The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-11-21

tyraunizing even over the tyrant grand
mamma, every one sees tho sense Of this
remark.
"1 shan't forget, dear" says Brenda,
Strengthening Lady Molyncux's cap, which
has gone somewhat awry during the heat of
argument.
"Then suppose the matter has arranged
ITSELF" says Wilding, quietly. "Gocd.byc,
grandmamma. shall see you tonight,
Brenda" holding out his hand She gives
him hers, and rises, TO his eyes, luminous
and glad, She docs not care TO conceal from
| him the satisfaction that warns her heart as
she dwells upon the pleasure that lies before
| her. Perhaps she hardly knows how dan
gerously sweet that pleasure Is. Is IL indeed
| PATHS or George Wilding's voice she likes
best to heari She has promised TO marry
| Disney, and she will marry him-of course,
that is quite settled. Nothing can alter
thati but just nownow-for little while
| out of all her life why not be happyY
| And Jose will be with her. Dear Jose
| Nothing can be sweeter than Jose Once or
twice before she has gone TO the opera with
her and George, and she has always been so
| engrossed with the music and so deaf TO all
other sounds, and SO absolutely determined
| not to enter into any conversation of any sort
with any one, that Brenda and George might
as well have boon alone.
eyes, tonight" she says softly, and
smiles at him again, and sends him away
outwardly calm, but with a heart that curses
fate and grandmamna, and above all, Lord
Disney.
| At the appointed hour he calls for her,
and at his command she descends the stairs
beneath the gaslight, clad in her prettiest
gown, with n soft blue cashmere cloak around
her, and on her head the daintiest of swans
down hoods, from which her eyes looked out
dark and misty and loving. Her hair is
roaming at its own sweet will across her low
broad forehead, her color liz somewhat height
ened, altogether ehe looks distractingly
pretty as she steps into the night brougham
and they drive away to Cromwell road to
take up Jose.
Alas Jose is not to be taken up Uhe ex-
preston of sorrow is all my,own) upon the
stairs, with huge white tieecy shawl twisted
Niobe, all tears
at is toothacle," she explains in muilled
tones. That fiend among pains has laid hold
of her, and having her safely in his clutches,
refuses to release her without heavy fine.
Fred-lcr husband-has gone for dentist
to extract this fend.
"And of course IL is dreadful, darling,
really quito too dreadful, but you see can't
20; SO George must have sole charge of you
J tonight"
"Grandmamma will be SO angry" says
Brenda, nervously.
"Why need she know2 Grandmamma il
an old bore, says Jose, with heartfelt mean
ing. She is very young, and is person o.
} undeniable spirit, and, as a fact, regards
, grandmamma with irrevcrence, and Lord
Disney with disgust and openest disdain
, "She will never find il out, she goes on as
cheerfully as the fcnd in possession will per
. nit her. "If had listened to all hel
r crotchets and world-worn theories, n yeal
. ago, shouldn't be married to Fred now
Oh dear, oh dear, will he never come
F, This pain is maddening. There, go away
4 you two. And take great care of her, George
And bring her home directly, you know, ant
| shall tell Fred to suppress all about thu
dentist tomorrow"
S cit sounds very decctful, doesn't itP
says poor Brenda.
&c 1t is nothing when you are used to it,
replies tho married sister.
: "And am safe to be found out; Away
y am" says Brenda.
r Well, it is all grandmamma's own fault
i On her head be it," says Jose, who seem
to enjoy the situation far more than the othe
G two. "Never be bugbear, Brenda; yo1
:, see what awful mischief accrues from making
h ones self DOGGY. Oh l shall go out of M.
4 mind if this hateful pain continues mucl
longer. Go away, do. And come and see m
J, tomorrow, and tell me all about it,
The opera is charming, and Patti excel
n herself; but time flies and bright thing
y fade, and soon the curtaindrops, and Spanis
$ castles fall, and Brenda, with a sigh, place
d her hand upon her Cousins arm, and 500
!. they have made their way through the fasl
II ionable throng, and are speeding homewar
through the deserted streets.
y As they arrive at No. some clock in th
It distance chimes IL. They run up the steps
n and Brenda puts her hand in her pocket I
o draw out the latch-lsey.
"Be sure you don't commit yourself abou
h Jose's DETECTION" says Widing, and the
he stops short, struck by the change in he
,, face.
o "George did give you the key 7" sl
asks in a frightened tone.
IS "No. 1t was on the sideboard when "
10 came out. told you to remember it. Hav
rs you not got itr'
l. 81 have not. l never brought it at al
a. must have given it to you," desperately.
Y, am sure you did not"
j. Nevertheless try. Try your pocket
Try every pocket you have" says Brend
t, miserably.
~ "Weli, never mind" says George, "v
10 must only put good face OH the matter, Al
ring up the servants"
X Ring You might ring until morning
70 You might ring until you were black in Il
IN |" eXclaims Brenda with the impatien
of despair, "and nobody could hear yo
go Why, they all sleepat the very top of Il
to house, beyond all hearing, and grandmamn
ng never will get n bell put to their room
So What is to be donel"
d. Come to Jose."
Jose has no servants bell either, NJ
mt they all go to bed early" replies Miss Mol
)" neux, on the verge of tears.
"aOOd gracious" says Mr.. Wilding,
Ito last thoroughly reused to q sense of I
ed awfulness of the situation, what on ear
vn shall We dor"
he 1t is a dark and gloomy night. u
"Chaste Diana" has sulked and gone to he
cd the stars are nowhere. Not sound distur
:" the silence that envelOps the quiet road, @
a cept an occasional cough from Kenmore t
to c0achman, who is waiting with the brought
ke to convey Wilding home, and who sits up
II the box the very model of propriety, n
on never so much as glances in their directio
is Perhaps he is wrapt in fond dreams of da
OF gone by when he and Mrs. Kenmore W.
he a-courting," and has secret sympat
"a for the two on the doorstep.
ere A huge black cat, hdeous as gnon
he springs from some dark corner, and will
weird yell PUSHES across the road and disi
=" pears down some area at the opposite side
"This all comes of doing what knew "
nd wrong" says Brenda presently, tindi
she her companion silent. ~ wish, )" ungra
he fully, "you had never asked me to 60
md that horrid opera"
her s. thought she sang very WE'LL" alludi
to Patti. "And certainly couldn't be
lis pected to know how things were going
ar turn out says Mr.. Wilding, somewhat
81 grieved.
" You shouldn't have listened to Jt
ly; You should have brought me straight hol
II is all your fault" says Brenda, most
avs fairly.
re- "Well, it wasn't | forgot the latcll-l,
int anyhow" says Mr.. WildiDg, uuwisely
censed.