Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-03-16
LADY BEST'S MISTAKE.

They lived in a ereeper, covered cot
tage, nesting among verdure in the
highly cultivated valley in one OF the
Home counties. There was a small
dairy farm attached to it, upon which
|. ady Best bestowed all her leisure
hours, and thereby managed to add no
uncomfortable sum toe her income,
which, since her husbands death, had
Eeen rather limited.
With the money derived from this
source she had been able TO send her
only son, Arthur, to Oxford-Arthur,
who was the apple Of her eye, the only
one being for whom she really cared.
She had given him q flrst-class educa-
ZION, and it had no: been received on
sony ground, for Arthur was clever and
n bOOk-worm, too much so for worldly
purposes, since he had INDUCED In
study and contemplation till he had
become a dreamer. BY the time he
reached the age o! twenty-five il had
teen declared by all the ReighbOrs, and
Lady Best's circle generally, that Ar
thur would never do any good for him.
self In life; hard verdict, considering
that he had not single vice, and was
handsome and manipulating. Not
that his habits and pursuits were exact
ly manly; fishing was the only sport in
which he had ever been known to in
dulge, and he spent his time for the
most part in wandering listlessly about
the valley, wearing clothes of sOme-
what aesthetic cut, which was particu-
larly distasteful to his rural neighbors,
a slOuching felt hat on his head and 3
bOOk-generally poetry lin his hand.
Idolizing Arthur though she did, it
depressed Lady Best not little to see
him take to an efieminste, dO-nOthing
style of life; and since he had now
wasted more than q year In this sort OF
dream she began to despair of seeing
him embark IN any of the professions
for which she had fitted him. What
she was to do-hOw she was To change
the current of eyents-she did not
know.
"Was he in love? Had he had a dis
appOintment?r her acquaintance asked
her till she was tired Of answering. the
question, however, at last suggested
remedy. Why should not touch OF
the very disease from which people
thought that he was suffering bring
about his cure?
Girls! she would surround him with
girls; of course, while she had due re-
gard for good looks, never forgetting
that in her estimation, nothing made
the eyes glisten with so much pleasure
as the sight Of gold.
SO Lady Best gave q tennis party,
and invited all the beauty Of the coua-
~, including two or three heiresses, but
Lefore the afternoon was half over Ar
thur had disappeared. He had wan
dered down the valley away from the
noise" as he called the musical laugh
ter of these maidens, promising him
self to return as soon as they should be
all gone.
Lady Best was disappointed, but not
crushed; she would try again, this time
in q guieter, but she hoped in a more
efiectual way.
Arthur was out so much she was at
times very dull, " she told him; more
over, che wanted some assistance in
effecting one or two dairy reforms. Her
elder brothers daughter-Hsnnah Mil
toH-aged nineteen, was, she under
stood, 3 decidedly practical, energetic
girl She had not seen her since she
was q baby, but she should like to in.
vite her to q long visit and make her
acquaintance. Had Arthur any objee.
tiOns?"
mo; none whatever. OfcOurse his
mother was perfectly free TO do IS she
liked"
"But would he be civil and kind to
this unknown cousin when she Came%"
"If she pleased him, certainly: but,
doubtless, she would in no way interfere
with his pursuits"
Not very encouraging, If Lady Best
had any serious intentions in reference
to Miss Hannah Milton, who-we will
observe in parsntAesis she believed
would sooner or later come into the pos
session of at least hundred thousand
pounds.
Not word OF this did she, however,
utter to Arthur, but, without further
discussion, wrote an affeetionate letter
to her niece, asking her to come and
stay at the Cottage as long as she could
endure the frugaltty and smAllness Of
their impecuniOus life.
Miss Hannah Milton answered by re.
turn Of post that she should be delight
ed TO avail herself of her aunt's invita-.
ton, more especially as her father was
going abroad on business, and she
should be her own mistress for the next
two months. She might be expected
TO arrive at the Cottage, bag and bag
gage, on the 5th Of July. 1t was then
the end Of June.
To this announcement followed
postscript that she hoped her dear aunt
did not object TO living animals, IS Of
course che could not leave hers ali
alone at Milton Hall during her own
and her fathers absence.
Lady Best was delighted at the sue
cess other letter, and wrote again to
say that both she and Arthur were par
tlculaIly fond OF pets.
Arthur had read Miss Millions letter,
and merely said LhSt be hoped the dogs,
If they were dogs, were thoroughbred;
he hated everything that was not per-
feet
So, till the 5th Of July, the Cottage,
whenever Arthur went out-for it could
not be expected that he should endure
fuss and elaiter-was convulsed with
preparations for the arrival ofthe heiress
ana her retinue. A bedroom was
turned into 8 boulder for her private
use, and two bedrooms adjoining were
set aside for herself and maid.
The Cottage was one Of those elastic
establishments with countless small
rooms, capable Of taking In far larger