The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1882-09-16
CHAPTER VII.

CHAFIEh VII.
Lord Oldentowers found his friends rap-
lures about Miss Floss harder to bear than
ever, now that he had seen the young lady.
and was persuaded that she was entirely
unworthy of the kind, strong heart that had
been given into her keeping. And vet, be-
ing a soft-hearted little fellow, he could not
but feel touched by Humphreys humble
and subtle excuses for the very apparent
flaws i'll his little idols perfection
''How can we blame her, James ?" he
asked, as they walked on together. ''You
have seen for yourself how the child is neg
lected don't want to defend my own be-
havlor; l know it is wrong-miserably
wrong; but, if Floss we're properly looked
after, would it be possible for US to meet as
often as we do!"
Lord Oldentowers did not know whether
to smile or to sigh over this queer way of
putting the matter
''She Is as safe with me, of course" con-
tinued the lover ''as if she were under her
mothers eye. But, if it were not SO, what
precautions have been taken against me :?
None!"
'Mrs. Dering is evidently of q eonfding
disposition" observed his friend cynically.
''Mrs. Dering wishes to marry again; and
indeed the little woman is young and at
tractive enough to render the desire no more
than natural. But, of course, daughter of
Fioss's age and loveliness is not likely to
further such q plan, and the poor darling
consequently is kept in the background, in
the charge of her mothers maid and of that
goyerness who is too weak to control her.
and whom she laughs at and defes"
''There are no doubt some allowances to
be made for the young lady," admitted Lord
Oldentowers, with complete absence of en-
thusiasm; and Humphrey was fain to be
content with this fngid encouragement from
his friend"
Lord Oidentowcrs met ''the little widow''
twice during his few days stay in Friar's
Cross. the second time at her own pretty
and artlsuc little house, where Humphrey
Lamont also had been asked to meet HIM
On this occasion Floss was released from
the schoolroom and permitted to dine down
stairs
The child was treated by her mother like
q petted sister. Indeed Mrs Dering was
fond of occasionally wearing her daughters
gowns-the two were just Of height-and
of being told by Spinner, the maid, that
their figures were SO exactly alike that, when
their backs were turned, there was no tell
ing them one from the other There, how
ever, the resemblance, ceased, Mrs. Dering's
beauty being of such dark and Spanish
type as to set people wondering where Miss
Floss had got her dazzling blonde tints
On the evening of the little dinner-party,
at which the two young men assisted, mother
and daughter were both dressed in white
muslin and blue ribbons, and they sat in
each others arms good deal, thus contriv-
ing to heighten each others charms by the
startling contrast which they presented
Poor Miss Stone did not appear, and
Floss's manner to Mr. Lamont was a study
which exercised an irresistible fascination
over Lord Oldentower's simple mind. 1t
illustrated the whole art of demure coquetry
in manner wonderful to behold.
The little thing actually wore her lovers
pearls in her pink ears; aud, when her
mother happened to notice the ornaments
and demanded an account of them, Miss
Floss burst into an airy peal of laughter,
declaring that the earrings were the best
bargain she had ever made.
Mrs. Atcherly thought they were real
too, little mamma J" she cried, pinching her
mothers chin. ''But did not think you
would be so easily taken in"
II certainly should not have suspected
my daughter of wearing anything else," re-
turned Mrs. Dering little severely.
''Why not Why would not people wear
sham pearls as well as sham flowers, nanny
dear? But, if you are vexed with your lit
tie Floss, she won't buy any more. Only
these looked SO tempting the other day at
Nettleby, and my money was burning hole
in my pocket. Now, Mr. Lamont, are not
my pearls just as pretty as real ones?"
Poor Humphrey hung his head and had
not word to say; and Lord Oldentowers,
compassionating his friends misery, an
swered for him, displaying some dexter;ty
in changing the subject.
But the secret of which the pearls were q
token was to be discovered before long; and
it happened in this way.
Miss Dering's wish that it might freeze
before Lord Oldentowers left Friar's Cross
was gratifed, and for few days there was
capital skating on the great pond in the
Wintersloe grounds.
Numbers Of young people from the neigh