The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-09-25
MAUD'S ESCAPADE.


Mr.. Austin mad gone to the city for few
days. Had he been ablej FROM the busy
streets. to glance into his library, he would
have realized the truth of the old saying
concerning the absence Of the cat.
His books and papers lie in disorder
around pretty Maud Armstrong, his ward !;
in her hand are the keys of Eyersley House,
and curled up in his own especial chair is
lair-haired Lou Linwood-- Maud's pet friend
and her guardians pet aversion.
"Do you mean to tell me-" Lou is saying,
IN her slow, musical accents, "that Mr..
Austin will not allow you to see your own
house ?"
"That is just what mean to tell you.
You are half asleep this morning. Lou.
Pray wake up enough to understand this
my grandfather left Eversley House jointly
t. me and to my cousin George Eversey,
who was then studying medicine in Heidel-
berg, but who has since sailed for home in
tn Gaiiia, which reaches New York to-
morrow. My beloved guardian, with usual
amlabilily, declared that should not see
Eversley House until my cousins return !;
l, with my usual docility, Immediately re-
solved that would. Now do you see ? My
6 rardian is away, my cousin not yet ar
rived; here are the keys"
"And here are the girls!" cries Lou. az
am wide awake for any chance of crossing
Mr.. Austin. How love that man dote
upon his very absence. Go put on your
riding habit, pet; I will order the horses,
and VIC will be at Eversley House in less
time than it has taken us to plan it."
Eversley House lay bathed in the peace
FIJI afternoon sunlight. Tainting the golden
air is the smoke of a short plebeian pipe.
It comes through the open stable door from
under the fair moustache of a tall young
man in shirt-sleeves and corduToys, who is
there attending to the wants of his horse.
$50, old Chevalier," he murmurs, strok-
ing its glossy neck, "there you have well
earned your dinner to-day. III give you
one more supply, and then to explore the
old place"
In the act of shaking down additional
feed, he pauses, struck by the sound of ap-
preaching hools Nearer they come, and
presently two lovely girls, vouchsafing him
the merest glance of cold curiosity, pass at
a hand-gallop
"What couple Of beautesr he inward
ly exclams. "The bro~n.eycd one, for
choice. Wonder il they took me for serv-
ant? Shoudn't be in the least surprised.
By Jove that's cool. II they aren't trying
to open the doorl Wonder if they consider
this public property. Well donej Brown
eyes, but your little fingers will never con-
quer that stubborn lock. know it of old.
Now she is going to summon my assistance,
! fancy"
"James JameJw
"Meaning me, suppose. She might as
well call me John or Thomas. am COM
ing At your service, Brown-eyes." Then
aloud, "Ladies, can be of any assistance %
"You are the man IN charge of the house,
l suppose?"
"a am-ah-yes. am the man in
charge"
81 am Miss Armstrong, part owner of the
house. Please TO open this door for me-"
ooh, how dark and dreary this is" ex-
claims Lou, as the obstinate door yields and
lies open.
"Allow me-" and stepping psst them, the
young man opens the window and let's 9
flood of light into the large old-iashioned
hall, with its high blue-tlled fireplace.
81 think" says Maud, glancing a little
fearfully up the wide staircase to the dark
passages and closed doors above, al think
would like you to go over to the house with
us, James,"
II he is amused at the young lady's COW.
ardice he does not show it.
Certainly, Miss Armstrong but my name
is not James,
'No7 Our own grooms is, so il seemed
natural to call you by it. What is your
name ?"
George"
"well, George, here are the keys-pleas,
to 50 first"
Accordingly the little party explore the
old manor-house. It would be hard to say
which shows the most interest in the quaint
rooms with their antique furniture. They
stop to rest in an upper hall, hung with
family portraits. Here the girls notice theil
companions resemblance TO the portrait o.
a colonel in Continental uniform. The younl
man hastily points out that the likenes be-
tween the colonel's lady and Miss Arm.
strong is much stronger.
But she was my at-graudmother, Sc
there is nothing remarkable in our looking
alike" says Maud.
Then she wonders what there was in hel
simple remark to so amuse the man. She
turns to her friend
81 mean To have my grandmother,
boudoir for niue, Lou. They tell me it il
up in the turret"
"You speak as though your oousin had
nothing 10 say about it," replies Miss LIN,