Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-10-19

Bertha, her mother, and herself went
on their autumn visit to the Larches.-
IL would be good opportunity for her
70 be introduced 70 Lord AlphingtOn as
his grandson's promised bride. OF his
consent to the marriage she felt as
sured. She believed him 70 be simple
in his habits, too unambitious. not to
be satisfied as long as his grandson
made choice Of lady; and, as Lena
surveyed her beautiful face and grace
full form in the mirror, she knew there
could be no question on that score.
The morning was bright and beauti-
full after the heavy storm Of the night
before; the sun had not yet had power
to dry up the rain-dr0ps that still
sparkled in the chalices of the flowers:
the air was full of sweet scents, and
the birds rejoiced as II in second
spring.
"He will come to-day, :" said Lena. as
attired in an elegant morning costume,
she sat down i'll her favorite place near
the window, and took up a book under
pretense of employment.
"Then, my love, l shall make some
excuse to go out" announced the prud-
ent mother; "anh pray do not be so
cool in your man.ier to him as you are
sometimes. / believe he would have
proposed before this, If you had not
seemed to hold him so at arms length"
Thanks, mamma" Lena languidly
returned. ~ know what Pm about,
never fear. Mr.. Fancourt is not BASH
full, | assure you. 1t is quite necessary
he should be made to feel that he is in
the presence of different sort of
woman from ttoGn | imagine he has
been accustomed TO-"
II dare say you are right, my precious
one.n Mrs. Dalton admitted. "But you
cannot blame me if l am anxious to
see you so admirably settled-beyond
even my hopes for you."
Lena's lovely face assumed an express
sion of disdain. She had sufficient con-
SciOusness of what was good and noble
to feel contempt for her mothers Sor-
did axioms, when she heard them enun-
ciated, even while she acted upon them.
This consciousness had grown upon her
unawares during her intimacy with st.
Lawrence; and even now, as she sat
looking out into the sunny garden,
keen pang shot through her as she
thought how he would despise her could
he read her heart. Little she knew
that he had read her through and
through-that early in their acquaint-
ance he had tried her in the balance and
found her wanting, and that not all her
beauty, all her wiles, had power to
make him alter his judgment one jot
or one little.
Soon after luncheon Bertha, who was
in the garden, heard the sound of
horses hoofs; it ceased at the gate, and
Sarah was summoned to admit the
Honorable Mr.. Fancourt. The groom
led away his horse and, seeing Bertha,
Fancourt advanced toward her. She
received him with q distant bow, keep
ing her garden-basket in her hand. She
always avoided shaking hands with him
when possible.
Mrs. and Miss Dalton are within, I
understand?" he said, thinking to him
self that when he had married Lena he
would make her sister pay for her cold
and naughty manner.
"Yes, they are at home. You will
find them in the drawing-room, l
think" Bertha answered; and then she
turned and continued her occupation of
tying up some carnations, plainly init
mating that she wished for no conver-
sation with him.
Fancourt bit his lip, and went up the
walk toward the house, switching at the
flowers with his riding as he went
along, to Bertha'S great annoyance.
Nor was he yet to reach the presence of
his lady-love without encountering an
enemy.
Pinch seemed impressed with the
idea that he was fulfilling the whole
duty of good dog by lying upon the
steps leading up to the front door,
blinking in the sun, with one ear cooked
up to listen for intruders. Pinch had
taken great aversion to the Honorable
Mr. Fancourt; and now, as soon as he
saw him, he sprang up snarling and
showing his teeth. Sarah stood with
the open door in her hand, ready to ad-
NIT the visitor.
''Be quiet, Pinch," she said -''lie
down, SIR"
But Pinch found it necessary to give
vent to his feelings by making an imag-
mary onslaught ON the Honorable Mr..
Fancourt'S boots as he went up the
steps.
II wonder your mistress can keep
such brute" said that gentleman to
Sarah, as he entered the passage. gyl}
"We don't consider him a snappish
dog in the general way, sir" returned
Sarah, who rather sympathiZed with
Pinch's feelings, not liking gentlefolk
who treated servants ''as if they were
dirt" as she confided to Martha
1.-THE Honorable Mr.. Fancourt,o y she
announced, throwing open the draw
ing-room door before he had time to
reply. ssAs x. nj, a.l.ssl..
Mrs. Dalton's reception was cordial.
She met him with Outstretched hand.
am SO glad to see you," she said.
ut is quite an unexpected pleasure. |
thought you had gone off to the m0ors
probably, and forgotten all about your
friends here" f'5s y'tl4
"There are some not easy to forget"
Fancourt responded, with glance at
Lena.
Lena was languid, and rather cool.
AS she had told her mother, she knew
perfectly well what she was about, and
how to regulate the thermometer of her
manner. tti4 ,'f}i
,N Fancourt took seat near Mrs. Dali
ton, and opposite to Lena. The CONVEX
sation turned on ordinary topics--th
close Of the exhibitions and the opera,
the different places Of autumn resort;
and Mrs. Dalton's plans for the ensuing
months were inquired into.
1--WE shall be Lord Alphington's
neighbors for time, :" said Mrs. Dalton.
SIN the course Of September we are
going to spend a month at the Larches,
with our old friends Sir Stephen and
Lady Langley"
"0h-ali-exactIy," Fancourt stam-
mered, as his countenance fell. ''Rath-
er slow down there, ism 'titY Can't you
manage togo to Scarborough. or Trou-
vile, or somewhere where. there's
something going on?. There's deuced