The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-13

look in his blue eyes, and throwing him
self down on the bed had SO unwillingly
vacated, began kicking the white coun-
terpane with his dirty boots.
sack, man, look what you're doing,"
said, pointing to mud-splatch on the
clean linen. "Mrs. Mason will think l
tumbled into bed last night in the dis
reputable condition of not knowing very
we'll what / was about"
ssJust tell her did it, Bob, and she'll
be- delighted to put on a.fresh counter
pane, am sure. But do you know what
l was doing this morning whileyou were
driving your pigs 10 market?"
"Feeding the chickens probably" /
answered, feeling cross at JACKS good
| humor.
"Guess again." said he laughing. 81
t'No; II you don't choose to tell me, my
curiosity will walt" I returned, as l
arranged my necktie.
| "Well, then, Pye been getting on good
terms with Mrs. Mason. and finding out
who our friends of musical reputs next
door are"
s'The dickens you bave," 1 calculated,
studs. Jack nodded, his blue eyes fairly
dancing with merriment. "And the re-
suit OF your Inquiries is"
"That the household consists of Col
onel HaNam, his wife and daughter"
"Is that all you know about themp
asked, somewhat disappointed at the
meagerness of the details, as ! put the
finishing touches to my toilet.
"You ungrateful scoundrelp' returned
Jack. "Why the people only arrived
here two days ago, and Mrs. Mason her.
self only got the Information this morn
ing from the bakers boy at the door,"
"Ahl then IT'S sure to be correct. But
come, let's go down stairs and try if we
can get a look at Colonel Hallam or his
pretty daughter"
1t was a glorious morning. The sun
shine was dancing gleelully on the rip
pling surface of the loch, and the flowers
were lifting their dewy heads and filing
the breakfast room with their fresh fra
GRANGE.
l. A very tempting repast stood await
ing us on the table, and jacks blue ey es
looked not amiss behind the coffee urn.
"Altogether this is very pleasant,
jack" remarked, and took the cup e
handed TO me; ''you look almost pretty
enough to kiss, my DEAR"
"COme, no chat. ls your coffee sweet
enough?" said Jack, atfectionately,
twisting the ends OF his silky moustache,
and leaning back in his cushioned chair,
presented charming expression of per-
feet contentment, Of leisure and rest. j
can not say that was altogether in rap.
lures over the "Blue Bells" but perhaps
they helped to promote the pleasant
tenor of my thoughts as l lay with nv
eyes half closed, letting the smoke from
my weed curl atfectionately in the folds
OF Mrs. Mason's lace curtains. GLOW
Jolly Ferrars and l are toSether,n !
chuckled to myself; "this little trip OF
ours is going to be altogether a success
Girls are well enough to meet occasion.
ally, but they become bore. Now, SUP.
pose had wife with me here instead
OF Jack, she wouldn't be content unless
she mad the house filled with visitors and
servants, and
Just at this interesting juncture of my
ruminations the fiourisnIng aud dashine
at The plano ceased, and presently tht
chairs on which my legs were resting
were pulled from under me, and l was
: left jgnominiously sprawling on the car
pet, with jacks face grinning down a.
, , me in evident enjoyment Of my discom
titure. But my fail did not cause me tt
: forget the thread of my meditaLions, and
: as L gathered up my elegant limbs, re
marked: "My wire would not have done
: that, Jack"
"No; she would have kissed the poor
tired darling, and thrown q shawl gentl,
OfSt W hoOP llOHl CdlCuIul
cold," said Jack, in tone OF mock atfec
l ton.
"Picture of domestic happiness" l re
turned, laughing, as l readjusted thu
chairs. "Hark! what is thai ~
The stiffness of the night outside wa
broken by the same exquisite music w,
I. had listened to the previous evening
q In an instant our banter was hushed
+ 1t was a gay, lively air, which L recog
I nized as d selection from tue "Studenpi
Frolic," and the singer seemed ever
r more at home in this style than in th
. pathel lic. Ii made me feel as joyous al
bird in spring, and had not been to-
' lazy, l could have danced, in the YER
u exuberance Of my spirits.
Jack, we must get an introduction I,
(; that little girl" cried enthusiasticaliy y
Y throwing my half-nnished cigar out o
Z the window.
+ But, TO my surprise, Jack seemed 4
: no mood to talk, and kept staring out O
the window, taking no notice OF my nc
a mark. Feeling aggrleved at not bein
n met with The storm OF opposition an
, contempt expected for proposing sue
!, u tning, went over and slightly shoe
: MIN, at which he ran nls fingers thr0ug
j. his blonde curls. and, looking up with a
expression OF innocent suiprise, asked
"WHat is it?"
Z "W0uldn't you like an Introduction t
e Miss Hallam2p l repeated.
Z "Wby, yes, of course, Harding; yo
needn't have shaken a fellow hall out ,
; his senses to ask that silly question,
a and Jack readjusted his broad shoulder
S and rsiapsed INTO silence again. L trie
r TO talk oil Miss Haiiam, music, Literature
politics., but all to no purpose. He sa
e staring out OF the window, AS ii th
Il seven wonders OF the world were visibl
j. on our path of moonlit lawn. Rathe
disgusted left him star-gazlng and r,
I tired TO bed; but as went up stairs
!, must own 10 a little curiosity as to th
cause that had made my amiable an
y talkative friend suddenly SO iaconic an
i disagreeable.
$ lContinueul
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