Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-02-29

itual placid enjoyment OF n book.
The mystic shade Of twilight was al
ready creeping up the valley when
wheels were heard approaching the Cot
tage. and Lady Best went out into the
porch 20 receive her guest. Fain would
she have persuaded Arthur 10 accom-
pany her. but he preferred an armchair
By the window.
At last the carriage il at the door. and
Hannah Milton. having sprung out. Is
clamorously kissing her aunt.
There is nothing esthetic or dreamy
about her. She has broad. plain. hon
est. open face. with fine eyes, and a
large mouth full OF strengthening white
teeth-not the slightest pretentior 10
beauty, but YOU can see at glance that
Hannah Milton i n thoroughly good.
kind. sincere woman. Her voice is very
loud. but il has the ring Of n true heart
II frightens Lady Best. however. M she
thinks. What will Arthur say?" Will
he run away from Hannah. or allow
himself 10 be subdued by her?"
In the carriage beside Hannah-half
concealed by bird-cages, a Persian cat.
and three small dogs of different breeds
there is n girl; the maid, Of course.
The dogs and the cat spring ont after
Hannah. and the footman takes the
bird-cages. just as the unnOticed &C
cupant Of the carriage Is stepping out,
Hannah turns around.
'Oh. forgot; let me introduce nv
dearest friend. Agatha Burghley. OF
course YOU expected her; she never
leaves me, YOU know"
Lady Best held out her hand in a well
come TO which her heart did not re.
spond nor did she speak, except TO
say:
''And your maid, Hannahw
Miss Milton burst out laughing.
THAT Is luxury in which we don't in
dulge-do we. Aggy? We arrange our
toilets ourselves, and very effective they
are somctimes-eh?'
Lady Best looked again ut this COM
panion Of whom she had never heard of
before. No, decidedly; il she had known
Of her existence sho would never have
asked Hannah TO the Cottage. For
Agatha was beautiful, Of that refined.
spiritualized beauty about which poets
rave.
For an indefinite period she had in
viicd Hannah, and this companion, this
Agatha, was she also 10 be their daily
associate for weeks?
Tho meeting with Arthur, however,
could not be deferred. and Lady Best
led the way into the dTawing-room.
file was rs cordial rs il was in his
nature 90 be in his reception of his
/ cousin, but when the same formula of
/ introduction with which Lady Best had
been greeted was gone through, and
/ Afrufh n Nrnfrrr.I f.s.t.ss.,-l -
/ gciic friend. stood before him. with the
pale CLEAN Of the rising moonlight on
| her face, he started back as though he
hal seen specter. more in fear than
admiration. rs 1t seemed TO his anxious
watching mother.
There was no time. however. for spec
ulation rs To what feelings Agatha had
awakened in 'Arthurs breast, the neces-
stiles were asserting themselves. and
Hannah in her blunt way declared her
self To be furnishing.
~ rapid toilet and dinner. Come on.
Agatha, We shall not keep Lady Best
waiting long" and the two girls went
quickly up into the rooms that had been
prepared for them.
In less than n quarter Of an hour they
came back. looking rs spic-and-span as
II they had made no long journey. II
was very obvious that the services Of a
maid were unnecessary.
The evening. however. was scarcely n
merry one. Arthur was more than
usually silent aud medtative, Agatha
very tired; she was not so robust as
| Hannah, who was the only lively one of
the party. and chatted ceaselessly 10
Lady Best, who. for once i'm her life. was
not n good listener. All her attention was
rived ON "that young person." as she
already. in her mind, designated the
somewhat lackadaisical Agatha.
Hannah was very full of the projected
dairy rcforils. She loved everything
that gave her practical tendencies full
vent; but Lady Best was by no means as
keen rs she was.
while they were reforming. wha;
would Arthur and his beautiful Agatha
be doing?' she asked herself "Oh, il
Hannah would orly turn her full atten-
ton on tue far more important work OF
reforming Arthur"
Lady Best was. however. too much OF
diplumatist to let her thoughts appear
in words; no. she must act, vancouver.
watch.
OF course tho first thing next morning
Hannah expressed n wish to 90 over the
farm, and, accompanied by Agatha, she
and Lady Best started on n tour of in.
spection. Arthur had seen the farm ad
nauseam, he said, and it did not amusC
him; h. preferred remaining in the
house till luncheon time.
With the explanations and discussion:
which this pilgrimage entailed, Lady
Bcst's spirits rose, and she became thor.
Oughly absorbed in her subject, reioic.
ing that she had found so congenial =
companion and able co-worker rs Han.
nah. On sudden, however. her spirits
fell To zero-Agatha had disappeared
''Of course, she had gone 20 Join Arthur
i was n preconcerted plan between
! them, and the mother rs she thought
Of it became perfectly miserable.
No more talk about gallons Of milk,
London market. home consumption, etc
She was tired, she said. and ii Hannah
did not mind, they would return TO the
! house. They reached the bottom Of the
garden, which lay in front Of the draw.
ing-room windows. just rs Agatha, ac
cOmpanied by Arthur. strolled up the
terrace toward the wood.
The sight was past bearing; this ther
was TO be the end of her loving care foI
+ Arthur; he was TO marry Hannah's pen
nilcss companion. Nor did Hannah.
remark. rs she, too. perceived them
tend to calm the excited mothers fears
'Ohl they are going To have littl,
chat l told Aggy the sooner it wa,
over the better.
~ chat with my son? Has this-thi.
Miss Burghley met Arthur befOre?r
! Hannah laughed. "Did YOU no
know? oh, then l must not tell the
} secrets Of the prison-house. But pray
don't look So rueful. aunty mine. The
secret IS not Of n very dreadful nature -
} Lady Best was, however. by no mean,
comforted by this intelligence. car
J thur had been carrying on with the CIR
unknown TO her, and hence the reason
Of his detection and listlessness; 81