make haste, we must start at eleven" o.
II think ! shall stay at home"
"Stay at home. Our crack shot! I
| beg your pardon, bat, unless you have
some good reason, shoot you must"
answered his host, in agony at tie
thought of the probable deficit in his
bag that day. flea-
Good reason Sir Stephen had, buthe
was not able to give it, SO he answered.
careessly, "Of course I'll go, if yop
care about it, And he saw cloud Of
sorrow pass over lite face Opposite
him, and thought how dear and inno-
cent it was, without an idea of hiding
any emotion. Sir Stephen was hope.
lessly in love- ~ oT
| Very long the day seemed TO Aimee.
She sat in the morning room, looking
at books, wondering where all the
ladies were, and why the few who
came and went never spoke to her.
There were no gentlemen at luncheon,
save, one or two elderly boros. After,
wards riding, driving, walking, Aime5
walked, and though the BirChleigh
woods were famous for their beauty.
found it dull work, for her two friends,
Mary Harewood and Miss Ashley, were,
riding, and the people who walked did
not trouble themselves TO talk to herc
Then they came in and had lea, after
which, as after break fast, the ladies'
vanished, and Aimee was left alone
with two of the bores, which so alarmed
her that she fed to her room with a,
book, and almost cried at the thought
that now she should not see Sir Ste,
phen till dinner-time. -~s4
The long time Of waiting till Them
was broken by Mrs Harewood sendings
for her to her boaiior, and talking tol
her for some time very kindly. She
She went down t0rths drawiug-foo10
in good time, hut, though Sir Stephen
was there before her, he was talking to-
an old lady, and could not get away.
much as be wished it. At dinuer they
were placed far apart, and witira thick
bush between them. Aimee mentally
called it a horrid old thing, and once
tried to look round it but meeting Sir
Stephens eyes endeaYoring to do the,
same, she blushed violently, and did
not repeat the attempt. A young man
a little less stupid than Jack Ashley
had taken her il, land they got on pretty
we'll r 6....... .rq
After dinner Sir Stephen meant to-
make up ior lost time, but he was in-e
tereepted on his way, and then made
to play at whist, ~ rs7
She cried that night, and wondered
why in a couBtry-house gentlemen
should be SO carefully kept away from
the ladies'. 1t never occurred to her to
wonder why she cared SO much about
Sir Stephen. He seemed her one friend
in that great house, and she thought Of
nothing more. .a..a u
The next morning she was to shy too
go down till Mary was ready, and then
it was so late that most Of the gentle
men were gone out shooting, and SiF.
Stephen had again besn imptessedsiev
The day passed much in the same,
way as the day before, save that Aimee.
was much pleased and amused by being
allowed to help to arrange and ornali
ment the house for the evenings dancead
After tea Miss Ashley was summ0ne1I
to her mothers room. .tr.54,, .,
"Sit down, Caroline" said Mrs Ash
lev, as her daughter stood impatisntIyF
before her. .u-.s .a4 l.ohaoT %
81 really can't stay mamma Mrsg
Hardwood wishes some Of the flowers
to be altered in The ballroom, and Mary
asked me TO help her" .-'-5 ''4 ~ q
a''They must manage without y6uny
dear, for little.naI saiE z.1l ci ,.dO
The tone was SO serious that Garolineo
saw no, help for it, and drew COM ,
Portable armchair to the fire. -
''You are twenty-six, my dear -" --"
go, / know that" sesr '.ii b. aae
"Hush, Caroline, Iwish to speak sea
riously to you Oh subject know you.
dislike But how can avoid doing it, ;.
when l see you deliberately throwing
away such a chance of happiness7' y
81 beg your pardon, mamma, if yout
mean Sir Stephen Dashwood It's the
greatest nonsense l ever heard. He
does not care for me in the least" ~
''He does. But he cannot show 1t
while your manner to him is so cold.' -
sf'He's desperately in love with Miss
Barlow,,so that settles the question: +,
Impossible. that sort of thing never,
happened out of novel"
~ believe many poor governesess do
delndes emselves with wild ideas Of
romantic heroes, but Miss Barlow in
very different She is going into the 1
world bravely, without any nonsense
in her head, and | think she will be
rewarded.at once by meeting q sensible
man who can see and appreciate the
beauty of her character" 4--"+ y
Mrs. Ashley was not in the least
touched by this outburst. IT. T. ~
81 don't believe It." she said. "Sir,
Stephen is far too much man of tho
world to do anything 50 foolish. ~
81 don't think it foolish. But really
cannot Stay any longer | an sick Of
Sir Stephens name" and Caroline.
made good her retreat at last. ~ i