Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-25

3: the round he. :, pattern Of aged
81 positively must introduce him to you, my
dear Mrs. Lissomer," said Mrs. Blenerhasset
to one of her richest and most influential
al should IKE it above all things, my dear
Ms Slensrhasset. My girls are dying to dance
"Bgs don't see him anywhere now said
"Oh, I'm sure Miss venables will 20 and and
BIN for us-of course you will, there's a dear
thing. think he and Mr.. Tresham must be in
NOf course Miss yenables would; and or Diana
ever blooming, young, and fair, bounded. They
IN se va out
were bright with moonshine, and into the moon
shine Diana very appropriately went.
Like the ghost Of an elderly Diana seeking
her Endymion, Miss yenables stole along the
terrace, skulking in the shadow cast by the
house. Gliding rs softly rs q weasel across q
broad blanched surface of m0onshine, she stole
flowers.
"Oh, don't be angry with me, Frank, dear"
said soft gentle voice. "They are all against
me here, and had no one to tell have given
my heart already, except Miss Venables."
"What, that old cat ~ said q manlier voice.
Chang her."
II lynch law could have been instantaneously
effected by any temporary compact with king
ApOllyOn or any of amiable Miss Venables' en-
emies, 1t would have gone very hard with Frank
Probyn; for Miss Venables lean fingers clutch
ed at the urn, and the tinsel crescent ON her
scanty hair trembled with rage.
Don't say that, Frank" answered the low
sweet voice; 'shes dear good old thing
"Old, indeed !" internally groaned the listen
er; every little older than you, you vain crea-
ture :"
"And would give her very life to make you
and papa and mamma friends"
"NOnsense; she would not give a tuft Of her
chignOn. She'd sell all you have told her for q
sovereign"
"I'n chignon him, I'll sovereign him." NUT
tered the fair queen Of night, just then behind
ciou9. ~ spoil your game, my young man!
No doubt Miss venables fully intended to win
the odd trick at this moment. She had long
before this resolved to sell her secret to the best
bidder, and had indeed thrown out several pre-
Paratory hints TO the young barOnet whom they
alarmed without enlightening. The converse
ton, after several whispers and faint sound as
of kisses, was resumed.
"They hardly speak to me. Papa frowns and
what say o, Frank. am 50 miserable lie and and
they watch me like a thief. Mamma says it is
killing papa"
sand-boy. They'd say anything to turn you
from Inc. Harry, see 1t has come to this-we
must elOpe, and get married at once at Gretna"
at t was Ss some years ago. 1T is only nine miles
before the ball breaks up, we can catch the first
train to London, and the next after we start for
the nOrtn.'
There were several moments silence, then
Harriet said plaintively:
"Is there no other way, Frank"
"NOne."
"None?"
"NOne; either that, or they will hurry you
abroad, and we may never meet again.
eyes, will co. sobbed Harriet. 81 would
rather die here, as l sit here by you, Frank,
"The fly will wait for us at the park gate at
half. past two. We will meet here"
"A kiss (severaD ratified the agreement. Miss
Eenables stole back into the house. An hour
later, Tresham made his way through a crowd
Of Venetian senators, Spanish cavaliers, gene
raj officers, and Wavereys, to his old friend the
who were dressed as Spanish donnas.
Frank, !" said he, drawing him apart, ''look
out. That spiteful old cat Of q governess has
been playing Harry and you false. She came
into the supper-rOOm and began whispering to
Mrs. Blenerhasset; and heard your name and
something about half-past two. The Old bird
seemed to color, and nearly dropped Of her
perch"
THE deuce :" said Frank.
NOW, what you have to do is to start Just
half an hour earlier, and let the horses have it
the whole way. I'll contrive to get Harry out
on the terrace, and start her without being sus-
pected. Oh, you romantic beggar, what 4 Ro-
meo-and-.juliet business you're making of it
AND when they discover 1t ALL won't it be like
young LOchinvar, and the old game over again?
BY JOve, if | wasn't afraid of the matrimonial
lottery, If / wouldn't whip off that pretty girl
to Gretna Mind, at two to the moment They
will watch Harry As cats watch mice; but Fil
make adiyersiOn to get you off,"
ydn am afraid it !; all dn up nSw" said Probyn
would do all YOU could to help me and Harry,
but shall never be able to get OFF with Harry.
am standing here like a fellow on the drop
moment Old Blcnerlasset viii send one of his
hgnkeys and politely tell me to get of the pre-
. ssNopsonao. chaor nm ~, ho,, v:s,.,
natured rafting friend. 81 allow that old dra-
gOD of g0verness has played you false but re-
member she did not see You, and she doesn't
know that you are here In masquerade. She
won't know you; keep on Disgusting your voice.
and it'll be all right. The old bird has just been
inquiring after that agreeable old colonel, ana
"But how will Harry be able to slip away?
Her mother keeps her by her side, and never
takes her eye off her. She has already declined
two dances. Oh, it is all up, Ned"
"Don't be chicken-hearted, Frank, and Pfl
pull you through, as sure as my name is Ned
uresha Ga th tell you I've got Pan in my head
set down to supper, and when you are well fixed
there, I'll cOntrive something that will give You
a good chance Of slipping Off with Harry; but
mind you look sharp for the moment, and don't
miss your chance"
They had just sat down to supper, and Frank
was wondering what stratagem Tresliam would
employ, and whether 1t would be successful,
when there came shout and a rush through the
door leading from the hall into the supper
room, and two spiteful pampered little terriers
Of Mrs. Blenerhasset's darted in, pursued by two
smart, strong, pugnacious terriers Of Tresham's
and followed BY him and one of the page boys.
In moment the dogs joined battle in the CEN
ter of the room, and were at it tooth and nail,
yelping, barking, and growing like SO MANY
mad things. The page-boy, in his eagerness %
part them, knocked down tray of champagne
glasses; a fOOtman, running in answer to Mrs
BleHerhasset's screams and Tresham's cries OF
Inad-dog, leaped up and knocked bottle Of
sparkling nOselle from a fO0tman's hand; he
recOiling; struck another effervescent bottle
from another fOOtman. Up started the guests
the ladies screamed and jumped on chairs, one
or two on the table, to the devastation of jelies
and the confusion OF custards. Never was such
an uprOar ever raised in a supper-rOOm before
As for the g0verness, with one foot in q bowl of
lobster salad and another in q StrasburR pie
she stood like an AndrOmeda screaming at the
approach Of the sea monster. 1t was at this
momept that VicOmte de LOngioOmo, with Har-
riet on his arm, stole through the conservatory
INTO the garden. There Tresham, doubled up
with laughter, Joined them with some clOaks,
shawls, and bonnet procured from a lady's
maid whom he had brbed and in ten minutes
more Frank and his afianced were rafting off
in the moonlight at full gallop for Reading.
III.-THE SLIP CARRIAGE.
AT nine the next morning the first express
darted into Stafford with its usual mad triumph.