The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-09-02

| neCk DOr6 OF Btraugttng.
"That discoloration of the neck might " ell
be caused by the tightness of his collier" qnoth
the divine. "If he had been murdered, his
death would have been known to some whe
certes would not have left his rings bis FIR
gers or his money In his purse. Nor would the
murderers be such simpletons as to take pains
to set up his body in the attitude of one who
had committed suicide, when by the same
amount OF trouble they might have buried it
out of sight and hidden every trace of their
deed"
80 yol side with the ssnts, my friend, ~
answered Sir John. Ave shall take you for a
Jesnt in Disguise"
II own 1 think tho Jesuits no such fools, "
rejoined the other, " as they would have been
| had they committed this deed"
| EITHER way" retorted the baronet " there
was an act Of suicide, for if the Papists did it,
| you must own it to have been q suicidal act."
Meanw bile the wine was circulating freely
| aud was backed up by hot wassail. of which
Master Glare partook very freely. The latter
began shouting out scraps of songs of far
| more dubious character than that with W hich
he had already favored the company, where
upon Sir John endAavored to silence him by
| calling his attention to the presence of the
| learned divine, The customs of the age, how
ever were little favorable to decorum in this
| respect, and some Of the guests encouraged his
| joviality. He was roaring ont one of his coarse
ditties when Dame Dorothy's coach arrived.
| George Hickes and Gervaise rose Immediately
to receive the visitors, who had to pass through
the hall on their way to the grand staircase
communicating with tapestried saloon above
started back in surprise when he beheld his
cousin Dora, whose presence appeared to him a
satisfactory evidence of the success of Lady
Packington's mission.
"Yon see, Nr. Sacheverill" :" said the latter
" that have brought you back trophy from
Elmley, and sutiioienb token of ynrr Dncle's
kindly feelings toward yon, but must tell you
all about my visit bereafter. L hope you have
been in conference with this good friend OF
mine, Master George Aickes, whom an re-
jciced to find az Westwood."
Mga rftiia nff 14k
abaud doned their potations to gather round and
welcome the two ladies, and all were ailured
to the beautiful Dora Townstepd, whose pres
ence WAS evFeAcntly an attractive addition to
the company.
MIR. Hickes handed her iadyshp up stairs,
conversing with her On various topics in which
they both felt interested.
" know not whether TO speak to you again,
Cousin Gervase,' quoth Dora ooquetishly, as he
followed with her up the staircase, latter your
cruel flight, without one parting word to
mother or myself.n
81 owe my aunt most humble apology,
forsooth, for my seeming rudeness," )" said Sache-
verill but thought Cousin Dora would be
too we'll pleased at my departure to need an
explain alton of it,"
why should you think that :" che returned,
surprised:
lyon looked so cross with me as we rode
home that day." he answered.
You did your best to make me SO, methinks,
by speaking up for Popery to plague me-
TO plague g you' Doraf How shamefully
"Ah, no." che replied, 81 am we'll aware why
you did it. You are welcome to your Papist
friends SO long as You do not bring disgrace on
our family by falling into their su perstitons
yourself," she pursued in tone of assumed in
difference. turning away from him to rejoin
Lady Pakington.
tege to her chamber, she contrived to leave
Gervase in the hands of the young divine. In
obedience to his venerable patroness, the OK
ford churchman invited SacheveriIl into an
the great SalOCD. he n
of ladies who were chatting merrily around
the open hearth, and there commenced con.
versatlon on the topics most likely to draw him |
Shortly after, Dame Dorothy, who had re-
turned with MISS Tewnsnend, came up to them
saying:
=" see you are deep in theological discus
sion. But you must resume your argument
another time, for The ladies require yonr assist
ance, gentlemen, FOR their game of A's and B's."
The whole party had indeed assembled and |
were seated in the circle on tue carpet to play
at the favorite game of O. love my love with
an A" because he is arrogant artfu!, or
hate my love with B, because he is bald or
bashful, and so on. This followed by
ombre and other diversions in vogue, and the
evening terminated in u dance, during which
young Mr.. Verr on carried on vigorous fiirta-
ton with Dora, who was perhaps melted to
lis en- to his attentions by the coldness of her
cousin. The game of Questions and COM
mands' was among those which they played
in an interval between the daAces, and " as one
which favored the prosecution of the youpg
cavaliers addresses, since it terminated in for
teits from which, according to the fashion of
The age, no part of lady's toilet was exempt
from penalty.
You should commute that penalty" cried
Lady Pakineton to Mt Vernon, when he de-
nanded some article of Miss Townstend's gar
niture, "for else she no longer take part in
the dance. l miskke these forfets now IN
vogue at Cont, and would liefer you ad sent
her 20 tne summit of st"eple or down into a
vault at midnight, as hath been done some
times"
Then 1 claim that she shall 90 to the top
Of Banbury tower, and will be her cavalier"
cried Mr. Vernon.
Provided the day be fue,' returned Dame
Dorothy, she shall mount my jennet and Mr..
and my nieces shall accompany
you Do you accept this Communication of your
forfeit Dorai"
Willingly" sbe returned "for have never
been to the summit of that steeple which they
say commands fair view of the forest"
And the old rector, my good uncle, will be
'eJolced to greet you," said Mr. Vernon, " and
would be pleased that all the company should
AXE his rectory by storm, and see the beauties
If his church and neighborhood"
The dear old man is an especial friend of
nine'" quoth her ladyship, land am we'll ,
fn hn nf s |