The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-10-15
OLD PETERS STORY.

UuU IElhh D DlUhI.
All was excitement in the great house
on the hill, for 80 Chalmers Hall was
known for miles around, 1 had not
served the family, boy and man, for
thirty years, without sharing it to GER
tain degree not incompatible with my
buffers dignity, and all evidence oi
which strove sedulously to conceal.
1t was oooasioned by no less IN event
than the return of the young lady of the
house--the only daughter and sole heir.
ess of all these broad acres--from the
finishing school in Paris, to make hei
formal debut in society.
The suite of rooms assigned to her ha6
been Thoroughly renovated and refur
nished in manner widely different from
the solid English comfort which prevail
ed elsewhere throughout the house; bu
to look through them was like sudden
glimpse into the nest OF some humminl
bird, which had impaired all its OWL
brlliancy to its belongings.
Only few days before the expected
ARRIVAL came letter, begging permission
to bring with her her dearest friend =
young lady whose father was an Eas
India officer, and whose return had beer
unexpectedly postponed for couple O
months.
OF course the petted daughters wisl
was law and though the fond father
reading aloud the letter prefelriug thi
request at the breakfast table, exchang
ing glance of disappointment with hi
wife that SO soon the privacy of thei
little circle must be disturbed, fOrma
invitation to Miss Aline Revere to tn,
hospitalities of Chalmers Hall was dis
patched that very day.
shall never forget the evening of Mis-
Chalmers return. Her CHEEKY, "Hoy
do you do, Peterp" thrilled my old bone
as did the touch of the little hand sh
kindly offered me. in memory perhap
of my long service and the many ride
up and down the broad halls she had OF
my shoulder, screaming the while wit
glee. She fitted about all the cvenin
like bee, from -four to -four, and it wa
as though burst Of sudden supshin
had illumined the old honse. She wa
2 fair, sweet English girl; but, as a.
were seated around the dinner table,
could not but acknowledge the palm c
beauty must be awarded to her friend,
had faily haunted; it held it in the fir
of the tropics, the ice of the Arctic. tn
light of the heavens, the shadow of tn
height-each expression in contradiC
ton of the other, each tending to pre-
duce harmonious warfare.
did not think this all out myself, bu
some one, long after, in describing Mis-
Revere's face thus worded it, aud kne'
then they made clear the enigma my oil
brain so long tried to solve. ! woul
even then have been envious for Mis-
Chalmers sake, but that she seemed s
fond, so devoted to her friend that he
very gladpess seemed an UNCONSCIOUS n
buke to me.
1t was not long before the house vi
filled with guests ladies and ladie
maids, gentlemep and their Wallets, con
ing and going, filling the place with ga
ETY. and excitement Then came the al
nounoement OF a grand hall, with inviti
tions to all the county. Glad enough
4 was when the evening it WAS to tai
place actually arrived. and l could fe
that the hustle of anticipation was at a
end.
On her way down to the drawing roo
Miss Flo peeped in to see the tables, an
/ thought for once that we might con
pare her to Miss Aline. She was dresse
in white, her arms and neck bare, b.
glittering with precious stones. Son
of the family jewels her father had rese
and presented to her that very mornir
at the breakfast table. was not like
to forget the circumstance for the o
feeling of dislike, with which l had fr
regarded Miss Aline, swept over me as
fancied an envious glitter sparkled in Il
great black eyes us they rested on Il