The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1882-09-29

] lies, SIOCk CACutGEc Win ta6 CITY luGnI
| sporting magazine and Tattersalps with
the country swells; discussed the last
debaStS at Her Majesty's Theater with
the young LOndoners; spoke of sir john
| Herschers last discovery to a scientific
country squire, and of the newest
thing in farming implements to an agri-
| cultural ditto; talked compliments to
the young country ladies, and the fresh
est Mayfair scandal to the young Lon
! don ladies; had, in short, something to
/ say on every subject to everybody,
without displcasing any one. And let
any man who has tried to DO this in the
crowded drawing-room of a country
! house say whether or not Horace Mar
grave was a clever fellow.
by the by, HHrace," said Sir
Lionel, as the accomplished lawyer
marble mantlepicce, talking to group
of young men and one rather fast young
lady, who had edged herself into the
circle under cover of brother, much to
the Indignation of more timid spirits,
who sat modcstly aloof, furtively re-
garding Admirable Crichten Margrave,
as his friends called him, from distant
sofas; ''by the by, my boy, where did
you hide yourself all this morning?
We sadly wanted you to decide match
at billiards, and sent people all over
the house and grounds in search of
you"
Il rode over to Horton after lunch"
said Horace. 81 wanted a few hours
there on elcctioncering business.
you've been to HortOn?' asked Sir
Lionel, with rather an anxious express
sion.
Yes, my dear Sir Lionel, to Horton.
But how alarmed you look! 1 trust
haven't been doing anything wrong. A
client of mine is going to stand one whit
the less the elegant and accomplished
for the place. But surely you're not
going to throw over the county electors,
and stand for the little borough of Hor-
ton, yourselfr' he said, laughing.
Sir Lionel looked q little confused,
and the county families grew suddenly
very grave; indeed, one Young lady in
pink, who was known by about seven
fair c0nfCIH71tcS to have u slight tenure
for the handsome lawyer, clutched con-
vulsively at the wrist of younger sister
in blue, and listened, with an alarmed
face, to the conversation by the CHM
ney-piece.
"TVhy, how silent every one has
grownr' said Horace, still laughing.
!" 1t seems as if L had launched
thunderbOlt upon this hospitable hearth,
in announcing my visit to the little
manufacturing town of Horton. What
is it-why is it-how is it?' he asked
looking round with q smile.
Why" said Sir Lionel, hcsitatingly
- the truth of the mattcr-that is-not
TO mystify youth short-you know
they, they've a fever at Horton. The
the working classes and the factory
people have got it very badly, and-and
the place is in 4 manner t0bOOcd. But
of course" added the old man, trying
to look cheerful, d" you didn't go into
lower classes. You only rode through
the town, l suppose; so you're safe
enough, my dear Horace"
The county families simultaneously
drew long breath, and the young
lady in pink released her sisters wrist
= went, my dear Sir Lionel said
Horace, with smiling indifference, q" into
about twenty narrow back streets in an
hour and half, and talked to about
forty different factory hands, for l
to find which way the political
current set in the good town of Horton.
They all appeared extremely dirty, and
now, l remember, a good many of them
looked very i'll; but I'm not afraid of
having caught the fever, for all
that he added. looking round at
he grave faces of his hearers;
- half dozen cigars, and Il
sharp ten miles ride through bleak,
open country must be Il thorough dis
nfcctant. II not" he continued. bit
.erly, Zone must die sooner or later,
and why not of 4 fever caught at Hor-
on?''
The young lady in pink had recourse
o her sisters wrist again, at this
speech.
Horace soon laughed oft the idea of !
LANCER from his afternoon ramblcs, and, |
IL Il few minutes, he was singing n
icrman drinking song accompanying |
himself at the piano.
At last the long evening was over, ]
nd Ellinor, who had heard nothing |
rom her distant workable OF the CON !
,ersation about the fever, gladly
the advent of Il servant with !
tray of glistening candlcstickS. As !
he lit her candle Mt the sidc-tablc, !
Iorace Margrave came over and lit his |
wn.
Il have spoken to Sir Lionel" he |
aid, - a carriage will be ready for us |
n an hour. The London mail does not
tart till one o'clock, and we shall reach
own in time to catch the day service
u Paris. But, EllinOr, it is not yet too
ate; tell me, are You thoroughly deter
mined on this step?"
Thoroughly" she said. Il shall
e ready in an hour"
Mrs. DaltOn's apartments were Mt |
he end of q long corridor; the dressing
DOM opened ont of the bedroom, and
ne door of communication was aiar as
,llinor entered her room. Her boxes
TODD ready packed. She looked at
lem huIriedly, examined the addresses
-hich her maid had pasted upon them,
nd was about to pass into the dressing
pom, when she stopped abruptly on
10 threshold with an exclamation of
Irprise.
Her husband, Henry Dalton, was
lated at the table, with an open port
lilo spread before him, writing rapid
?. On a chair by the fire lay his great
Dat, railway rug and portmanteau.
He looked up for q moment calmly ,
nd gravely, as Ellinor entered, and
len continued writing.
"NIr. Dalton"' Il
Yes" he said, still writing; Il came |
,wn by the $50 train. II eturned $
oner than expected" {
" BY the $3.50 train?" she said, anx- {
usly; "by the train which leaves 9
,ndon at half-past five, 1 suppose" s
e added.
TO BE CONTINUED. 1