The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-09-21
CHAPTER v.

matter of-fact person, expressed no sur
prise, but went quietly to work, empty
ing the contents of wardrobes into i'm
pelials, and fitting silver topped bottles
into their velvet-lined cases, as if there
were no such thing as hurry or agitation
in the world.
1t was long evening to Ellinor Dali
ton. Every quarter that chimed its
silver tones from the ormolu time-p;ece
over the chimney seemed an entire hour
to her Never had the county families
appeared so insufferably stupid, or the
London visitors so supremely tiresome.
The Young man from the War Office
took her into dinner, and insisted on
telling her some very funny story about
a Young man in another Government
office, which brilliant anecdote lasted,
exclusive of Interruptions, from the
soup to the dessert, without drawing
nearer the point of witticism. After
the dreary dinner, the eldest daughter
of the oldest of the county families fast
ened herself and very difficult piece of
crochet upon her, and inflicted all the
agonies of a worsted-work rose, which,
as the young lady perpetually declared.
would not come right
But however distract Ellinor might be,
Horace Margrave was not Horace of
the West-end world. He talked poll
ties with the heads of the county fami-
lies; stock exchange with the city men;
sporting magazine and Tattersalps with
the country swells; discussed the last
debatts at Her Majesty's Theater with
the young Londoners; spoke of SirJohn
Herschels last discovery To scientific
country squire, and of the newest
thing in farming implements to an agri-
cultural ditto; talked compliments to
the young country ladies, and the fresh
est Mayfair scandal to the young Lon
don ladies'; had, in short, something to
say on every subject to everybody,
without displeasing any one. And let
any man who has tried to do this in the
crowded drawing-rOom of country
house say whether or not Horace Mar
grave was a clever fellow
by the by, Horace said Sir
Lionel as the accomplished lawyer
lounged against one corner of the long
marble mantlepiece, talking to group
of young men and one rather fast young
lady, who had edged herself into the
circle under cover of brother, much to
the Indignation of more timid spirits,
who sat modestly aloof, furtively re-
gardng Admirable Crichton Margrave,
as his friends called him, from distant
sofas; ',by the by, my boy, where did
you hide yourself all this morning?
We sadly wanted you to decide match
at billiards, and | sent people all over
the house and grounds in search of
you"
. / rode over to Horton after lunch"
said Horace. Il wanted few hours
there on electioneering business.
you've been to Horton?' asked Sir
Lionel, with rather an anxious express
sion.
Yes, my dear Sir Lionel, to Horton
But how alarmed you look! | trust |
haven't been doing anything wrong. A
| client of mine is going to stand one whit
the less the elegant and accomplished
for the place But surely you're not
| going to throw over the county electors,
and stand for the little borough of Hor-
ton, YOURSELF he said, laughing.
Sir Lionel looked little confused,
and the county families grew suddenly
very grave; indeed, one young lady in
| pink, who was known by about seven
fair cm1fdaRtes to have a SLIGHT tenure
for the handsome lawyer, clutched con-
| vIllsivelv at the wrist q! Il yOunger sister
/ in blue, and listened, with an alarmed
| lace, to tire gHnycrsa.io ion by the chin
| Pen. go.
ny l. = s.. Ht, ,.p.y ore la,
| '...-.,u.' a.. e. S. ii ,HH-i,rS
i b, a. Hs .-t '.tu;}yd :,
thunderbolt upon this hospitable hearth,
in announcing my visit to the little
manufacturing town of Horton. What
is it-why is it--how is it?'' he asked
looking round with smile.
Why" said Sir Lionel, hesitatingly
g the truth of the matter-that is-not
to mystify you-in short-you know
| they, they've fever at Horton. The
the working classes and the factory
people have got it very badly, and-and
the place is in a manner tdb00ed. But
of course" added the old man, trying
to look cheerful, you didn't 90 into
any of the back streets, or amongst the
lower classes. You only rode through
the town, | suppose; so you're safe
enough, my dear Horace"
The county families simultaneously
drew a long breath, and the young
lady in pink released her sisters wrist.
- went, my dear Sir Lionel. said
Horace, with smiling Indifference, into
about twenty narrow back streets in an
| nd lnlf toll III
forty different factory hands, for |
wanted to find which way the political
current set in the good town of Horton.
They all appeared extremely dirty, and
now, remember, a good many of them
looked very i'll; but I'm not afraid of
having caught the fever, for all
that" he added, looking round at
the grave faces Of his hearers;
''half dozen cigars, and a
sharp ten miles ride through bleak
open country must be thorough dis
infectant If not,n he continued, bit
terly, 'one must die sooner or later,
and why not of fever caught at Hor-
tonP"
The young lady in pink had recourse
to her sisters wrist again, at this
speech.
| Horace soon laughed off the idea of
danger from his afternoon rambles, and,
in few minutes, he was singing u
German drinking song accompanying
himself at the piano,
At last the long evening was over,
and ElIinor, who had heard nothing
from her distant work table of the CON
versation about the fever, gladly
welcomed the advent Of servant with
a tray of glistening candlesticks. AS
she lit her candle at the side-table,
Horace Margrave came over and lit his
own.
Il have spoken to Sir Lionel" he
said, ga carriage will be ready for us
in an hour. The London mail does not
start till one o'clock, and we shall reach
town in time to catch the day service
for Paris. But, Ellinor, it is not yet too
late; tell me, are you thoroughly deter
mined on this stepP"
Thoroughly she said. 81 shall
|