The National tribune., 1882-07-01

! pair of dark-gray, blacl1-tringed, honest-look-
| ing. innocent eyes he has ever beheld. She
! has dark hair, too, that waves deliciously,
! and clear complexion, that is usually pale,
| but has now soft rose-blush that comes
and goes constantly.
"YOu have been at Shelton Hall often be-
fore, suppose, Miss Wardom," says Sir
Walter.
"No, never. l never even saw Lady Shell
! ton, before came here week ago." is the
reply, in a voice as clear and soft and frank
as the eyes.
And all these people were strangers to
you. Well, you have fine opportunity to
study character now, and find us all out"
Sir Walter says, jestingly.
why knew something about you all,
before l saw YOU" Miss Wardom says, smil-
/ ing.
About all of us? About me, too? Why,
what have you heard?" exclaims Lord
Ellerby, so eagerly that Miss Wardom
! laughs.
Better not press that question, Ellerby,"
! Sir Walter says, with laugh In. his hazel
eyes.
LADY Shelton told me something about
each one of her expected guests" Miss War
dom resumes. "It is very kind of her. She
did not want me to feel that was among
strangers"
LADY Shelton! Oh, my character is safe
in her hands," Lord Ellerby declares, with
gay laugh.
81 trust she made honorable mention Of
me?n Sir Walter half questions.
Miss Wardon shakes her head smilingly,
as she answers:
"Of course I shall not betray her. But
| after ALL do not mind very much what one
person tells me about another" A mischiev
Gus CLEAN laughs out of her eyes. Each
one has his own impression about every one
he knows. Lady Shelton gave me her i'm
pressions-mine may be very different"
"FrightfuI thought" cries Sir Walter,
gayly But here the conversation is inter
rupted by the butler announcing dinner, and
Sir Walter goes in with Miss Fanshawe.
! But all through the meal he is thinking OF
Jean Wardom's eyes How they seem to
/ look into your very soul" he says to himself
would not like to have to face her, with
a lie on my lips"
1t is the dull interval after dinner, when
the ladies are alone in the drawing-room.
! Miss Harrington is reading a novel for she
/ always does whatever pleases herself most;
and the rest of the ladies are keeping up
! Ianguid, intermittent conversation.
"Are you fond of Coalshirc, Miss Wardom?"
asks Mrs. Barton, good-natured, rather
/ gushing matron.
al was very happy there" Jean Wardom
answers, smiling. L have lived there nearly
all my life"
"Oh, then, you must have hunted great
deal. 1t is such an awful jolly hunting
country. Don't you adore riding?" exclaims
Miss Barton, dashing, handsome girl, who
is /" very popular with gentlemen" and whom
gossip says will even smoke with them.
have never hunted in my life. A sober
Jog on my uncle's old horse has been the ex-
tent of my riding"
Miss Barton opens her eyes wide with
amazement. Live in Coalshire, and not
hunt? Why, thought everybody-but you
are afraid, perhaps?"
g. do not think / should be afraid" Jean
says quietly.
"Then why" begins Miss Barton. But
Lady Shelton deftly interrupts.
You shall hunt this winter, Jean. Sir
Peter will take pleasure in teaching you to
ride, she says.
Il suppose you often met the Duchess of
Rosedale, Miss Wardom," says Mrs. Fan
Shave, in her most condescending tones. :.
Z" l often sGD her. Indeed, spoke to her
once" land she breaks into merry little
laugh, but checks herself and goes On again;)
"but do not know her at alp
Miss Wardom's uncle was such an invalid
and she of course could not leave him. She
has been quite recluse poor dear child"
Lady Shelton says, pityingly.
"Yes, L have gone out very little, and l
doubt whether the duchess would ever have
known of my existence if had not once had
the ill-luck to tread on the train of her dress,
at 1ower-shOw"
"You didn't do that? calculates Mrs Spen-
GER rousing herself from her usual state of
sleepy Indifference, to turn and look at Miss
Wardom with awe-struck eyes.
"What did the duchess say?" ask May
and Ella Spencer, breathlessly.
"Oh, she said, Bless my soul child, look
where you are going,'" Jean answers.
"And you-what did you say?" pursues
Ella.
! 81 stepped of the train, and said was
sorry. Poor lady! She must have thought
us dreadful rabble for while I was beg
ging her. pardon, someone else hooked a
parasol into her hair and / had to untangle
it," Jean stops to laugh at the recollection,
as she says this.
"And then, were you introduced to her?"
asks Miss Fanshawe, with interest
"No. did not know any of her party.
did overhear her say to our rector's wife,
afterwards, Who is that young woman talk
ing to your daughter?" And Mrs. Castle
man told her it was Jean WardOm.' So
suppose her grace sometimes remembered
my existence, when she arrayed herself in
her brown satin dress ] am afraid / tore it
out Of the gathers. l was very sorry, for she
seemed a nice, jolly little woman"
Jean says this with perfect serenity, and