The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-08-11

| grave; indeed, one young lady IN PINK,
who was known by about seven fair con-
fddntes to have slight tendre for the
handsome lawyer, clutched convulsively
at the wrist Of young sister in blue, and
listened, with an alarmed face. to the
conversation by the chimueypiece.
"Why, how silent every one has
grownr, said Horace. still laughing. at
seems as il had launched thunder bolt
upon this hospitable hearth in announce
ing my visit to the little manufacturing
town of Horton. What is it-why is it
how is iti" he asked, looking round
with a smile.
why" said Sir Lionel, hesitatingly,
"the-the truth OF the matter-that is
not to mystify you-in short-you know
they, they've fever at Horton. The
the working classes and factory people
have got it very badly, and-and-the
place lie in a manner tabOoed. But of
course" added the old man, trying to
look cheerful, "you didn't 60 into any Of
the back streets, or amongst the lower
classes. You only rode through the
town, suppose; so you are safe enough,
my dear Horace"
The county families simultaneously
drew long breath, and the young lady
in pink released her sisters wrist.
II went my dear Sir Lionel" said
Horace, with smiling indifference, "into
about twenty narrow back streets in an
hour-and-a-half, and l talked to about
forty different factory hands, for | wanted
to find which way the political current
set in the good town of Horton. They
all appeared extremely dirty, and now, l
remember, a good many of them looked
very i'll; but I'm not afraid OF having
caught the fever, for all that" he added,
looking round at the grave faces of his
hearers, "half,a>dozen cigars,a and a sharp
ten miles ride through a bleak, open
country must be thorough disinlectant.
II not" he continued bitterly, Zone must
die sooner or later, and why not OF fe.
yer caught at IIorton?"
The young lady in pink had recourse to
her sisters wrist again, at this speech.
Horace soon laughed off the idea OF
danger from his afternoons rambles, and
in few minutes, he was singing a Ger
man drinking song. accompanying him.
self at the piano.
At last the long evening was over,
and Ellinor, who had heard nothing from
her distant workable of the converse
ton about the fever, gladly welcomed
the advent of servant with tray o
glistening candlesticks. As she lit hei
candle at the s;de>table, Horace Mar
grave came over, and lit his own.
II have spoken to Sir Lionel" he said
"a carriage will be ready for US in al
hour The London mail does not star,
till one o'clock, and we shall reach towr
in time to catch the day service for Paris
r But Ellinor, it is not yet too late; tel
me are thoroughly determined on thi
step"
Thoroughly" she said. 81 shall b,
ready in an hour"
r Mrs. Dalton's apartments were at tn,
end Of long corridor; the dressing<roon
opened out of the bedroom, and the doc
of communication was ajar as Ellino
entered her room. Her boxes stoo,
ready packed She looked at them hur
riedly, examined the addresses which he
maid had posted on them, and WAS abou
to pass into the dressing~room, when sh
, stopped abruptly on the threshold, witt
, an exclamation of surprise.
! Her husband, Henry Dalton, was seat
e ed at the table. with an open portfoli
r spread before him, writing rapidly. o
: chair, by the fire, lay his great Goa
t railway rug, and portmanteau.
He looked up for a moment, calml
e and gravely. as Ellinor entered; and the
: continued writing.
: "Mr Dalton!"
= Yes" he raid, still writing; 81 cam
y down by the $50 train. i returned soon
e er than l expected.
y by the $50 train?' she said, anxious
: ly; 'by the train which leaves Londo
at half past five, / suppose" she added.
J, "By the train which leaves here at hal
d past five," he said, still not looking u,
e "or should reach here by that tim
g rather, for it's generally five minutes late
% "You have been here since 81
# o'clock"
l. ''Since ten minutes to six, my dear E
l. linor. gave my valise to porter, an
a. walked over from the station in quart,
Is Of an hour"
lie you have been here since six, al
IL have never told me of your arrival; new
~ shown yourself in the house,
ut 81 have shown myself to Sir Lione
in I had some very important business
arrange"
," Important businessl?' she asked.
RS "Yes, to prepare for this journey
Paris, which you are SO bent up,
,ir taking"
S. A crimson flush suffused her face,
sbe exclaimed,