Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-03-27
MISS TRAvERs.

Anu AeI HldHutT urtdululiy quick anu
decided"
bright and sparkling l should call
it.n
'My dear Richard, you are really alb
surdl The girl is hospital nurse, and
what woman with any refinement or
delicacy would take up such profess
sion as that7 1t shows she can't be
NICE"
'Ladies do such things nowadays"-
less defantly.
"Now, you know you are only saying
SO because she's pretty. OF course ladies
do queer things nowadays, but that
doesn't excuse unwomanly feeling. Be
sides, she's only a solicitors daughter.
shan't risk mamma to CALL"
'But don't you think common civil
ity-n
'tNo, I don't She's only staying at
the rectory, and we're not forced to call
on every ones friends. Beside, Cap
tain Hardwicke is expected home, and it
would make it awkward. What would
one of Lord Belmont's people say if we
asked them to meet girl like Miss
Travers?n
"All the same, she's as pretty and
ladylike as any one ever met in these
parts.
Every likely, but she's not in our set.
Now, Richard, if you say any more shall
begin to think you're falling in love with
her, if the idea is not too absurd.n
But Richard had closed the drawing
room door upon his six sisters languid
voices, and was halfway across the wide
lawn with its brilliant parterres of sum
mer flowers. Poor Richard AlIerdyce !
only son of the richest banker in ChelIow
dean. people Of good family, but with
just that uncertainty of social position
which made them afraid of overstepping
any boundaries, rather gratifed at being
on intimate terms with Lord Belmont and
the Hardwickes, he was of divided mind
this summer afternoon. He had been
greatly taken by that sweet face and
slight figure in the rectory pew last SUI
day; was sensible of thrill of more than
civil interest when he met their owner
walking home with the good old rector
after service, and was introduced to
miss Travers," while the eyes. "like
grey stars, " were suddenly raised to his;
and ne had ever since spent larger por
ton OF his time than was strictly needful
In walking past the rectory's rose covered
garden gate. But, on the other side
his sisters words had certainly struck
home.
Brought up, as all the Allerdyces were.
like hot-house plants, sheltered from every
breath OF frosty air, it was not strange
tnat Richard at five and twenty, though
big, burly enough young Englishman
to look at, was but little of a man in mind
or heart. knowledge of the world had
been carefully kept from him. as from his
sisters, lest they should learn evil; but
their very ignorance had cost them the
loss of power to choose between evil and
good, and had given them weak preiu-
dices and conceited opinionativeness, in
stead of mind able to discern and pre-
fer the right.
Richards handsome face was overcast
as he swung out of the lodge gates and
down the road, Miss Travers a hospital
nurse certainly it was shock. Not
only did it seem to him unwomanly for 4
woman to work at all, but infinitely more
SO to do menial work. And then the
awful thought of what his mother and
sisters would say, were they asked to re-
ceive hospital nurse as his future wifel
For 1t had gone as far as that in Rich
ards susceptible mind, even in these
three short days. All at once his thoughts
broke off as Miss Travers herself. sweet
and bright as ever, in her black dress.
came out from the rectory gate, the
great rectory mastiff pacing behind her.
Now Richards own collie was at his
masters heels, and there was border
feud of long standing between those two
faithful followers. There Was an angry
growl, heavy rush, a thud, and then
brown body and black rolled together
in the dust in manner suggestive of
dogs funeral on one side or the other.
Richard, who was actually staggered by
the suddenness of it all. could not for
moment regain his senses; and when he
did, it was to find Miss Travers. both
white hands locked in the hair of Rollo's
shaggy neck, pulling him from his foe
with all her strength, and calling to 'sMr.
Allerdyce" to ''take hold of his dog and
pull him of. y
She was being whirled round in the
cloud of dust by the frantic walters be-
fore Richard could quite settle where to
take hold, but that task was performed
for him by gentleman in tweed knick-
erbockers, who started out of the esWhite
Hart, " few yards away, and run to the
rescue. Between Miss Travers and him
self the combatants were separated, each
carrying away few fragments Of the
others person; and Miss Travers, flushed.
painting, covered with dust. but looking