The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-05-23

twelve thousand year, and his place
in shire with the greatest possible
favor. In a day or twoi
Well, she must get through the in
tervening time--the horrible table
dhOte included-as she may. Pamela
takes her pen and indites a graceful
little note in answer to her friend In
a judicious place, neither too near the
beginning nor the end, she writes:
"We shall be charmed to make the
acquaintance of your friend, Lord
Melton. My aunt hopes that he will
call upon us when he arrives. l fear
he will find this place fearfally dull,
but we will try to prevent his being
too much bored"
Then Mrs. Sinclair appears, and the
two ladies start for their drive. This
recreation does not afford much solace
to Pamela. The ly-horse is jaded, the
roads are dusty, every scrap Of vegeta-
tion is covered with gray pail, count
less char-a.bancs, full of the most
Objectionable people, meet and pass
them every hundred yards, covering
them with dust which penetrates into
their eyes, mouth and noses. Even
Mrs. Sinclair's good temper is tried.
On their return to the hotel there is
a crowd and hustle in the hall; the
London train has just brought a con-
tingent of guests. To Pamela the new
arrivals seem of the most Objectionable
type. One little man, in a rather loud
suit of clothes, pushes up against her,
ana, though he is profuse in his
apologies, Pamela is furious, and be-
slows on him her very crushing look.
"The worst possible type of 'Arryl"
she says to her aunt, in scarcely modu
lated accents, as they walk down the
corridor to their apartments.
Half an hour later the gong sounds,
and Mrs. Sinclair and her most reluct-
ant niece betake themselves to the
dining-room. Miss Clifford has very
imposing carriage; she walks down
the room in her stateliest manner,
neither looking to the right nor to the
left. AS she seats herself, her attitude
and manner say, in the plainest possi-
bic way: address me if you dare; 1
am a lady, you are all camille; do not
forget this, if you please, am here by
no wish of my own, but I may divert
myself if | choose by watching your
grotesque antics" The company do
not assemble all at once, but drop in
by groups; it is nearly ten minutes be-
fore the head waiter gives the signal
for the banquet to commence. Pamela
glances coldly around her; her mind is
so thoroughly prejudiced that she looks
at every one and everything present
from the blacklist possible point of
view. There is vacant seat next her,
thank heaven may it remain so =
and beyond that, two girls and an
elderly man. They are rafting away
to each other in the best spirits in the
world. No doubt, thinks Pamela, this
is fashionable and delightful gather
ing TO them. What is their social
status? Daughters of shopkeeper,
probably-quite girls of the period, at
all events Lower down the table is
party of four ladies with a deaf gentle
man, at whom they al roar in turn
with lOudness and volubility disgust
ing beyond measure to Miss Clifford.
Immediately opposite her is an old
Scotchman, who abuses everything, and
bullies the walters in the broadcast
Scotch. Pamela has taken care during
the interval of waiting to place the
salt between herself and her aunt, that
no one may be able to lntrude remark
upon her through that inoffensive
medium. She has eaten few spoon
fuls ofsoup, when, to her horror, AIRY,
as she has dubbed him, comes in, with
some little noise and hustle, and takes
the chair next her. She quietly edges
away from him, and gradually turns
herself so that her shoulder only is pre-
sented to him.
"May 1 trouble you for the salt p"
he says, in loud, cheerful voice.
Here is a contingency on which
Pamela had not reckoned.
She hands it to him in manner
which might freeze the marrow in the
bones of a man endowed with suscepti-
bility.
"Thanks," he says, quite unabashed.
"In put it between us here, so that |
shall not have to trouble you again"
Pamela edges still further away from
him, and is about to take refuge in
conversation with her aunt, but, to her
disgust, perceiyes that lady to be talking
atfably, and even in an interested
manner, with her next neighbor.
AIRY eats his soup with apparent
relish, and having wiped his mouth and
pulled his musTache, gives a good,
exhaustive look at Pamela, of which
she is perfectly and Indignantly con-
sciOus.
"Hotel seems pretty full" he OBJ
serves to her shoulder.
Pamela effects not to hear. The
impertinent little snob leans a trihe
nearer to her and reiterates his remark.
Something must be done to stop this
Miss Clifford replies glacially, 81 am
not aware" and bestOws at the same
time a 0laOca unOn him which her EtOD