Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-03-09
ETTA'S PROMISE.

the pretty Eta, tossing her head.
but there is none like Laurance
Hinesden; he was my greatest chum at
EtOD.n
(which means you shared one an
others lollypops and helped one another
out of serspes, suppose"
mo; which means that he was the
pluckiest and best-natured fellow in
the world, besides behaving like 3 hero
on one occasion"
when was that ," Eta condescend-
ed to look interested.
"Why, when was little chap, had
lust come To Elton and couldn't SWIM
managed, against rules to go IN the
boat with another fellow. Somehow
or other the boat upset; the other fel-
low saved himself, and there | was
quietly going, to the bottom, with no
end of splash. Laurence, who was
standing with his hands in his pockets
Oh the bank, jumped in with his clothes
on and pulled me oct. 1t was tough
lob, for ! nearly drowned him with my
frantic clutches and struggles. He was
almost done up when he got me TO the
shore; but, while lay on the "ronnu
half dead, with my eyes shut, he only
shook himself like q vet dog, smiled q
bit and walked oil"
How could you notice him with
your eyes Shut
"Other fellows told me Of il; by that
time number of people had come up,
and for weeks it was much talked about.
Since those jolly Elton days, am sorry
to say, We have not met often; he has
been travelling, and have been soldier
ing in the Gusrds, and precious dull
time of it I've had. wish they would
send US somewhere-to fight niggers,
or do anything. When Lady Blissbury
told me to-day she expected him felt
rs pleased IS Punch
lam sure | shall not care for him"
said Eta, who was q fancifuI little
mortal, and considerably spoilt.
al am sure you will"
This COllOGuy took place in the morn
room of Blissbury Castle, whose hOspt'
table hostess had gathered around her
large party for the Christmas feStiyt-
ties, which were conducted on good
Old-fashioned principles with plenty OF
eating, drinking, noise and merriment.
FeastiDg WAS going on everywhere, from
the dining room to the servants hall,
when even the odd boy received an
extra slice Of plum. pudding for the
benefit Of his widowed mother. Car
riages rattle up at all hours, ObsequlOus
servants hustled about, piles Of luggage
found their way mysteTiOusly into bed
rooms, and presently, TO Lord Cartoons
great joy, the tly bearing Laurence
Hilesden made its appearance.
"HillO, old fellow, how are you? iuu
haven't forgotten me-"
Jim! This Is, indeed, capital. |
did not know you were here-l am de-
lighted to see you again. You haven't
changed Bit"
mo; my mustache is no bigger than
it used to be-and yOu have grown q
beard"
as there q large party here?' said
Laurence, noticing the luggage and the
general activity. al am sorry for that
We might have had some chats about
old times"
"We'll have them, too, never YOU
fear. We hunt tomorrow; they will
mount you, and there are some awfully
nice people here: Lady Marigold, a
pretty little widow, and-and Miss Don
caster and her chaparon, Mrs. Weldon
and old Bowler, and lot more"
Thanks; no one know. Is that the
dressing bell? There is never time to do
anything in civilized society. One is
always getting ready for meal, OF eat
ing one, or having had one,
They walked into the house, jim in
vain trying TO find 3 convenient OppOr,
tunity for dilating on his fsvorite topic,
Miss DOncaster's charms. For, to the
mind of NiscOunt Carlton, the young
GUardsman commonly called jim,
Eta Doncaster represented the most
perfect ideal OF womanhOod. From her
sunny, fluffy hair to her pert little
ways and pretty assumption Of slang
phrases, which sound piqusnt aud
witty in her rosy mouth, he thought
everything about her perfect. With
considerable curiosity he watched the
impression Laurence, y hero Of travel
and literary dsbbler, would receive OF
this feminine paragon when he took
her in to dinner.
Contrary to his habits, Laurence,
somewhat reserved with girls, talked
and laughed as though he had known
Eta all ms life. In return she calmly
ignored the small, downy. faced SubLl
tern who sat on her left. Jun noted
these facts with JOY, for be was modest,
and Laurence Hiilssden's opinion OF
female beauty was critical and correct
but the Joy was tinged by vexstiOn as
be Teeollected that, il luck had beer
mole proSitiOus, he himself might have
been placed next Eta. Tonight she
had not even leisure to throw one Of
her pretty, bright glsnees across TO
where he sat, biting his muStache, aud
trying in vain to carry on q rapid con-
versation with the elergyman's daugh-
ter, shy girl wearing q crumpled
white muslin. Dinner ended, he Jared
little better, for Bowler, the tireSome
old dandy, buttonAoled him in order to
demonstrate the best method of tying a
white tie. Jim thus found himself one
Ofthe last to leave the dining room. By
that time bevy of admirers surround
ed Eta, and Laurence occupied chair
beside her. Jim consoled himself with
Lady Msrigold-
"Etta Is looking nice tonight" said
the lively little wi low, twirling q gi-
gsntic fan. "What lucky girl she l.
an orphan with fortune, free to do
as she likes, understand. She has
three thousand year--quite q comfor.
table jointure; but, you know, she has
made VOW not to marry till she /,
twenty.one, aud then only man As
rich as herself"
"a very wise resolution said Lord
Carlton, joyfully remembering that be
Was fit match for any girl.
"It sounds mereenHry, perhaps, but
Eta bas very distinct views about ma
trinsepy. She does not wish TO owe
everything 10 her husband, and she
like good deal Of luxury, hunters, and
cottage on the river"
"She rides and SOULS splendidly, toe
hy Jovep' said he, warmly.
Lady Marigold laughed. eff you ar,