Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-24


The distance from Freshfeld to London
was but the matter of twenty miles or
thereabouts, and it was still early when
! Mrs. Montagu found her way next day to
/ Portland place, where she met with kind
reception. Lady RiDgwood and Laura
Montagu moved in very different spheres
/ OF society, but were essentially good
women, and they understood one another
instinctively.
OF Miss Lockhart, Lady Ringwood spoke
with the most cordial commentator.
/ can only say, Mrs. Montague, that my
| self regard Miss Lockhart with feelings OF
affection and esteem. Her management of
/ children is wonderful. Mine adore her,
yet she is in many respects very strict with
| them. / feel parting with her deeply, and
have offered to make arrangements to keep
/ her but she prefers TO be independent,
perhaps Justly. The truth is that l can
/ hardly discuss Miss Lockhart under the
form Of employer and employed; she has
been more of friend to me-"
/ Naturally, as the upshot of the inter
/ view, Miss Lockhart was engaged by Mrs.
Montagu, it being further arranged that
I she should go down to Freshtield upon the
following Monday to enter upon her new
duties.
Mrs. Montagu found Miss Lockhart all
that Lady Rmgwood had declared her, and
more. She kept all those unruly little
/ people in check, yet made them happy
and very shortly her clever help and sweet
temper had rendered her indispensable to
Mrs. Montague, who could no longer have
imagined existence without her invaluable
I aid aud
II.
Time went on, bringing no changes into
that quiet house at Freshtield. At length,
after a couple Of years of this peaceful
monotony, a ANAL event was IN prospect
which promised to vary the order of things.
This was the return home, after ten years
absence in India, of Mr.. Talbot North,
Mrs. Montsgu's only brother; and that
| little lady, grown, since her Introductory
struggle, younger and plumper, thanks to
Miss Lockhart's care, was ii happy Hut
ter of expectation.
1t was Sunday night, fair moonlit Sab
bath evening" and Mr.. and Mrs. Montagu
had gone to church, leaving Miss Lock-
hart at home imparting little theological
instruction to their numerous offspring.
As Miss Lockhart was then engaged, her
Z attention was caught by the sound OF a
footstep on the gravel walk without the
next moment the hall bell was sharply
pulled 1t was followed by brief dia-
logue between some newcomer and the
only maid servant at home, which termi- |
mated simultaneously with the appearance
OF the stranger in the drawing room. This |
unexpected and unknown visitor was tall, |
handsome man, of about 80 or So years of
age and IS he stood in the doorway sur
veying the wondering group about the
table, he smiled in an amused fashion.
At once it rushed across Miss Lock- +
harris mind who was the unreasonable in.
truder and meanwhile the newcomer had |
not all the gazing to himself, for the chill
dren's six pairs of eyes were riveted upon |
him IN unmitigated astonishment.
Finally the gentleman spoke: "Do you
not know me p asked he, laughing delight |
eddy.
q think you must be Mr.. North, " an I
swered Miss Lockhart, half rising from
her seat
'And you, am sure, are Miss Lock-
hart ~ said Mr.. North, for it was no other |
than Mrs. Montagu's brother, who had re-
turned at this inopportune moment. by |
name, at least, you are exceedingly well |
known to me, continued the young man,
as he came forward with frankly out
stretched hand.
"You Uncle Talbot :" exclaimed Guy,
in tones of manifest disapproval and disap- |
pointment, for their Indian uncle had been |
a species of hero to them. "Come back |
like that ! Why, you might be anybody !"
Miss Lockhsrt, looking at the young man |
standing before her in his splendid strength, |
with MS engaging debonair expression of |
countenance, could not indorse Master /
Guys discerning judgment.
Have you dined, Mr.. North d" inquired |
she, as it occurred to her that she ought to
play hostess in Mrs. Montagu's absence
What will you take? .
Nothing at present, thank you, except
a cup of tea, if can have one"
So Miss Lockhart, mindful of her respon-
sibilities, made the tea, and brought him
cup with her own hands, North watching
the process and admiring her dainty grace
while she was at work. She was dressed
tonight only in plain, dark wooden gown,
but it fell about her slender form in soft,
undulating folds as she moved across the
room, while about her neck was drawn a
white handkerchief of flmy lace, the quaint
style Of which set off her peculiar beauty.
Talbot North found himself noting all these
details with extreme interest. Every pulse
Of Talbot North's being would long beat to
the slight incidents of that evening. Every
word spoken was craven upon his heart in
letters of enduring stone.
Mr.. North had just finished drinking his
tea when q slight commotion in the hall
announced the return of the church goers.
Miss Lockhart rose in haste. "a I had bet
ter go and tell Mrs. Montagu," she said,
and left the room.
In moment Mrs. Montagu had reached
the drawing room, and her plump little
form was clasped in her brothers. arms.
"Oh, Talbot you promised to write or
telegraph. Imagine our being gone to
church and everything What have you
had 2"
"Miss Lockhart very kindly gave me a
cup of tea" answered North.
"A cup OF tea !" exclaimed Mrs. Mon
tagu, with shriek of horror. ga cup of
tea after coming from Bombay Good
gracious we must have supper at once.
And for me to be out when you arrived. l
could cry Where are your belongings
Shall we send to the station for them p
81 have nothing but a handbag An
accident detained me in Paris, and they
left by previous train. 1 suppose they
will turn up all in good time. :"
III.
1t was only a very few days later that
Mr.. Montagu, talking alone with his wife,
suddenly started novel idea in an inquiry
he made; and although the question was
put in joking form, it was none the less
suggestive.
80 Nv DEAR " Uranara1 tQ Inoa