The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-06
LADY BEST'S MISTAKE.

They lived in creeper- covered cot
tage, nesting among verdure in the
highly cultivated valley of one of the
Home counties. There was O small
dairy farm attached to it, upon which
Lady Best bestowed all her leisure
hours, and thereby managed to add no
uncomfortable sum TO her income, which
since her husbands death had been
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 one
only being for whom she really cared.
She had given him first-class educa-
6ion, and it had not been received on
stony ground, for Arthur was clever,
and book-worm, too much so for
worldly purposes, since he had in
'dulged In study and contemplation till
he had become dreamer. BY the time
The reached the age of 70 it had been
declared by all the neighbors, and Lady
Best's circle generally, that Arthur
would never do any good for himself in
hfea hard verdict, considering that
he had not a single vice, and was hand
some and manly looking. Not that his
habits ard pursuits we're exactly manly;
fishing was the only sport in which he
had ever been known to indulge, and
he spent his time for the most part in
wandering listlessly about the valley,
wearing clothes of somewhat aesthetic
cut, which was particularly distasteful
TO his rural neighbors, slouching felt
has on his head, and book-generally
Epoetry-in his hand.
Idolizing Arthur though she did, it
depressed Lady Best not little to see
him take to an etfeminate, do-nothing
style of life; and since no had now
wasted more than a year In this sort of
dream, she began to despair of seeing
him embark IN any of tho professions
for which she had hoped his education
woUld have fitted him. What she was
Go do-how she was to change the cur
rent of events-she did not know.
WAS he in love? Had he had dis
appointments" her acquaintance asked
Aer till she was tired of answering.
The question, however, at last sug-
gested remedy. Why should not
touch of the very disease from which
people thought he was suffering, bring
about his cure?
Girls she would surround him with
girls; OF course, while she had a due
regard for good looks, never forgetting
Flat, in her estimation, nothing made
the eyes glisten with so much pleasure
rs the sight of gold.
So Lady Best gave tennis party,
and invited all the beauty of the
county, including two or three heir
>esses but before the afternoon was half
, over, Arthur had disappeared. He had
wandered down the valley, away from
" "the noise" as he called the musical
laughter Of these maidens, promising
himself TO return as soon as they should
all be gone.
aady Best was disappointed, but not
crushed she would try again, this time
in quieter, but, she hoped, more eff
6ectual way.
Arthur was out 80 much, she was at
times very dull" she told him; more
over she wanted some assistance in eff
fecting one or two dairy reforms. Her
eldest brothers aughter-Hannah
Milton aged 10. was, she understood,
a decidedly practical, energetic girl.
She had not seen her since she was
baby, but she should like to invite her on
long visit, and make her acquaintance.
Had Arthur any obiection?"
@No; none whatever. OF course his
mother was perfectly free to do as she
liked"
But would he he civil and kind to
CHS unknown cousin when she came?"
eff she pleased him, certainly; but
doubtless. she would in no way inter
fere with his pursuits
Not very encouraging if Lady Best
had any serious intentions in reference
TO Miss Hannah Milton, who-we will
observe in parenthesis--she believed
would sooner or later come into the
possess on of at least hundred thou
sand pounds.
Not word of this did she, however,
utter to Arthur; but, without further
discussion, wrote an affectionate letter
60 her niece. asking her to come and
stay at the cottage as long as she could
endure the frugality and smallness OF
their iInpecunious life.
Miss Hannah Milton answered by re-
Surn Of post that sho would be delighted
&o'avail herself of her aunt's invitation,
more especially as her father was
should he her own mistress for the next
two months. She might be expected
to arrive, bag and baggage, at the cot
tage on the 9th of July. 1t was then
che end Of June.
To this announcement followed q
postscript that she hoped her dear
amt did not object to living animals,
of course she could not leave hers
all alone at Milton Hall during her own
and her fathers absence.
Lady Best was delighted at the sue
cess of her letter, and wrote again to
say that both she and Arthur were par
ticularly fond of pets.
Arthur had read Miss Millions letter,
and merely said that he hoped the dogs.
IL they were dogs, were thoroughbrcds
lac hated everything that was not per-
feet.
SO, till tho 9Th of July, the Cottage,
whenever Arthur went out--for it could