The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-09-27

I would have to be from home an hour
or two this-evening. There is to be O
meeting Of the officials of the mill al
half-past seven. l should be too tired
to dress and 60 up to your aunt's after
wards"
81 had forgotten" she said quietly
SO, quietly that he thought she did not
care.
When he was gone che went to her
her bedroom to arrange her toilet for
the call. She put on the best she had,
of course. She had genius for dress
and despite the mended gloves, she
looked as stylish as she did pretty.
Just as she approached her aunt's
gate, old Mrs. HaIiburtons, in her vel
vets and steelest of steel l-cOlored silks.
was being handed from her carriage by
her son. The Haliburtons were the
owners of the mill in which John
Randall was employed. Stephen, the
only son had just returned from a five
years residence abroad. These two
facts caused Geergie to scrutinize the
mother and son somewhat closely; and,
doing SO Stephen Halliburton raised his
hat to her.
"a pretty face" he remarked, care
lessly, to his mother. az suppose it is
some one know or should know"
Old Mrs. Halliburton, with her keen
eyes and beak nose glanced sharply
back toward George, whom she had
not perceived, and nodded.
1t was a young person whom Jane
Appleton brought up. She is married
now to one of our men, I'believe."
George found Paul Appleton and
his bride holding q sort of formal re,z
ception. The rOOms-where her own
wedding had been solemnised a year
before-were quite filled with guests.
A very dainty and graceful bride was
the new Mrs. Paul, in her lavender
train and pOint-lace shawl. George
tried not to feel the least tinge of envy
as she looked at her.
Aunt Appleton had always a sense
of gratitude towards her protege for
having forborne to fascinate either OF
her own marriageable boys, and this
gratitude cropped out i'm actual kind
ness under the exultatiOn she felt over
Paul's match.
George moved easily about the WELL
furnished rooms, somehow she seemed
just fitted for such surroundings. The
subdued, well-bred manners, the faint
perfumes, the refined faces, and the
rich dresses, Were like stimulant to her.
She needed such quickening to be fully
herself. Her composed, delicate beauty
unfolded to perfection in this atmOs-
phere.
She had been talking to one and
another, taking in shapes and trim
mings with her quick artists eye,
and in a pause was just rejecting on
the hang of the new curtains, when a
voice said near her:
"I seem not to be able to recall you
at all, Mrs. Randall. Yet must have
known you before 1 went away. My
mother has just told me your name,
and / have come to reclaim acquaint-
ance if you will permit me-"
"I remember you perfectly, Mr..
Halliburton" George returned quietly.
az was hardly grown up when you
left us five years ago."
"F'ive years? All, true enough
Won't you take this chair What a
lovely lilyw Why, is it not real ?"
mo; these wax flowers are very
like nature though,-almOst a pla-
giarism don't you think so, Mr.. Hal
iburton ~
Why, Yes. 1t must be quite diff
cult to make them. 1 dare say they
bring good price"
Under her serene smile a quick
thought went through Georgia Ran
Ia1l 10 q
the gentleman before her with interest.
Stephen Halliburton was a gentleman
by habit and a man of the world by
force of circumstances. But nature
intended him for a diligent, pains
taking, persevering man OF business.
If he was not great or a very good
man, it was becaase he had SO much
time, 20 much money, so much flat
terry. He was spoiled by his OppOrtu-
mites, yet he needed only the right in
fiuence to elevate him beyond himself.
He was thirty years old nOw-he was
past the age when a man disdains to
be led by a woman. But Stephen
Halliburton had never disdained it. He
had always been led by the keen-eyed,
beak-nosed woman in steel silk, who
as George talked with the heir, sat
holding her wine cup up to the fire.
light not far off.
The heir seemed to like Mrs. Ran
dalPs talk perhaps because there was
so lite of it. In return he was rather
unreserved-gossiping about his plan:
and prospects. He said that he wa:
glad to get home. He meant to settle
down at Millville now look after bi
factories and the operatives, and intro
duce some improvements. He wanted
a better class of work-more tastefu
designs; he hadn't seen a pretty prin
from the factory. Didn't Mrs. Randall
agree with himm
Yes she agreed with him. 1t wa
strange basis for parlor gossip-olls
chemicals, designs for calicoes. ID
was surprised to find how much sh
knew about it; and she-she was a lit
tie surprised herself. The most deli
cate pink began to flush her cheeks
the irises of her eyes grew into grea
black flakes full of luster. All at once
at last, she turned a casual glanc
without the window.
"Why," she said, with sligh
start, fit is almost dark. And I be
lieve it is raining. L must 60 at once.
She stepped toward the window
Great splashing drops were falling upOl
the fiagstone. The dull November day
light was almost gone.
Mr.. Halliburton rose also.
"Did you walk ?n he inquired. LIE
us take you home. My. mother vii
lie going soOn."
The little stir attracted Mrs. Apple
ton, who-most of the guests having
gone-was devoting herself to Mrs
Halliburton.
"Stay to tea, Georgia." she suggest
ed. "John knows you are here-dOe
he not?"
Yes yes but it is raining. thinl
had better not STOP"
al have been asking Mrs. Randall
to take a seat with US, mother" In
terposed Stephen Halliburton.
"Ah, yesn' said the lady, with con
tracted nostrils and prolonged III
again. 81 shall be happy"
And then the keen eye overlooke'
Georgia, as if to ask if there were an.
Just cause why the Halliburton carriage
the Halliburton horses, and it Nigh
be the Halliburton heir, should travers
the length of Millville to take hom
this young person, who had married on
of the Halliburton employees.
George, stood unmOved, little con
cerned as to whether her last dres
and bonnet should walk or ride, nc
| at all concerned as to her own dispOsa