Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-12-11
CHAPTER LII
A MODERN noARp1gG.Hor.

kingly Marechal Mel, surrounded by
graveled walks aud fresh green turf,
which was carefully nursed with sprink-
ling hose and shaved with lawn-mower.
The mathematical grass grew with we'll
bred evenness, and was dotted with bright
be1s of flowers and things which would be
trees, if their feelings had been consulted
aud the avenging shears been absent, but
now transformed into globes and pyramids
of fashionable cut-for well-brought-up
trees must conform to the usage OF society,
or bettor not be trees at all.
Such was the mansion to which Charlie
was conducted not unwilinglly. Mrs. Har-
lay issued from her "ofice to welcome
Gertie Blake, and, after the usual kissing
parade. was introduced to Charlie, and
said she would be glad to have him as one
Of her inmates.
Come in and have a cup of tea, dear, -"
said the mistress Of the house to Gertie !;
and SO you had such pleasant voy-
age?'
And wasn't a BIT sea-sck. Was I, Mr..
Gould ?"
mot when I was around, said Charlie,
maliciously.
That probably covers most of the
case, said Mrs. Harlay. with a smile.
81 only acted under the Captains COM
mands. began Charlie.
"Oh, You behaved beautifully, sir.
Pray don'S apologize" INTERCEPTED Gertie,
quickly.
Your mother is lying down, dear, "
said the hostess "You will like to see
her first, 1 suppose.
Eyes. 1 will run up stairs and take off
nay things, and try to prevail on her to
come down and have cup OF tea with
US, and she skipped up the steps, leaving
Charlie with his new hostess.
A noble-looking woman, of perfect sym
metry. The first bloom of womanhood, it
is true, had passed away, but had left a
ripe, autumnal beauty in its stead. Rich
mouth and deep, liquid blue eyes had been
untouched by the hand of time, and the
delicate, slightly acquiEne nose was as
clearly cut as ever. Yet, on looking closer,
if one might be so ungallant. there were
some hard lines that told OF the shrewd
vicissitudes of woman's sore, unaided
struggle with an unfeeling world, and
perhaps there was Ger ain reckless
ness of look, as of one who felt herself
equal to either fortune. Unshrinking, she
stood in the bright California sunlight, her
httle-faded complexion tinted with the
rose-colored shade of a pink.lined psrasol,
and it may be not unconscious of its ef-
fective coloring, but using or needing no
other artifice to enhance her wondrous
beauty No one knew whether there was
Mr. Harlay or not Some said she had
husband in Chicago, and some whispered
that she had another in Arizona but he
was probably dead or scalped, or what
not, and as the subject was not mentioned
in polite society, SO viii we too gently pass
it over.
eve dine at SIX, MIR. Gould. Perhaps
you will Ike to join Miss Blake and me in
cup of tea:"
Thanks" said Charlie, 81 believe l
shall not trouble you so far. I must get
my things in shape"
And with bow to signify that the audi
enoe was at an end, he found himself dis
missed
In the meantime Gertie Blake skipped
up the stairs to her mothers room, and i'm
petuously burst open the door, saying as
she sank or her knees by the lounge :;
+" Mother, dear Here l am back again !
Tn so glad to see you / hope your poor,
dear, old head is better - kissing her.
"Therei there That will do. You
great, strong girls never have any feeling
for the sick.
''My poor, old nanny Did hurt it's
poor head! 1 won't do it again. have
come back to be so good, she said, while
smoothing her mothers grizzled scanty
locks.
"What long time you have been away.
I thought you never would come back. l
have been SO lonely without you, and this
tiresome head of mine has gwen rae no
rest
why, mother, have only been gone
two weeks :. but I want you to come down
and have nice cup of tea vita Mrs, Har-
iay-all to ourselves,
"No, thank yen. I fesI too poorly, and
Mrs. Harlay's spirits and rude health are
very trying to my poor nerves /; but / want
you to hurry back TO me, dear, as quickly
as you cen-I have such lot Of things TO
be done
Mrs. Blake loved her daughter dearly +;
but she loved herself more dearly, and she
accepted the loving service OF her child as
right which had become necessity. To
great extent an imaginary invalid, she
made use OF her supposed ailments to build
up kind OF proscriptive right to unlim-
tied attendance from all who were sub
missive enough to render it. and her
daughter she considered her especial prop
erty.
Gertis hastily completed her toilet, and
tripped down stairs ioyously, notwith-
standing the somewhat ungracious reeep-
ton her mother had accorded her. she
was one OF those practical little women
with active temperaments, who live rather
in the present and the future than in the
past. She never allowed herself to brood
over misfortunes, fancied or real.
Entering the private parlor, or Office as
it was sometimes called, OF the hostess, she
sat down with womsn's quick grace to