The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-01-29

they were all gone. The chimneys
and gables already looked so cold
smokeless, freless, appealing against
the glare of the summer, which car
ried away the dwellers inside, and ex-
tinguished the cheerful fire of home
As l went in | saw the fly from the
''Barleymow" creeping along towards
the house to carry the luggage to the
station. The old white horse came
along quite reluctantly, as if he did
not like the errand. | suppose all
that his slow pace meant was that he
had gone through long days work,
and was tired; but it is SO natural to
convey little of ones own feelings
to everything, even the chimneys of
the old house. There was nobody
down stairs when | went in. Simms
told me in dolorous tone that Miss
Stamford was putting ON her bonnet.
"And don't like it, ma'am-I DON t
like it-going away like this, just
when the countrys at it's incest. If
it was the general for his bit of sport,
mind said Simms; ''but what call
have the ladies got away from home ?
They'll go a-catching fever's or some
thing, see if they don't. It's tempting
Providence.
II hope not, Simms," said L; but
Slmms took no comfort from my hop
ing. He shook his head, and he ut
tered a groan as he set chair for me
IN the centre of the drawing-room.
No more cozy corners, the man SEEM
ed to say-no more low seats and
pleasant talk-an uncompromising
chair In the middle of the room, and
a business object. These were all of
which the old drawing-room would be
capable when the ladies were away.
| set down Simms along with the
house itself, protesting with all it's
chimneys, and the old white horse
numbering reluctantly along to fetch
the luggage, and the blackbird remon-
strating loudly among the trees.
They were all opposed to Ursula's de-
parture, and so was |.
The door opened, and Sophy came
in more respondent than all Of these
sundry personages and things put to-
gether. "They are rather late-the
boxes are just being put on to the fly.
Will you come out here and bid her
goodbye" said Sophy, who was limp
with crying. | never could tell
whether it was imagination or a real
quickening of my senses, but at that
moment, as | rose to follow Sophy, |
heard as clearly as l ever heard it in
my life the galloping of horses ON the
dry, dusty, summer road. / heard it
as distinctly as | hear now the soft
dropping of the rain, sound as differ
ent as possible from all the other
sounds had been hearing-horses
galloping at their very best, a whip
cracking, the sound of frantic ener-
gy of haste. Then [ went out into
the hall following Sophy. It must
have been imagination, for with all
these lawns and shrubberies round,
one could not, you may well believe,
hear passing carriages like that. Ur-
sula was standing at the foot of the
stairs in her traveling-dress. It was a
large, long hall, more oblong than
square, into which all the rooms open
ed; the drawing room was opposite
the outer door, and the generals room
(the library, as it was called was far
ther back nearer the stairs. He was
inside, but the door was open. Ursu-
la stood outside talking to the cook,
who was to be a kind of housekeeper
while they were away. Cant trouble
Miss Sophy, except when you are per-
picked yourself. On ordinary occa-
sions you will do quite nicely, | am
sure; you will do everything that is
wanted" she was saying in her kind,
cheerful voice, for Ursula did not show
any appearance Of regret, though all
of us who were staying behind were
melancholy. The men were hoisting
up the trunks with which the hall was
encumbered ON the top Of the fly,
which was visible with its old white
horse standing tired and pensive at
the open door. And Mrs. St. Clair
appeared behind her sister, slowly
coming down stairs with a cloak over
her arm and bag in her hand. There
was nothing left but to say good-by,
and wish them a good journey and
speedy return.
But all at once in a moment there
was a change. The horses | had been
dreaming Of, or had heard in dream,
drew up with a whirlwind Of sound
at the gate. Then something darted
across the unencumbered light beyoud
the fly and came between the old
white forse and the door, | think he
for to use any neutral expression
about HIM from the first moment at
which he showed himself would be
impossible-I think he lifted his hand
to the men who were putting up the
trunks to arrest them; at all events
they stopped and scratched their heads
and opened their mouths, and stood
staring at him, as did Sophy and [, al
together confounded, yet with sudden
elation in our hearts. He stepped
past us all as lightly as any young
paladin of twenty, taking off his hat.
His white hair seemed all in moment
to light up everything, to quicken the
place. Ursula was the last to see him.
She was still talking quite calmly to
the cook, though even Mrs. st. Clair on
the stairs had seen the new incident,
and had dropped her cloak in amaze
ment. He went straight up to her,
without pause, without drawing
breath. | am sure we all held ours in
spellbound anxiety and attention.
When Ursula saw him standing by
her side she started as if she had been
shot-she made hasty step back and
looked at him, catching her breath too
with sudden alarm. But he had the
air of perfect self-command.
Miss Stamford" he said, will you
grant me an half hours interview be-
FIRE Won oOp"