The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-08-09

! MIN, anu her daughter Elsie, his COM
paniOn OF the afternoon, who had
been established far down the table
with an insuperable barrier of two
county members, their wives. and a
clerical dignitary between them.
Elsie was very pale. and sat out the
dinner. eating nothing, and sending
away her plate untouched after each
course. There seemed to be a sense
of constraint on all present and con-
versatiOn languished, in spite of the
gallant efforts Of Bertha, ably second
ell by hef brother.
I'VE were speaking this afternoon.
Lady Matilda. of the magic emerald"
said Langton.
I Lady Matilda remembered the con-
versation.
! THAT is the stone in the center
piece Of nv sisters necklace"
1t was not stone of extraordinary
size. and would have shown but poorly
in that respect beside some Of its
! famous sisters. Bnt its color and
/ bri!liance w-re marvellous: AMI its
water As pure as that Of the famous
treasure for love of which poor Isaac
Levi went mad. Its mention gave a
flip to the conversation and though
Lady Matilda still maintained stony
silence, and ROderic and Elsie remain
ed taciturn or monosyllabic, the rest
Of the guests found plenty to talk Of
regarding the histories and legends Of
famous jewels.
; Dinner over. it was proposed by
Bertha, and carried with reclamation.
that tea should be partaken Of in the
garden, where the ladies accordingly
repaired. During the after-dinner
symposium. LangtOn noticed that
Vane drank much more than his usual
quantity Of wine, swallowing glass af-
ter glass in rapid succession, and with
Il cOuntenance Of unaltered gloom
On rising to join the ladies. who could
he seen wandering round the terraces
Of the garden, the young man took
LangtOn's arm and drew him away
down sequestercd alley, which led
into the park. The wide expanse Of
green stretched in one unbrOken wave
like roll until it met the Over-arching
blue. The birds, recovering from the
languor of the day. were giving the
preliminary trills Of their evensong.
1t was such an evening as is made for
lovers con6dences-when not filtered
through a third party. So thought
Stephen Langton; but being fairly
caught. he br,,ced himself up for ST.
lent endurance.
Il must school myself" he thought.
land here is an opportunity for a les
son. What's the matter, Vane?" he
asked aloud 81 never cav you look
so glum."
81 never felt 50 glum before, Steve.
I'm gone COON"
"Will YOU translate:'
I'm in love-
''FOr the first time?"
Eyes, to anything like this extent.
Look here. Langton, l must tell some
body or bust. Let me tell you:"
Langton dropped his hand on the
young mans shoulder.
"You young mutf AS if didn't
know all about it,
Vane started, his companion smil-
ell.
well. it saves me the trouble of
telling YOU. and YOU the bore Of lis
tening. You're a good fellow Lang
ton, and you've been very kind to
ME. What would YOU advise me to
do? Lady Matilda, knows it. l
swear. She cut me dead this after
noon. and Elsie came i'm to dinner
looking the ghost so l suppose she
has been having bad quarter of an
hour. too. You see. I'm only a
younger son. The governor wont
stand a penny more than three hun
dred Il year. and l get another three
from the office. can't marry Elsie |
on that Her mother wont hear of
it. suppose she's right. It's hard
to ask a girl to give up a life Of ease !
and comfort to live, and perhaps rear
II family on six hundred year. If
Lady Matilda was another sort of
woman she might make things straight
for us. But that's past hoping for
l must give her up, old man and get
out of this. I've got enough coin to !
buy an axe. and get a passage to Can
ada; and live it down. But it's hard
lines" he said, with a break in his |
voice. Its hard lines"
keep up your heart, my boy" re-
turned Langton, touched by the young
mans artless expressions Of grief. |
"Its bad; but might be worse. II