Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-05-27
Gales aud Sketfhes.


Rf1A's PROMISE.
II am 80 glad he is coming to-day; /
want you to know him." said Lord Carl
ton.
II know SO many men already" said
the pretty Eta. tossing her head.
..But there is none like Laurence Hill
esden he was my greatest chum at Eton."
(which means you shared one another's
lollypops and helped one another out of
scrapes. suppose"
"No: which means that he was the
pluckiest and best natured fellow in the
world. besides behaving like a hero on
one OCCASION"
"When was that ~ Eta condescended
to look interested.
why. when was little chap. had
Just come to Eton and couldn't SWIM |
managed, against rules, to 60 in the boat
with another fellow Somehow or other
the boat upset; the other fellow saved
| himself, and there was l quietly going
to the bottom, with no end of splash.
Laurence, who was standing with his
hands in his pockets on the bank. jumped
in with his clothes on and pulled me out.
It was a tough job. for nearly drowned
! him with my frantic clutches and strug-
giles. He was almost done up when he
got me to the shore; but. while l lay on
the ground half dead, with my eyes shut,
he only shook himself like wet dog,
smiled bit and walked off,
.How could you notice him with your
eyes shut ?"
''Other fellows told me of it; by that
time a number of people had come up,
and for weeks it was much talked about.
Since those jolly Eton days. l am sorry
to say, we have not met often; he has
been travelling, and have been soldier
ing in the guards, and precious dull
time of it I've had. l wish they would
sends US off somewhere to fight niggers,
or do anything When Lady Blissbury
told me to-day she expected him felt as
pleased as Punch"
Il am sure shall not care for him."
said Eta, who was a fanciful little mortal
and considerably spoilt.
II am sure you will"
This colloquy took place in the morning
room of Blissbury castle, whose hospitable
hostess had gathered around her large
party for the Christmas festivities, which
were conducted on good old-fashioned
principles, with plenty of eating. drinking.
noise and merriment. Feasting was going
on everywhere, from the diningroom to
the servants hall where even the odd boy
received an extra slice Of plum-pudding
for the benefit of his widowed mother.
Carriages ratified up at all hours, obse-
quious servants hustled about, piles of
luggage found their way mysterious
ly into bedrooms, and presently, TO Lord
Cartons great joy, the fly bearing Lau-
renee Hillesden made its appearance.
'Hillo, old fellow, how are you ? you
haven't forgotten me P''
Jim This is, indeed, capital. l did
not know you were here-I am delighted
to see You again. You haven't changed
bit''
mo; my mustache is no bigger than it
used to be-and you have grown beard"
us there large party here ?" said
Laurence, noticing the luggage and the
general activity. II am sorry for that; we
might have had some chats about old
times"
well have them, too, never you fear.
We hunt tomorrow they will mount you
and there are some awfully nice people
here; Lady Marigold. pretty little
widow, and-and Miss Doncaster and her
chaperon, Mrs. Weldon, and old Bowler
and lot more"
Thanks; no one / know. Is that the
dressing bell P There is never time to do
anything in civilized society. One is al
ways getting ready for meal, or eating
one. or having had one.'
They walked into the house, Jim in vain
trying to find a convenient opportunity for
dilating on his favorite topic, Miss Don
casters charms. For to the mind of Wis.,
count Carlton. the young guardsman COM
monlycalled Jim Eta Doncaster represent
ed the most perfect ideal of womanhood.
From her sunny fluffy hair TO her pert lit
tie ways and pretty assumption of slang
phrases, which sounded piquant and witty
in her rosy mouth, he thought everything
about her perfect. With considerable
curiosity he watched the impression Lau-
renee. hero of travel and a literary dab
bier. would receive of this feminine para
gon when he took her in to dinner.
Contrary to his habit, Laurence, some-
what reserved with girls. talked and
laughed as though he had known Eta all
his life. In return, she calmly ignored
the small, downy faced subaltern who sat
on her left. Jim noted these facts with
ioy. for he was modest, and Laurence
Hillesden's opinion of female beauty was
critical and correct; but the joy was
tinged with vexation as he recollected
that. if luck had been more propitious, he
himself might have been placed next Eta.
Tonight she had not even leisure to throw
one of her pretty, bright glances across
to where he sat. biting his mustache, and
trying in vain to carry on a rapid CONVEX
sation with the clergyman's daughter,
shy girl wearing crumpled white mus
lin. Dinner ended he Jared little bet
ter. for Bowler, the tiresome old dandy,
buttouholed him in order to demonstrate
the best method of tying white tie. Jim
thus found himself one of the last to leave
the dining-room. By that time bevy of
admirers surrounded Eta and Laurence
and occupied chair beside her. Jim con-
soled himself with Lady Marigold.
'Etta is looking nice tonight" said the
lively little widow, twirling a gigantic
tan. "What a lucky girl she is-an orphan
with a fortune, free to do as she likes, l
understand. She has three thousand a