The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-12-23

you !"
thought he would never finish shaking
my hands, or bidding me welcome home.
God bless him | might have known he
would he true.
We talked for half an hour without stop.
ping-of our parting, of old times and old
friends then Johns kindly eyes resting
on my travelling suit, he said, $50 the
world has not prospered with you, Paul"
smiled, but did not undec eiye him, feel
ing, for the first time, proud and happy that
was millionaire, resolving to keep my
secret for day or two, then surprise him
with it.
AT that very moment the library door
opened, and tall, stately lady entered the
room.
"0h, beg pardon" she said; 81 did
not know you we're engaged. Perhaps,
with hoose full of visitors, you eau spare
time for more than onel'
Ie be sure my DEAR" he said, meekly
tito be surel | am very remiss, Lady
Clara. bet me introduce my old friend
Paul Hylton to you"
The lady favored me with a very naughty
bow.
"He--he has just returned from India"
said John, with trembling hesitation, "and
has come to spend Christman with u.s."
Then she looked at me, slowly and stead.
lily, from head to foot. | felt conscious
that might have visited London tailor.
My clothes SEEMED shabby, my boots
dirty, under the calm search of those proud
eyes.
"What room will suit Mr.. Hylton best ?'
asked John. "He will want good fires !;
England is very cold after India"
g understood you that our list of friends
was quite complete" said Lady Clara,
haughtily." You had better send for the
housekeeper; there are no rooms to spare"
So saying, with a decided irown, she
swept FROM the room.
saw it all 1; John was fearfully henpeck.
ed. He stood feebly trying to smile,
rubbing his hands, and locking ruefully at
me.
Lady Clara isis tired Tonight he
said; 1--WE have so many visitors"
john" | said, ''be quite frank with
me. i am an umnvited guest if | have
come at any inopportune moment, | will go
away again"
He flushed crimson.
Nothing Of the kind" he said !; ''how
caR you speak SO. You are nay friend-my
guest--welcome always, as are flowers in
May, Lady Clara is rather peculiar; she
has always been amongst grand people, you
know. l think it would, perhaps, be as
well not to say that you have been unfor.
tuaste before her; she world not under
stand, you see."
He looked SO miserably conscious, SO
rueful, SO fond of me, and SO frightened at
his wife, could not forLear smiling.
The housekeeper came, and room was
found for me-more thanks to old Mrs.
Green's remembrance of me as .'young
~" " p", ", enan 'fo'n any interest
M nv M p"-' y. ,. -' lara
n's' '"e' D0'' ia"e' anu 1 went
NN"n :" '"' 'a"'ns ioom "here aii the
guests were assembled. There / was in.
.,ou,'eu " MISS Aua hoss--Nady Clara S
a'e'' ''A' 'ou"seS' sister was married
that same year, and to Johns two children,
cnarmihe ooy anu g'fi'
mss Aua hoss measured me accurately
M ~" ay eAp'es'eu ho'hihs
e'e"se un.' '"ey
s"'1' 'uuue"y upon valuable diamond
,'"s "oie upon one h"ger-a ring that
nad once peen Chief oil rajah's treasure.
lhen she gave me puzzled look, asking,
PLAINLY as eyes could do, what poor
umnvi'ed guest did with such jewel as
thatf
she was brilliant rather than beauti-
iui girl, with dark, flashing eyes, fine
lace, and tall hgure something like her
mother. Johns two children resembled
him.
Just as we were gong to dinner, young
girl stole noiselessly into the room-a girl
who riyeted my attention at once. She had
'Me'. 'o"s'e 'ace' 'resh ana ia'r' with
''ea', ,iue eyes' anu 'ne most beautiful
y''n s''' ''"e'a. No o"e appeared 10
,aA' asy S9 "o1'e " ne' no one spoke TO
.ei. QUO was p'a'a'y a'essea' without any
Je"''' VI ol"anen's cu' IN my eyes she
was p'e'ieSS Us sraceiui young queen
had just time to ask John who she was.
"The dearest and best girl in the world,''