Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-01-04

COnclleu 10 ner lot. en- wears of the
same unvarying round had quite driven
from her mind any hope of change. She
was only Aunt Margery' to her nieces
and all their giddy circle of Young ac-
quaintances, and had quite resigned her
self TO remain so to the end of the
chapter
So she took little or no interest in the
flutter of preparation caused among the
girls by the coming Of he eligible bachelor,
though with her customary amiability, she
was always ready witt her advice and as
sistance in matters @ the toilet, which
were to help oaptivate him when he came.
The girls had persuaded Mrs Derwent
to give a small eYen;..g party the week
after his arrival, ap1sS7stlis5- lady had seen
and approved of him as t capital match
for Kate, " they had very little difficulty In
getting their own way in the matter and
arranging it on a scale of grandeur never
before seen at Maundbury, except at the
stately parties given once year at my Lord
Maundbury's own house, at which royalty
was sometimes present
But | doubt if even foyalty's own
gracious presence could have made that
party more successful; it served for sub
Ject OF conversation for long time after
ward. Maurice Chester made himself so
agreeable, and proved ta he sueh an adj
mirabe hand ut arranging improptu
charades, playing on his violin, dancing,
singing and talking, that he was unani-
mously voted the success of the evening,
and his coming into the neighborhood
was considered an unqualified gain by both
old and young.
The quiet little sleepy town of Maund-
bury went nearly mad over him, and num-
berless were the dinners, balls, and even
ing parties given in his honor during the
next four months.
The name of Maurice Chester was in
every mouth he was voted "a darling"
"a gen." by the ladies, and "brick, ~
and a "jolly good fellow" by their
brothers. He was so dark and sunburned
that he looked his thirty five years, but
then he was tall and handsome, with no.
BILE features and winning manners, and all
the young ladies envied Kate Derwent
who being the most beautiful and accom-
plished lady in the circle, would natural
ly stand the best chance of winning such
prize.
Mrs. Derwent had ascertained that he
was not engaged. He had been, in his
early youth, but the lady, clergyman's
daughter, had died of a fever caught
through visiting the poor, on the eve of
their marriage, and he had seen no one
since that he wished to put in her place.
This interesting information being speed
lily circulated, made him more popular
than ever-quite hero of romance, in
fact.
"And mamma says that is very likely
the reason he is so gentle and attentive to
ladies-why, he is quite as nice to her
and other married ladifs as to us young
ones, and--did you noticeI-the other
evening he actually danced with Aunt
Margery"
Which last exploit of the hero was evi-
IDENTIFY considered an unnecessary waste
of his good offices by Miss Derwent.
Still less did she approve of his next
proceeding, which was to send to Lon
don for two songs which Aunt Margery
happened to mention had been her favor
ties long ago, but which she had lost
through lending thom to an acquaintance.
''It is all very well, you know, Connie, ("
she said, in a confidential talk with that
unfailing sympathizer II like him to
be kind and attentive to the poor old
thing, but really that is carrying things a
little too far-she might expect the same
attention when we are married, which l
shall certainly not permit
GGNou +biply ba rool1, 1, ,,,oo,,e eO,,, Ali inc
then, Kate3 He has not proposed YETI"
! "NO, but mamma says he is sure to do so
soon. Why, he is here nearly every day,
on some preteXt or other, and what else can
he come forR Beside, don't you know that
he has arranged grand picnic to Carn-
forth ruinsY Mamma says she is certain
he will ask me then; so, if you see us walk
ing off together, you will keep off all in
truders, will you not?"
81 will certainly remember that two are
company, but three none, answered Con-
ME, laughing.
She could afford to be good -natured, for
she was engaged to a handsome young
lieutenant, the only son of the rector, and
would be married on his return from his
next voyage.
The day of the picnic arrived The
weather was superb and everybody was in
high spirits, except the originator of the
holiday. At starting he looked pale, and
his manner was pre-occupied and nervous,
unlike his usual bright, genial self. Mrs.
Derwent and her daughter exchanged
glances; Kate's was triumphant, and she
saw herself, in Imagination, returning
home the promised bride of the rich and
popular Maurice Chester, of Chester Grove,
as he had renamed his splendid home.
BY the time they arrived at their desti-
nation, Maurice had quite recovered his
usual spirits, and was soon rowing Kate
and some other gay young friends on the
along its margin alone and rather sad for
she could not but recall, as the sound OF
their merry laughter came to her from the
water, her own bright youth, when she
had been surrounded by love and friend
ship, as Kate was now. She felt little
hurt, too, that Mr. Chester had not offer
ed her a seat in the boat; it was not like
his usual kind thoughtfulncss for all,
which she had so constantly admired in
him.
'Ah, well, am only Aunt Margery tc
him, suppose. dare say look forty,
at least, beside Kate" she thought.
But it was not in her nature to spend
long in repining. She was soon engaged
in merry hunt through the maze with
the younger members Of the party, and
when the rowing party returned, shouts
of "Auntie, where are YOU 2" "This wav
Johnniem "Take the path to the right ?
"Keep round to the left!" "Oh, | an
lost" resounded through the usually 81
/ lent ruins.
Presently Marpery found a Gan in the