Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-09-14

! plctOn'S to tea" she said TO her nus
band at the dinner table. ''If dc
you will come for me, won't YOU
lie reflected a moment.
81 told you last night, George,
that | should have to be from home
an hour or two this evening. There
is to be a meeting of the officials oi
the mill at half-past seven. i should
be too tired to dress and go up to
your aunt's afterwards"
81 had forgotten" she said quiet
"; so quietly that he thought she
did not care.
When he was gone she went to
her bedroom to arrange her toilet
for the call. She put on the best
she had, of course. She had q
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. Halliburton, in her
Velvets and steelest of steel-colored
silks, was being handed from her
carriage by her son. The Halibur-
tons were the owners of the mill in
which John Randall was employed.
Stephen, the only son, had just re-
turned from a five years residence
abroad. These two facts caused
George to scrutiniZe the mother
and son somewhat closely; and, in
so doing, Stephen Halliburton raised
hia hat 70 her.
GA pretty face he remarked,
carelessly, to his mother. 81 sup
pose it is some one whom l have
known 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.
cit is that young person whom
Jane Appleton brought up. She is
married now to one of our men, L
believe.
George found Paul Appleton arc
his bride holding a formal recep-
tion. The roOms-where her own
wedding had been solemnized a year
befOre-were quite filled with
guests. A very dainty and grace
full 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 sense
of gratitude towards her prOtege
for having forborne to fascinate
either of her IRarriageable boys,
and this gratitude cropped out In
active kindness under the eXulta-
| tiOn she felt over PauPs match.
George moved easily about the
well-furnished rooms; somehow she
seemed just fitted for such sur
roundings. The subdued, Well-bred
manners, the faint perfumes, the re-
fined faces, and the rich dresses,
were like a stimulant to her. She
needed such quickening to be fully
| herself. Her composed, delicate
beauty unfolded to perfection in
this atmosphere.
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:
81 seem not to be able to recall
you at all, Mrs. Randall. Yet l
must have known you before l went
away. My mother has just told me
your name, and have come to re-
claim acquaintance, if you will per-
nit me-"
81 remember you perfectly, Mr..
Halliburton" George returned quiz
city. 81 was hardly grown up
when you left us five years ago."
Five years? All, true enough!
Won't you take this chair? What
lovely lilyl Why, it is not real?''
''No; these wax flowers are very
like nature, though almost a pla-
giarism; don't you think SO, Mr..
Halliburton"
"Why, yes. 1t must be quite diff
ficult to make them. L dare say
they bring a good price"
Under her serene smile a quick
thought went through George
Randall's mind. She began to eX-
anime the gentleman before her with
interest.
Stephen Halliburton was q gentle
man by habit and a man of the
world by force of circumstances
But nature intended him for dill
gent, painstaking, persevering man
of business.
If he was not a great or a very
good man it was because he had so
much time, so much money, so much
flattery. lie was spoiled by his op-
portunities, yet he needed only the
right sort of influence to elevate
him beyond himself. He was thirty
years old now-he was past the age
when a man disdains to be led by
woman. But Stephen Halliburton
had never .disdained it. He had al
ways been led by the keen-eyed,
beak-nosed woman in steel silk, who
as George talked to the heir, held
her wine-cup up TO the freight not
far of.
The heir seemed to like Mrs. Ran
dalPs talk; perhaps because there
was so little of it. In return he was
rather unreserved-gOssiping about
his plans and his prospects. He
said that he was glad to get home.-
He meant to settle down at Millville
now; look after his factories and
the operatives, and introduce some
improvements. He wanted a bet
ter class of work-more tasteful de-
signs; he hadn't seen pretty print
from the factory. Didn't Mrs. Ran
dali agree with him?"
Yes; she agreed with him. 1t was
a strange basis for parlOr gossip
He was surprised to find how much
ouC AnCM aDOuI anu oAAS
was a little surprised herself. The
most delicate pink began to flush
her cheeks, the irises of her eyes
grew into great black fakes full of
luster. All at once, at last, she |
turned casual glance without the !
window.
"Why," she said, with a slight |
start, sit is almost dark. And be- |
lieve it is raining. l must go at |
once"
She stepped towards the window.
Great FLASHING drops were falling |
upon the flagstones. The dull No |
vember daylight was almost gone.
Mr.. Halliburton rose also.
"Did you walk2" he inquired
''Let us take you home. My ymother |
will be going soon"
The little stir attracted Mrs. Ap- |
pleton, who-most of the guests |
having gOAe-was devoting herself |
to Mrs. Halliburton.
''Stay to tea, Georgie," she sug-
gested. "JOhn knows you are here |
does he not?"
eyes; but it is raining. 1 think l |
he'd better not STOP"
E'I have been asking Mrs. Randall
TO take a seat with us, mother" in
terpOsed Stephen Halliburton.
''Ah yesI'' said the lady, with
contracted nostrils and prolonged
lip again. II shall be happy"
And then the keen eye over
looked George, as if to ask if there
were any just cause why the Hall
burton carriage, the Halliburton
horses, and it might be the Halibur-
ton heir, should traverse the entire
length of MilVille to take home this
young person, who had married one
of the Halliburton employees.
George stood unmOved, a little
----.--....-..l 4 Il hnAlrr. L.. L.