The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-12-26

Hopes countenance flushed with de.
light, and Mrs. Easton saw in u moment
that Mary's affection was cooperating
with lsr prudence. Il thought that
would be her first word, sir" said She.
why, of course you will, miss. There.
don't you take any trouble: we'll pack
up your things and put them in the dog
cart; but you must eat morsel, botf
of you, before you go. There's beau.
tiful piece of beef in the pot, not over
sailed, and some mealy potatoes and
suet dumpling5. You sit down and
have your chat, whilst Polly and l get
everything ready for YOU"
Then Mary asked Mr.. Hope so many
questions with such eager affection that
he had no time to ask her any, and then
she volunteered the home news, es-
pecially of Colonel Clifford's condition,
and then she blushed and asked him if
he had said anything to her father about
Walter Clifford.
mot much" said Mr.. Hope. "You
are very young, Mary, and it's not for
me to interfere, and / won't interfere.
But If you want my opinion, why, adj
mire the young man extremely. l al
ways liked him; he is straightforward,
upright, manly, gOOd-hearted chap, and
has lots of plain good sense-IIeaven
knows where he got it'll"
This eulOgy was interrupted by Mary
putting white hand and a perfect nose
upon Hopes shoulder, and kissing the
cloth thereon.
what" said Hope, tenderly, and yet
half sadly-fOr he knew that all mid.
dle-aged men must now be second
have found the way to your hearth"
you always knew that, Mr.. Hope"
said Mary, softly; especially since my
escapade in that horrid brook"
Their affectionate chat was interrupt
ed by stout servant laying snowy
bert, with red face, and pride uncOn-
cealed and justifiable, carving Crane
dish of smoking hot boiled beef, set in
very flower bed, SO to speak, of carrots,
turnips, and suet dumplings; the SER
want followed with brown basin, al
most as big as a ever, filled with mealy
potatoes, whose jackets hung by q
thread. Around this feast the whole
party soon collected, and none Of them
sighed for Russian soups or French rag
outs; for the fact is that under the title
of boiled beef there exist two things,
one of which, without any great inn
propriety, might be called junk; but
this was the powdered beef of our an
cestors, huge piece just slightly sailed
in the house itself, SO that the generous
juice remained in it, but the piquant
slices, with the mealy potatoes, made a
delightful combination. The glasses
were filled with hOme-breweda ale, spark
Madeira. They all ate manfully. stimu-
lated by the genial hostess. Even Mary
OutshOne all her former efforts, and al.
though she couldn't satisfy Mrs. Gil
bert, she declared she had never eaten
so much in all her life. This set good
Mrs. Gilbert's cheeks all aglOw with
simple, honest satisfaction.
Hope drove Mary home in the dog
cart. He was happy man, but she
could hardly be called happy woman.
She was warm and cold by turns. She
had got her friend back. and that was a
comfort, but she was not treating him
with confidence; indeed she was passive
ly deceiving him. and that chilled her;
but then it would not be for long, and
that comforted her; and yet even when
the day should come for the great doors
of Clifford Hall to fly open to her, would
not sad, reproachful look from dear
Mr.. Hope somewhat embitter her cup
of happiness? Deceit, and even re-
thence, did not come so natural to her
weak, and she was frank, though very
modest.
Mr.. BARLEY met them at the door,
and owing to Hopes presence, was
more demOnstrativc than usual. lie
seemed much pleased at Mary's return,
and delighted at her appearance.
well" said he, II am glad l sent you
away for week. We have all missed
you, my dear, but the change has set
you up again. / never saw you look
better. Now you are well, we must try
and keep you WE'LL"
We must leave the reader to imagine
the mixed feelings with which Mrs.
Walter Clifford laid her head upon the
pillow that night, and we undertake to
say that the female readers, at all events,
will supply this blank in our narrative
much better than we could. though we
were to fill chapter with that subject
alone.
Passion is n terrible enemy to mere
affection. Walter Clifford loved his
father dearly, yet for twenty-four hours
he had almost forgotten him. But the
moment he turned his horses head to-
ward Clifford Hall, uneasiness and some
thing very like remOrse began to seize
him. Suppose his father had asked for
him, and wondered where he was, and
felt himself deserted and abandoned in
his dying moments. lie spurred his
horse to gallop, and soon reached Cliff
ford Hall. AS he was afraid to 90
straight to his fathers room, he went
at once to old Baker, and said, in an
agitated voice:
Zone word, JOINTS he alivep
ayes, sir, he is" said John, gravely,
and rather sternly.
"IIas he asked for mei"
"More than once or twice, sir"
Walter sank into chair. and covered
his face with his hands. This softened
the old servant, whose manner till then
had been sullen and grim.
you need not fret, Mr.. Walter" said
he; its all right. In course / know
where you have BEEN"
Walter looked up alarmed.
81 mean in a general way" said the
old man. you have been accounting
of an angel. / know her, sir, and hope
to be her servant some day: and if you
was to marry any but her, I'd leave SER
vice altogether, and so would RhOda
Million; but, Mr.. Walter, sir, there's
f;p,a Cor ayarvfIipu. I bnno you'll for