Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-03-16

north. IL would be quite evening be-
fore she would arrive, and Lady Best
pss>ed all the day in q state Of feverish
excitement, wandering from room to
room. She seemed to feel thar there
Was q destiny at stake; while Arthur,
tie individual who in all probability
vas the most concerned, was perfectly
cool and collected and passed the hours
In his babitbal placid enjoyment ola
book.
The mystic shade of twilight was
already creeping up the valley when
wLCelS we're heard approaching the cot
tage, and Lady Best went out into the
porch to receive her guest. FaiD would
she have persuaded Arthur to accom-
paDy her, but he preferred an arm chair
by the window.
At last the carriage Is at the door, and
Hannah Milton, having sprung out, Is
clamoRrously kissing her aunt.
There is nothing aesthetic or dreamy
about her. She has q broad, plain,
honest, open face, with fine eyes, and q
large mouth full Of strong looking white
teeth-not the slightest pretension to
beauty, but you can see at 8 glance
that Hannah Milton Is thoroughly
good, kind, sincere woman. Her voice
is veiy loud, but it has the ring OF a
true heart. It frightens Lady Best,
however, as she thinks, "What will
Arthur say? VIII he run away from
Hannah, or allow himself to be subdued
by herr"
Ia the carriage beside Hannah, half
concealed by bird cages, q Persian cat
and three small dogs Of different breeds,
there is q girl-the maid, Of course.
The dogs and the cat sprang out after
Hannah, and the fOotman takes the
bird cages. Just as he uunOticed Oc.
cupant Of the carriage is stepping out
Hannah turns around.
"Ob, / forgot; let me introduce my
dearest friend, Agatha Burghley. VI
course you expected her; you know she
never leaves me-"
Lady Best held out her hand In
welcome to which her heart did not re.
spCnd; nor did she speak, except u ex-
claim:
"Aud your maid, IIsnnah?'
Miss Milton burst out laughing.
THAT is luxury in which we do not
indulge-dO We, Aggy? We arrange
cur toilets ourselves, and very effective
they are sometimes, ehf"
Lady Best looked again at this com
paniou Of whom she had never heard
b, fore. No, decidedly, il she had
Known Of Ter existence she would not
Lave q. ked Hannah TO the Cottage, for
ALalha was btautiful-of that refined,
spiritual!Lt Il beauty about which poets
rave.
For an indefinite period she had In
vited Hannah, and this companion,
this Agatha, was she also to be her
daily associate for weeks?-
Tie meeting with Arthur, however,
could not be deferred, and Lady Best
led the way into the drawing room.
He was as cordial Is it was his nature
tn be in his reception Of his cousin, but
a hen the same formula Of introduction
With which Lady Best had been greeted
as gone through, and Agatha, dragged
forward by her energetic friend, stood
before him, with q pale CLEAN of the
lis ing moonlight on her face, he started
back as though he had seen specter,
q ore in fear than admiration, as it
seemed 10 his anxious, watching
mother.
There was no time, however. for
SPECULATION as to what feelings Agatha
had awakened in Arthur's breast; the
and Hannah in her blunt way declared
herself to be furnishing.
"a rapid toilet for dinner. Come
on, Agata, We shall not keep Lady Best
waiting long," and the two girls went
quietly Up in the rooms that had been
prepared for them.
In less than quarter of an hour they
came back, looking as spic-and-spac rs
if they bad made no long journey. 1t
was very obvious that the services of
maid were unnecessary.
The evening, however, was scarcely
merry one. Arthur was more than
usual silent and meditative, Agatha was
very tired, she Was not so robust IS
Hannah who was the only lively one
Of he party, and chartered ceaseleSsly
20 Lady Best, vino, for once In her life,
Mas not a good listener. Ali her atten-
litn vas rivCled on "that young per-
son." rs she already, in her mind, des-
guated the somewhat lackadalslcal
Agatha.
Hannah was very full of the project
ed dairy reforms. She loved everything
that gave her practical tendencies full
vent; out Lady Best was by no means
Is Keen 81 she was.
would Arthur and his beautiful Agatha
be doing?" she asked herself. "Oh, if
Hannah would only turn her full at
tention on the far more important
work Of reforming Arthur"
Lady Best was, however, too much Of
q diplOmatist to let her thoughts appear
in words; no, she must act, maneuyer,
watch.
Ofcourse the first thing next morning
Hannah expressed q wish to go over
the farm, and, accompanied by Agatha.
he and Lady Best started on tour OF
inspection. Arthur had seen the farm
AL nauseam, he said and 1t did not
amuse him; he preferred remaining In
lie house till luncheon time.
With the explanations aud discus
~iOns which this farming privilege en-
allied, Lady Best's spirits rose and she
became thoroughly absorbed In her
subject, rejoicing that she had found so
eongenial companion and able CO.
worker as Hannah. On sudden, how
ever, her spirits fell to zero-Agsths
had disappeared. "Of course, she had
zone to join Arthur;it was preconcert-
I'd plan between them," and the moth
er as she thought of it became perfectly
miserable.
No more talk about gallons OF milk,
London market, home consumption.
tic. She was tired, she said, and II
Hannah did not mind, they would re-
,mn to the house. They reached the
bottom of the garden, which lay in
.IOnt of the drawing-room windows,
list as Agatha, accompanied by Arthur
.rrolled up the terrace toward the
v God.
The sight was past bearing; this then
as to be the end Of all her loving care
for Arthur; he was to marry Hsunah's
pennies companion. Nor did Han
nah's remark, as she tOo-perceived
them, tend to calm the excited mothers
/ fears.
"Oh, they are going to have little
chat. j told ARgy the sooner 1t Vas
over the better"
"A chat with my son%' Has this
this Miss Burghley met Arthur be-
| foreT
Hannah laughed. "Did you not
know? Oh, then l must not tell you
the secrets Of the prison house. But
pray don't look so awful, aunty mine.
The secret is not Of 3 very dreadful ma
Knre