Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-02

possession. But directly it became another
mans property it would be as at present,
and would remain so until he did some
thing awful, and SO on"
Lady Matilda made no remark in answer
to her companions last speech, and, in
deed, seemed not to have heard it. She was
looking intently between the bushes be-
hind Langton, and, as he ceased to speak,
rose, in order to obtain better view Of the
object on which her eyes were fixed. Lang
ton turned, and gazed with alanguid curiosity
in the same direction. But suddenly he
rose, too, and stood beside his companion,
with his teeth set fast, and his face paling
beneath its ruddy bronze. Lady Matilda
face was white with i'll dissembled anger,
and the hand which parted the leaves was
agitated by an angry tremor.
A young man of % or %, light
haired, fresh. colored, and looking exasper.
atingly cool and calm in the blazing
sunlight which lit the open space about
him, came lounging up the little hill on
which stood the copse which hid the listen
ers from view. Beside him walked a girl,
some few years his junior, attired in a
dress of some diaphanous fabric, lit by
ribbons of pale-blue. Her summer hat,
decorated like her dress, she carried in her
hand, aud thickly.twisted coronet of
leaves and flowers was ia its place
upon her lustrous hair. Ignorant of
the scrutiny to which they were
subjected, they came on until they
were within twenty yards of their con-
cealed watchers. Then, seized by sudden
faintness, the young man fell, limp and in
vertebrate, against tree, uttering hol-
low groan. The lady regarded him with a
coantenance whose gravity was contradict
ed by the laughter of her eyes. He raised
his appealingly to her face, and groaned
again.
"Well?" she asked.
He pressed his hand upon his heart and
gasped "The customary restorative"
The girl looked about her, and then, be-
lieving herself unperceived, stopped over
her exhausted companion and kissed him.
He, with sigh of relief, briskly recovered
the perpendicular, and the pair disappeared
from the view of the enraged Lady Matilda
and her companion.
Shameful !" gasped the angry lady.
Shameful Outrageous How dare he?''
| Langton made no answer, but tugged 81.
lently at his mustache.
"Mr Langton, painted Lady Matilda,
81 pray you to believe that l am no party
to this disgraceful conduct on the part of
my daughter"
Disgraceful !" repeated Langton, with
an astonished lifting of the eyebrows.
"Why disgraceful? Perfectly natural, 1
should say"
Lady Matilda glared at him as if doubt
full of his sanity.
"Given," continued her companion, a
country house, handsome young man, a
pretty girl, time, place, and opportunity,
surely the result should not surprise you. ;"
But without consulting me ="
Langton broke in, with calm impudence
which completely bewildered his compan-
ion.
"Did you always ask your mammals
permission before -"
He did not complete this sentence, but
eked out his meaning with smile.
The lady, with an angry firt of her para
sol, turned from him and walked towards
the distant hall. He followed her.
"My dear Lady Matilda, pray don't take
the matter so hardly. There is-isn't a
better fellow in the world than Roderic
Vane."
=" A penniless adventurer."
Permit me. Not an adventurer and
not penniless That he has decent posi-
ton is past dispute /; he is a gentleman and
has very good prospects.
ga very good catch for a BRIDESMAIDS
daughter, no doubt" answered the Offend
ed mother. But l had looked higher
than Government clerk for Elsie.
Langton would have spoken again /; but
she flashed round on him suddenly with IN
disguised rage in face and voice.
"Do you plead his cause, Mr.. Langton p
81 do. If 1 may be permitted to say
so, shall regard it as a good match on
both sides"
She turned from him with gesture and
exclamation in which anger, disdain and
surprise were all expressed, and left him
where he stood.