The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1881-02-18

y plates, loaded with nothing but sand
:, wiches. All varieties of opinion were
consulted. People of ordinary tastes,
who liked to know what they were eat
ing, could choose conventional beef or
ham, incased in thin slices of bread of
a delicate flavor quite new to them.
Other persons, less easily pleased, were
tempted by sandwiches of pate de foie
gras, and by exquisite combinations of
chicken and truffles, reduced to q
creamy pulp which hung to the bread
like butter. Foreigners, making expert
ments, and not averse to garlic, discov-
cred the finest sausages of Germany and
Italy transformed into English sand
wiches. Anchovies and sardines
appeared in the same unexpected way
to men who desire to create an artificial
thirst = after having first ascer-
tanned that the champagne was
something to be fondly remem-
bered and regretted, at other
parties, to the end of the season. The
hospitable profusion of the refreshments
was -pervading and inexhaustible.
Wherever the guests might be, or how.
ever they were amusing themselves,
there were the pretty little white plates
perpetually tempting them. People
eat as they had never eat before, and
the inveterate English prejudice against
anything new was conquered at last.
Universal opinion declared the picnic
dance to be an admirable idea, perfectly
carried out.
Many of the guests paid their hostess
the compliment of arriving at the early
hour mentioned in the invitations.
One of them was Major Hynd. Lady
Loring took her first opportunity of
speaking to him apart.
81 hear you were little angry" she
said, "when you We're told that Miss
Eyrecourt had taken your inquiries out
of your hands"
81 thought it rather a bold proceed
ing, Lady Loring,' the major replied.
But as the Generals widow turned
out to be lady, in the best sense of the
word, Miss Eyecourt's romantic adven-
ture has justified itself. / wouldn't re-
commend her to run the same risk
second time
"I suppose you know what Romayne
thinks of 1T"
"Not yet. I have been too busy to
call on him since I have been in town.
Pardon me, Lady Loring, who is that
beautiful creature in the pale yellow
dress? Surely, l have seen her some
where before?'
"That beautiful creature, major, is
the bold young lady of whose conduct
you don't approve"
"Miss Eyrecourt?
eyes"
81 retract everything I said p cried
the major, quite shamelessly. "Such
a woman as that may do anything. She
is looking this way. Pray introduce
me-"
The major was introduced, and Lady
Loring returned to her guests.
IT think we have met before, Major
Hynd," said Stella.
Her voice supplied the missing link
in the majors memory of events. Re-
memboring how she had looked at Ro-
mayne on the deck of the steamboat, he
began dimly to understand Miss Eyre
courts otherwise incomprehensible
anxiety to be of use to the Generals
family
sit was on the passage from Bou-
logne to Folkestone, and my friend was
with me. You and he have no doubt
met since that time {" He put the
question as mere formality The un-
thought in him was can
other of them in love with Romayne (;
and nothing as usual likely to come of
it,"
81 hope you have forgiven me for
going TO Camps Hill in your place."
said Stella.
81 ought to be grateful to you," the
major reioined No time has been ,
ost in relieving these poor people, and
vonr powers of pursuasion have sue
,eeded where mine might have failed.
Has Romayne been to see them himself
since his return to London? ,
"No. He desires to remain unknown, a
md he is kindly content, for the pres h
mt, to be represented by me- "
"For the present 2" Major Hynd re- tt
oeated. .
A faint flush passed over her delicate b
81 have succeeded. she "
esumed, " in inducing Madam Maril- 4
ac to accept he help, offered through
ne, to her son. The poor creature is C
afe, under kind superintendent in {,
private asylum. So far, 1 can do no d
nore."
"Will the mother accept nothing?" s.
Nothing, either for herself or her |,
laughter, so long as they can work. 1 t,
annot tell you how patiently and y
,eautifnlly she speaks of her hard lot. v
iut her health may give way -rnd it is a,
'ossihle, before long, that | may leave
Iondon." She paused; the flush deep h
ned on her face. " The failure of the .,
lother's health may happen in my n
bsence," she continued, "and Mr.. r.
.omayne will ask you to look after the .,
lu.ily, from time to time, while am g
way. :,
al will do it with pleasure, Miss
yrecourt. Is Romayne likely to be n
ere tonight" h
She smiled brightly and looked away.
he majors curiosity was excited ! he "
,oked in the same direction. There h
as Romayne, entering the room, to
lswer for himself.
What was the attraction which drew
le unsocial student to an evening -
arty2 Major Hynd's eyes were on the pC
atch. When Romayne and Stella an