The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1876-02-17

tlOn OF pOilteness DuI S0tneInlng I'D
the ,lady's face seemed. to compel as
we'll a. enhghten her.. when she hur-
riedly brushed past both mother and
son, and nearly tripped over her en-
tangling train; Mrs. Haynes smiling
to Bernad with cruel meaning as her
eyes led his to the girls awkwardre less
Of exit.
Sir James, as a man of his word,
! made up the party which he had pro.
posed to LOIS during dinner and the
next day it was agreed that they
should all 60 over to Aitken, to See
the Roman remains and picture-gal.
lery for which it was famous, when
they would lunch there and come
home to five o'clock tea.
In arranging how they should 60,
there was question Of riding i; and
Maud, Cora, and Edith all voted for
horseback over the dullness of driving
in the cold of an October day; when
Cora said good-naturedly, "But we
can scarcely do that, Maud; Miss
Lancaster has no habit
"Oh!" said Lois J; II don't mind
for habit, Miss Cora. I can ride in
any old skirt you have handy. We
never bother about habits down at
Wythburn."
"You cannot ride without a hat
and habit said Mrs. Haynes q little
disdainfully.
;"1t makes no odds, Mrs. Haynes /;
indeed it DON'T" she repeated earn
estly,' and .inher earnestnew forgot. her
best style. eve don't fash about
such things at the place where; 1
came from, and I can do quite we'll
with an old skirt, Or even a shawl
to lap around me-"
"You forget, Miss Lancaster. that
you are not at Wythburn now" said
Mrs. Haynes with a smile that was
certainly neither genial nor reassuring ;
"You cannot ride in an old skirt, or
even a shawl round you''-contemp-
tuously-"and I should have thought
that even you would have had enough
perception to have understood that p
II meant not to give trouble" said
Lois meeklY.
"Pray allow me to arrange as I
think best. You will give me least
trouble by the most obedience" was
the lady's reply and Lois felt hum
bledandhumiliated; but why? What
had she done? According to her
lights, she had done only what was
right and kind and considerate but
she had evidently missed her way
somehow, and had offended when she
meant but to serve. Yet, if she had
ridden, she would have shown them
how to stick on, she thought, with
the pride Of one who, as she phrased
it, could ride bareback as well as
side-saddle. and. who had never been
bet by any beast she had yet mounted
nor was afraid of the best that ever
laid leg to ground. In the end, de-
spite the opposition Of Mrs. Haynes,
it was arranged that Bernard should
drive Lois in the pony-carriage,
| while his sisters rode with Charley
and Edith Grattan. This was the
best plan that could be devised, and
suited every one save Mrs. Haynes.
| When they were seated in the
carriage and safely started, poor
Lois drew a long breath as if a heavy
weight had been taken off her; and
turning to Bernard said. for her al
most warmly: my word this is
nice, Mr.. Bernard! 1t is like home ~
1T is home," said Bernard fondly:
"your home, Lois"
II like Wythburn best" she said.
II feel strange-like here, yet."
"You will soon get accustomed,
DEAR he returned. my mother is
very good,- and means everything
that is kind"
"Does she = said Lois. "Did /
offend her just now, Mr.. Bernard ? l
didn't mean to, I'm sure; but she
didn't look best pleased at what I
said about the habit. But meant
no offence"
mo, no I" he answered hastily;
"she was not offended, Lois; she only
wanted to put you right, and make
you understand"
:"She was rather short, all the same,' -
said Lois quietly; "but father, he ia
short too at times and one must see
and hear good bit in this life and
never take heed. Don't you think
so?"
! II hope you will not have to see or
hear much that is unpleasant at Mid
wood, said Bernard gravely.
Lois looked at him. Was he too
going to be short like his mother
If so, she, Lois, would not trouble
him ; so she lapsed into silence, and
Bernard drove on, wondering if he
should say anything to her that might
help to bring her into more harmony
with her new surroundings or leave
things to work themselves clear, when
would that nameless charm by
which he had been fascinated, and
which now seemed lost, return =?
Perhaps; he hoped, nay more he be-
lieved that they would. It came
back in part now, in this lonely drive
together, when she was more natural
and at ease, he less critical and
| IT,.