Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-21
thicker than ever. But not word of reproach
did the brave little maid utter to him

Il
| did the brave little maid utter to him.
10 the meantime the party assembled in the
hotel at the foot of the hill were passing through
quite series of anxeties. When O'Clock
came, and with it the returning coach, Mrs. Sal
ways anger at the absence of her younger
daughter could hardly be concealed from the
optsid. public. OF course they could not leave
her, and the coach had to depart without
them. Her husband present and Mary absent
shared the mothers reproaches with the objec-
tIonaDie young gentleman, while the sisters
were quite as much surprised as they expressed
themselves to be, for this was $50 unlike Mary"
But when 9 O'Clock came ana no signs of the
| missing Ones and the mist grew thicker the
landlady expressed herself decidedly of the opn-
ion that the yoang lady and gentleman would
have to stay upon the hill all night, and hoped
they had some wraps.
Stay on the hill all night. woman! Ny
daughter with that young man! Good gracious,
Mr.. Salway, you must do something This is
too dreadful"
SO a search-party was organized though with
some difficulty. and guides, brandy and lanterns
obtained; but before it set out Mrs. Salway had
been moved to contemplate the affair from a
different point of view. She heard the "tarn"
and the ''cliffs" mentioned in whispers by the
guides with Ominous glanees, and saw from her
husbands face that he knew and did not think
lightly of their suspicious. Up to this time she
had thought only of her daughters good name
and the way in which it was being compromised.
the place of this feeling. Agnes and Laura elo-
quent enough before, were awed into silence.
and the affair was assuming very serious light
in the eyes of all, when Cry outside proclaimed
some news. and just as the party were stirring
into the mist and rain, the lost ones stood be-
fore them.
THANK Heayen!' cried Mr.. Salway taking
charge OF Mary, who, what with her WORKOUT
condition and her very natural confusion. was
near faintng. Mrs. Salway, in the reyulsion Of
tG0 fnot tnf
had nothing to say on the spur of the moment.
The girls surrounded Mary, and as they did SO
they looked defiance, and yet sort Of admira-
ton. at her daring companion.
please look to your daughter, Mrs. Salway;
she is very wet and fatigued. 1t is my fault and
that of the mist that we are so late. But will
explain am sure to your satisfaction, in the
morning"
ITO my satisfaction. sir" cried Mrs Salway
taking up an indignant attitude between him
ana Mary:. but before she could say any more
the greater culprit had gone, and the lesser enc
was not in state at present to hear the lecture
which Mrs. Salway was prepared TO adminiS; er.
And think it was still being held an te7rOrene
over the young lady when they took their seats
outside the coach for BOwness next day: she
was evidently in disgrace. and her mother would
not let her quit her side for o moment For a
wonder, Mary had escaped all Injurious effects
of the exposure, and though very quiet this
morning and very shy, she Gid not look alto
Sttuti anu once OF TWICE on the ROAD
smile would cross the de!nure little face and
twinkle of fun appear i'm the big brown eyes
Mrs. Saway saw something of this aud feeling
sure that Mary was infatuated with that dread
ful young fellow" added few severe phrases
to the lecture she was coming, and hardened
her heart to administer it without mercy.
MARY shall go home to Hampstead tomorrow;
with Annie she will be out OF danger" she men
tally determined: Annie being the sourest of
Mary's maiden aunts, at this present moment
taking care of their house during the holidays.
mo more holidays for you, young lady,"
thought her mother to herself
They had passed Esthwaite Water and were
nearing W1ndermere, when the attention of all
upon the coach was attracted by the sight Of a
four hand behind them. 1t was splendidly
hofsed, and. as two servants in handsome 1iv-
cries were sitting behind it was clearlya private
coach. 1t came along with a wonderful smooth
ness, which put the spring Of the rickety vehicle
upon whose top they were perched to shame
Nevertheless. it seemed in no hurry to pass
them, and presently Mr.. Saiway who had been
running his eyes over the horses with an ex-
preston of critical approval, asked his own
driver whose was the fOur-in-hand following
them.
II guess it will be Sir Henry Narborough's,"
said he, whistling up his horses and getting to
the side Of the read. II see his team standing
In the hotel yard when was a-starting. They're
four as pretty bays with white stockings as ever
see together
Its Sir Henry Narborough's four-n-land.'
explained Mr.. Salway to his Womanhind, as the
other drew gradually alongside.
All, Miss Mary. how your cheek has been
flushing and blushing, ald your eye Frightening,
and your mouth smiling a proud happy smile.
though you have never looked up to see who is
the spruce driver OF this gallant equipage turned
out in all respect fit for Hyde Park! Now he is
alongside, handling the ribbons. though the road
is narrow and steep With the ease Of custom,
looking, with his tall hat and black coat and the
flower in his buttonhole every inch a baronet
and member of the Coaching Club. He is
alongside, and not until then when he lifts his
hat and glance at Mary sitting we'll pro-
tected by her mother and sisters from the wolf
wolf indeed! wolf No longer-not until then do
the Others recognize their old acquaintance of
the knickerbockers and shabby hat. He is gone
before they can express their establishment, or
any; but she. who IS SO well prepared for it,
returns his salute.
"Good gracous!" uttered Mrs Salway slowly,
her eyes glued to his back, ''can it be? | sup
pose it really is, Why, who can it be? Can it be
his coach z"
''Sir Harry Marlborough, suppose" answered
her husband dryly, who has secretly sympathized
with Mary, and has been puzziing his brains
how to rescue her from that lecture and other
disagreeabes that he suspects are being pre-
pared for her,
MARY. is that Sir Harry Narborough?'
HE told me So" answered the girl demurely.
as If the most impossible assertion from his lps
would not have commanded her eredence
And it was really true. If the early part of
Marys courtship had had something of the Bit
ter mingled with the sweet. that was all over
now No lectures, no banshment to Aunt Anne
for her. st was SO unlike Mary, said her sisters
among themselves, meaning SO unlike her to
gain the heart of a baronet. But they were good
girls in their way, and tolcrably unselfsh.just
as ready to fall down and worship and pet the
successful sister as to repress and snub the
schoolgirl. AS for Mrs. Salway, when she found
Sir Harrys four-in-hand standing at the door of
the Crown, and half the visitors in Bowness
standing round admiring it; when that rather
cynical young gentleman received her at the
door with all honor, and few minutes later
proposed for her Youngest daughter; when he
put that very coach at their disposal, and the
whole party had weeks tour in 1t: when all
these things and many more almost as pleasant
Qncluding going into the table dhote dinner on
bafonet's ARM had happened, why, Mrs Salway
taught herself to believe that this match was en-
tirelv of her contrivance and was owing simply
and purely to her good management and dipio-
macy.
And demure, quiet Mary, with the shy little
face and the big brown eyes, the baronet's wife
to he, what of her? Well, nothing more, think;
for this happened in August Of this year. 1881,
and among the forthcoming Christmas festivities
an event of the utmost importance in Marys life,