The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1878-07-18

was forming on Philippians hps;f sthat
won!ti ben rudefiess of which one Of
Madalse DIderot's graduates should not
be guilty. Listen. IA distant cousin
of yours on your fathers side, who is TO
inherit rich unele's noney,sis coming
here TO night by .4tiiat uncle's request
Theaaold gentleman wonldnd,e sweltaI
pleased to have the two branches OF the
family united byta marriage. SO, yoli
see, unless you are obstinate in the
matter your futureis secure" I'D ri
$50 am toAbe put up like O, Clrcas>
sian slaveigirl for strangers inspec-
ton. Til not do it! I will die frstr'
Then the impetuous young thing sud-
denly changed her'tons of fiery indigna-l
ton. ."Mother,I will work for you.
am young and strong. and you shall
want nothing. Only spare me- this
dearedation.' 'saHa OF s7s la .sat1ss -s,f 3
Il fYou use rather strong terms with
regard to your Cousins visit, ,"said Mrs.
| Befsrafx coldly s's.Bnt we will waive
further discussion Of the matter for the
present I shall rely upon You TO per-
form your duties as hostess gracefully
this evening, Notwithstanding your pc
cular views" and the irate woman
swept ont of the room, mindless of the
tears with which Phihppa's eyes were
brimming over. F~'sei aA ga3s9i'.
Evening came Philippa was called
to the drawing room, and found two
gentlemen awaiting her entrance in
stead of the one of whom her mother
had spoken.
"Mr Conant, this is your cousin,
Philiappa, said Mrs. Bertram.
Mr. Conaut bowed, and turning,
said,
"My friend Lake, Miss Bertram He,
also, is stranger, so took the liberty
of bringing him with me-" The last
words we're addressed to Mrs. Bertram.
who smiled and said suavely, ga friend
of Mr.. Conant's might be assured OF
cordial welcome"
The dreaded introduction was over.
! To Philippa's intense relief, the gen.
: tlemen devoted themselves to her moth
er for a time, SO that the unpleasant
feeling with which she entered the room
had time to wear away. Sc sst es y ~
Mr.. Conant was undeniably hand
some, with grave dignity of bearing
which would have won at least pleas
ant greeting from her had it pot been
for her mothers swell remembered
words. His companion was tall and
manly looking, but was much younger.
He had pleasant face. lighted by a
pair of merry brown eyes, which ey!-
IDENTIFY had thus far seen only the bright
side Of life. ef .4. -..
| 1t was not natural for Phihppa to be
stiff and constrained, and the armor OF
cold dignity with which she had invest
Z
TO the sprightly conversation.
Mr.. Lake had fine tenor voice, aud
found his way to the piano as naturally
and unaffectedly as bee to it's favorite
flower. After time Philippa's girl
lsh treble Joined in, remarkable only
for its sweetness and purity of tone; but
the effect was pleasing, and the evening,
which promised so poorly, passed away
as though on wings.
Visit followed visit the friends always
coming together. PhiIippa was polite
to her cousin, but her bright speeches
and most winsom smiles were only be-
slowed on his friend. Mrs. Bertram
was not at all pleased with the turn
affairs had taken, but, in courtesy to
Mr.. Conant, had to disguise her weari
ness, and dress her face in smiles.
One evening Mrs Bertram was away
to fulfill an engagement. AS Philippa
knew that both the gentlemen had heard
the intended absence referred to, it was
great surprise to her, as she had com
fortably ensconsed herself with favor
ite book beside the vivid rays OF an Ar
gand burner in the eozy sittirg room,
into which company rarely entered, to
have Mr.. Lake ushered in
"You must excuse rde, Miss Bertram,
but the temptation to see how you look
when taken by surprise proved irresisti-
bic. and would not send in my aaIne,
but insisted to be taken at once to
you. g.r,..- 3'a
Philippa received his apologies rather
constrainedly. She was not accustomed
to entertain gentlemen in her mothers
absence, and it was doubly embarrass
ing that her visitor had come. alone.
She knew also that Mrs. Bertram vonld
be displeased when she heard Of 1t. and
it gave her manner q coldness unusual
to it. "a 3s,s-. f.t.,s. .,,... ..--.
After an interval of silince young
Lake said suddenly: i
'.You are not glad. to see me, Miss
Bertram. If,you wish it 1 will go away.
Ii you only knew, though, how l have
counted the moments, to give me this
chance to see, you alone you would pity
my disappointment at my reception. !"
Then. as Philippa looked iatshin in
j troubled surprise at his agitation, he
said, deprecatingly:
/ "Don't look as though was saying
something painful. Miss Philippa. Can
it be that you have been blind to my