The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-01-22

1OIu DCIoIe. IHeT6 Was SOmeGn1Qg III
the air which affected me, though
| did not know how. We could see
the lighted windows of the dining
room, and hear the sound of the voic-
es and laughter though at a distance;
and we all laughed too in sympathy.
though we did not know what the
jokes were. It was very pleasant and
friendly and rather droll. None of us
had any particular desire to be Joined
by the gentlemen. We had done our
duty by them, talked our very best to
them, and fattered ourselves that it
had all gone off very well; but though
we were glad they were enjoying
themselves now that our part of the
entertainment was over, we were not
very sorry to think that they must all
go away shortly by the last train. And
no heart among us, 1 am safe to say,
beat one pulsation the quicker when
they came out upon the lawn, some
of them slightly flushed with the
laughter and the good cheer, to take
their coffee, and their leave. 1t had
grown almost dark by that time, and
the white waistcoats (for they were in
their morning dress, and most of them
wore white waistcoats) made great
show in the half-light. The greater
part of them thanked US all for the
delightful evening, not being quite
clear which were, and which were not,
the ladies of the house, but determin-
ed to fulfill all the duties Of polite
ness. We walked with them to the
gate to see them go, and shook hands
with them all, though we did not
know their names. [ recollect the
whole scene as clearly as a picture,
though ] knew at the time no reason
why [ should remember it; the din
ing-room brightly lighted, the table
with all its fruit and flowers, and the
vacant chairs pushed away, standing
in all manner of ways; the drawing
room much more dim, just showing a
glimmer of newly lighted candles; the
table on the lawn with Miss Stam-
ford's white cap and half-visible fig
ure close to it; and all the rest Of us
standing about telling each other how
well it had gone off, and listening to
the voices Of the gentlemen getting
fainter and fainter as they streamed
off behind the shrubberies along the
road to the station. lie any one had
told us what changes would come from
that visit! But how could any one
have guessed the changes that were to
come?
1t was not the next day, but the day
after that | met General George in the
afternoon coming from the station.
1t was at least two hours before his
usual time, and he was walking. The
sight of him gave me a little shock.
Something, [ thought, must have hap
pened. l ran over in my mind, as one
naturally does, as | went up to him,
the things that were most possible
There were nephews scattered about
all over the world. Could it be that
there was bad news of George Thistle
thwaite in Ceylon, or BERTHE SIAM
ford at the Cape? or was it pleasanter
intelligence from young Mrs. Thurs
ton (nee Ursula Humphreys or Lucy
Thistlethwaite, or one of the Lincoln
shire girls I? but that Il said to myself
would not be enough to bring the
General home so much sooner than
usual. When he came nearer, how
ever, my mind became easier. He
didn't look unhappy, he looked puz-
zled, and now and then a gleam like
laughter came over his face. When
he saw me he came forward with an
air of pleasure.
"You are the very person | wanted
to see-if you will let me, | will walk
home with you; but let US go the back
way" said General George, to my in
tense surprise, for don't want to see
my sisters until | have taken your ad-
vice"
MY advice! before you see your
sisters before you tell Ursula" |
cried, and then the General laughed
and frowned, and looked angry and
amused all in one. 'That is just
where my difficulty lies,' he said. A
difficulty about Ursula! it took away
my breath: =.
''but it is quite true. Charles came to
me this morning with the absurdest
question. He came to ask me who it
was that sat next Mr.. Oakley at din
ner at Bonport ON Tuesday-eh? what,
did you notice anything?" he asked,
abruptly, for | had not been able to
restrain little exclamation. | have
never boasted of my penetration, but
from that moment | seemed to know
exactly what he was going to say.
II know who sat next Mr.. Oakley
at dinner" | said.
Ursula, wasn't it? We laid our
heads together, and from all we could
make out. He went to Charles first
to find out who it was. and Charles,
of course, made up his mind that it
must have been one of the young la
dies that had made such an impress
sion He proposed Miss Woodroof
and then the young widow-no, no.
Oakley said it was not young lady.
1t was lady whose hair was turning
grey, who wore cap and used a dou-
Bile eyeglass. At last the conviction
forced itself upon me- By Jove! it
was Ursula-URsULA the man was
thinking Of! We both burst out
laughing in his face But after
wards" the General added gloomily
with flush of displeasure, "after-
wards-I feel furious, Mrs. Musgrave,
though / may not show it; and that
is why have come first to you"
"What did he want?'' | said, though
allow there was some hypocrisy in
my question.
"What did he want ?-you may well |
ask. He is a man of sixty-five, older
than am. He wants-to mrary my
sister," said the General, with half