The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-01-16

de-rtSNe; ana the gentleman on the card
was Mr.. Jack Carleton. But, of course,
Maggie did not know this.
$50 this is my future husband, ac-
cording to the astrologer," said Miss
Barton. "The gypsy woman said |
| should marry curate. Pshaw! What
an idiot 1 am to have written such
fools letter. | dare say | am duped
along with many others. | wish had
not written. 1t is a good thing none of
the girls know it. OF course, | am a
dupe, aud | suppose the very existence
of this piece of elegance is myth.
More fooll ~
With another look, she placed it bet
ween the pages of the book, and haste
ned down.
here were merry dOings at Barby
Holt that night. Squire Martin Barby,
or grandfather Barby, as the young
people, children of his many sons and
daughters, always called the old gen.
tleman, and Lady Ursula, his high
bred, genial dame, always gathered a
large circle around them at Christmas.
And gerc could you spend a jollier
Christmas than at the Manor?-and
who could make such mince pies and
turkey stUifing as grandmOther's old
hOusekeeper at Barby?
The dancing was at its height; the
holly and ivy quiyered on the panels,
and the oak floor was becoming more
and more slippery; when unannounced
and with pOwdering of snow on his
cloak, tall figure rushed among the
dancers, seized the Squire's hand and
wrung it violently, fell on Dame Ur-
sula's neck and gave her hearty kiss
before any one had time to think what
the disturbance could be about.
But the Squire's eyes were keen, and
after the first moment he returned the
grasp with hearty "GOd bless you,
my boy, welcome hOme!' and "Wel-
come to Barby, grandson said the
kindly voice of Dame Ursula, albeit
some tears Of JOY shOne in her soft
eyes.
"COusin Jack Cousin Jack" came
from twenty mouths, and the favorite
grandson threw aside his cloak, and
flung away his hat, to shake hands with
all the aunts and uncles, and many of
the guests who remembered him.
And one 10 these guests, seated under
the holly decorations of a great oak
panel, leant her white, terror stricken
face against the wood work, and pres
sed the slender glOved hand against a
heart beeting strangely fast.
"What can it mean?" she thought.
"Why am so stFuck at the appearance
of an utter strangerY'
And yet it was not Il stranger. The
face of the favored grandson was the
one whose image lay between the leaves
of the book upstairs. An, Maggie, it is
dangerous to have dealings with astro-
lOgers. Here was the girl, who had
| answered mysterious advertisement
for mere fun's sake. astOnished and ter
rlfied beyond measure at what seemed
the sudden realization Of The astrolog-
er's mute prophecy.
"Wbat is the name Of that young lady
standing near the fireplace and talking
to my grandmother" he asked as soon
as he got a chance.
That's Miss Barton :"
Jack worked his way dexterously
round the room, and by the time he was
within ear shot of the young lady there
was cry TO put out the light for snap
dragons; and while they went out with
Whit, a sharp spring placed him at
her side.
"Miss Neutrality-suspicious. do you
do?"
There was little glow of the fire,
just enough for him to see the shiver
his words caused. She raised her dark
eyes with shade of displeasure over
coming her fear; but of course he could
not see that, and he continued to mur-
muir unintelligible nothings till, in
common Politeness, she was bound to
murmur unintelhgible nothings back
again.
| A few more sentences, and then,
while the rest were pressing round the
burning dish, Jack made bold stroke.
EDO you know you owe me a kiss,
Miss Barton? ~
This in allusion to some old wager of
their youth.
The experience of the last few hours
had already reduced her to state of
mute resignation. Nothing he could
say would astonish her now, so to this
remarkable question she only ans
wered:
"Do I?"
"Do you? why yes, Maggie. Don't
you remember Jack Carleton ?"
"Are--you-Jack Carleton ?" came
from lips that were returning to their
natural color.
eyes, indeed" he replied. cam
so much altered S"-Pcrfect astonsh-
ment and silence you owe me
kiss" Jack continued: "you remem-
ber that, don't you, Maggie? I'm GO
ing to have it now"
Quick as thought an imprompto kiss
was taken in the dark.
Well, by degrees Miss Barton became
more reconciled to the existing state of
things; so by the time the blue flame
w"Xed dim, and the raisins were all
consumed, 1t seemed the most natural
thing inthc world for Mr.. Carleton to
| 4 l.. Il