Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-09-23

a JOuuS mdu StOOu 1Lb us Sn1II
sleeves-marvelously white they were,
too-with his back toward us, giving
orders to cartman who was loading a
wagon. In moment he turned and re-
garded us with broad stare of aston
ishment.
"Sir," said Baby, with hsr eyes on the
ground, tive heard you wanted hands:
can you give us any work."
Alael Alasl Baby was more than half
French woman, and as the clear, crisp,
un-English tones fell on his ear, the
look OF suspicion on his face became one
of certainty.
"Will you come this way?" he asked,
leading us out at the opposite doorway.
''What can you do?" he added.
Anything" said, as confidently as
1 could
He showed us q pile of fruit which
was to be sorted and put into baskets,
and walked away to the first comers.
Baby and I fell to at once. She
knew what she was about, and worked
under her directions.
"Oh, Min," she said in q whisper,
1--WE are in nice scrape if he finds us
outl Harry will be SO angry"
'Let us steal away" whispered back;
tive can do it in little while.'
Still we kept on, half laughing, half
dismayed, for couple of hours, when
our master, as Baby persisted in calling
him, came back. He might have been
any age between twenty-five aud thirty,
tall, straight and handsome. saw him
glance at Baby's white. slender fingers,
where, horror of horrorsl shone q dia-
mond, which from sheer force of habit
she had forgotten to remove.
He looked somewhat surprised at the
quantity of work we had done.
"You are getting along famously," he
said, in an amused tone. Then, "Will
you be SO good as to follow ms?'
Men did not generally speak thst way
to hired help, but we could not in pru.
dence refuse; so we followed him to a
little garden where, under some trees
that screened them from observation,
we found a bench and rude table.
"Will you wait hereP" he asked, and
touching his hat, went away.
"Well," cried, sitting down, ''if this
does not beat everythingl What does
it mean"
SIT means that he has found out who
we sre," answered Baby. deiectedly.
s'I wish we had not come"
"Never mind" said, consolingly /;
sit is an adventure, anyhow (; little
more than we bargained for, that is
ALL"
Just then back came sour master, |"
carrying tray which he deposited on
the table before us. Our astonished
eyes took in wine, milk, cold chicken,
fresh butter, and slices of homemade
bread.
'Mrs. Lester" he said turning to
Baby, twill You forgive me for recog-
nizing you? But it was almost neces-
sary the men might have been rude,
and it is better that you should go home
now. Ycu are wondering, dare say,
how I came to know You, but have
seen you quite often driving around the
country with your friend Ny name is
Roger Carlyle"
Baby laughed till the tears ran down
her cheeks.
"Mr. Carlyle" she said, 81 am infin-
itely obliged to you. We saw the sign
yesterday at Rossville, and thought we
would come for the fun of the thing.
But had no idea We wero to have
such an adventure. But have an idea
that you are masquerading yourself"
"Well, am" he acknowledged. "I
am acting to-day for my uncle. who
owns the place. But will you not eat
something? You must be hungry"
We were starving, and did full justice
to the nice luncheon. While We were
eating he went to the inn for the horse,
and brought him round to us.
"Good-by," said Baby, as he gave
her the reins ''and be sure you come
and see us. Mr.. Lester will be glad to
thank you"
He laughed and promised.
20 Babyp I said, when we were all
on our way. "What ssraue r.
"PshawI" returned Baby. '1t was
plenty of fun; nevertheless, we will
not do it again.
As the half-past five train came in,
two irreproachably dressed young
ladies sat in pony phaton, waiting for
Harry Lester.
We told him all about it after dinner,
and though he scolded he had to laugh.
particularly when we donned our cos.
tunes to give him an idea Of the effect
One good thing came out of it all
our friendship with Roger Carlyle. He
came over as he had promised. and gave
Harry q very ludicrous account of our
proceedings.
Did it ever lead to more than friend
ship2 How curious you are Perhaps.
TWaverly Magazine.
D-La D-:.o ~ U;.L.t.,,-.,