Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-06-14

come. It had been a matter OF great
annoyance to him that their fcther had
passed over one generation to leave his
fortune to their children, with the con-
ditions already given, but this money
was quite secure. II the children mar
ried it was theirs, and if they would not
he had only to refuse his consent, and
the wealth was divided between them.
"The will is a farce" Sydney said |;
but he knew that hint of his own love
for penniiess girl might make trouble,
as any disinclination on his part or Es-
telle's, if unsupported by his father, for
feited his grandfather's estate.
One word will describe Clement Hall.
He was an old fop, dandy at 70, whose
valet had to make him up, from his
patent-leather boots to his curling wig,
every morning.
Every new craze found him an enthu-
siast, with all its jargon we'll studied.
Art, music, flowers, surrounded him. and
he professed positive horror of anything
rude or coarse.
His only son, disguised with effemin.
ate affectations, favored the other ex-
treme. He was fond Of rowing, shoot
ing, riding, and professed to despise
much that he really respected. because
it was favored with his fathers exag-
gerated praise.
Servants alone shared the luxurious
house at Daisybanks with these two.
and the household was at least original.
Early rising, fresh air, simple diet,
plain surroundings for the son hot
house atmosphere, noon breakfast.
luxurious furniture for the father.
Into this odd home Mrs. Holbrooke-
who was feminine copy of her brother
brought Estelle, to fascinate her uncle
and prospective son-in-law.
With the polish of Paris life and a
foreign education, Estelle was surely the
ideal girl of the most fastidious fancy,
and her mother, who INDUCED in gentle
invalidism, felt no anxieties about her.
1t was evening when the ladies ar
rived, and Sydney was fairly startled
when Estelle appeared at his fathers
late breakfast. Mrs. Holbooke was rest
ing after her journey, and did not leave
her room for week.
The pretty little figure that Sydney
had admired in its Partisan toilet was
attired in a snowy silk of five distinct
colors, made in an exaggeration of the
prevailing style, and made still further
hideous by necktie of intense apple
green and immense size. The fair hair
was dressed high, and upon the top of q
structure of curls and frizzes was large
scarlet bow. In voice that might have
cried fish, this young lady greeted her
uncle.
"Good morning. jolly day. amt it ?
M,mmy's all knocked up with her jour
ney, and can't come down. Horrid
thing to be delicate. Halo, Sydney
What are you going to do to-day?
You've got to devote yourself to your
fancee, you know. Shall pour out
the coffee? might as we'll begin now?"
And then came laugh that made Mr..
Hall fairly shudder.
81 regret that my sister is indisposed,"
he said in a low, languid voice.
"Eh ?" said Estelle. "Oh, the
nanny! Yes, she's got what we call
the megrims in Paris. say, sgd, will
you go to Paris for wedding trip, and
I'll introduce you to lot Of jolly fell
lows. No end of beaux there! Coffee
or chocolate, uncle?"
Chocolate, but Lewis always attends
to me-" said MIR. Hall. "Shall you
drive with your cousin, Sidney?"
"Oh, that's too tame cried Estelle.
"Can't we rider Give me a spirited
horse, regular clipper, You know. Heyl
Go on r. she said, holding her dainty
hands out as If grasping the reins for q
restive steed. "l'm so little and light,
/ can ride anything! sgd !"
"Yes !" he said, looking as though he
had been stunned.
care you deaf or dumb9 You're as
mute rs an oyster =
Thus recalled to his senses, Sydney
took up his part with spirit, encourag-
ing Estelle in her widest speeches, fall
ing in with the most madcap proposals,
till Clement Hall felt as il every nerve
in his sensitive frame were in n wise.
Breakfast over, the horses were Or
dered, and Estelle dashed upstairs to
change her dress, while Mr.. Hall said,
plaintively, "Sydney, keep her away rs
long as you can. Paris 1 should
think she had been with the natives of
st. Giles all her life."
But it was no part of Estelle's scheme
to keep away from her uncle. She in
va,led his sittiug.room at all times. scat
tering his books, criticising his paint
ings, playing dashing polkas all out of
time and tame on his Erard piano. with
the loud pedal pressed continuously, till
even the echoes were confounded. She
sang the latest Moore and Burgess melo-
dies and comic ballads in voice that
was like a knife thrust to Mr.. Halls
brain, and she moved in abrupt jerks,
that made theory Of "poetic motion
.aar, n feminine impossibility. Worst