Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-05-28
1alfs aud Sketfhes.
EY1A's PROMISE.
CONTINUED from yesterday.

ladies at the instant swarmlng up the Stairs
with candles in their hands, on their way
to rest. Eta fingered unusually late IN
the blue chintz room appropriated to her
chaperon. She stood lingering her
bracelets and meditatively arranging them
on the lace and muslin-draped dressing
table. Mrs. Weldon. meanwhile. whom
Eta mischievously nicknamed .'Weeds. "
in alIusion to her widows weeds. quietly
unloosened her hair and arrayed- herself
in dressing-gown.
/ Eta. are YOU not tired ?'' she said al
last. yawning. >,
Il am never tired. you know. Weeds, "
responded Eta. briefly; but if You want
to sleep, I'll go. By the by, am to ride
Jim's mare tomorrow.
..Mv dear. how often have l told you to
give Young men their full titles We
have onlv known Lord Carlton few
months
..WeIl. at least, we have seen good
deal of him. 1t does not signify; only.
really Urania. YOU need not come the
widow with experience over me,." Then,
poising her head reflectively, ''What a
deliciously light weight Jim is !"
"Mv dear'' the chaperon reproved
again.
Very we'll; l will try not to offend
any more. Do you know, think Jim is
in love with me ?''
ut would be an exceedingly nice con-
nection.
Certainly land economical, for we could
ride the same horses which would simplify
the stable arrangements"
Eta. when you marry you must give
up hunting.
Then / shall not marry; that settles
the question. Good night, Weeds"
Eta abruptly left the room, but almost
directly opened the door again and popped
her head in to say. II think Mr.. Hillesden
very good-looking and, though he is not
quite as light a weight, l am told he rides
better than Lord Carlton"
Etta's drapery rustled down the passage
and away into the distance before Mrs.
Weldon recovered sufficiently from her
surprise to murmur lovingly. ''Oh, you
foolish girl ~ to which exclamation her
nightly prayer for her willful charge form
ed fitting sequel.
Mrs. Weedon's responsibility was no
light one. Round the pretty .piquant Eta.
with her fair, trim head and bewitching
figure, especially round her fortune, con-
siderably exaggerated by public rumor,
there fiuttered a swarm of suitors more or
less eligible. Thanks to Etta's VOW. sug-
gested by Mrs. Weldon, the dangers of
matrimony had hitherto been successfully
avoided. Lord Cartoons courtship, how
ever. received Mrs. Weedon's approval,
and on him, she tried to flatter herself,
Etta's choice would eventually fall.
Eta looked her best on horseback, and
ha Enauy 10 vvbich rorhanc ha
son on this occasion she determined to ride
the chestnut mare. Jim meant to keep by
his lady love all day, careless that she
scornfully rejected his offer of lead.
Much to her chagrin. circumstances favor
ed him, and compelled her to put up with
the company of his selfelected cavalier
down a green lane. instead of following
the example of Mr.. Hillesden's break
neck leap over wide brook las she should
have preferred.
"You are a little angry with me-" said
Jim. as they rode along.
Eta. prudently silent and distracted,
striking with her whip at the leaves of
the hedge row, Il am why did you make
ME lose the hounds by your interference
instead of letting me jump that brook p"
"Why P" Lord Carlton rode nearer. and
fixed his gray eyes on her pretty, pouting
face. "Because-Etta. l must speak out
because | love you so. darling"
1T is coming now," thought Eta, with
sigh ''how tiresome men are, always
to love me-"
"Etta, could you. do You think" he
laid his fingers timidly on the little
hand gripping the reins so firmly,
"could you care for me ?' The slanting
rays of sunshine lighted her calm, deter.
mined profile
II shall not marry till am one and
twenty" she said decisively. II have
made a VOW"
II would not ask you to marry till you
are e-quite-ready but let us be en-
gagged. Will you. dear?"
81 don't mind. on one condtion-that
you say nothing about 1t to anyb )dy. /
hate fuss and congratulations, and | want
to hunt next winter"
Lord Cartons outspoken gratitude was
prom pity checked by her next remark:
weeds said no man would let me hunt
when | was married. would not agree
to that. you know. so we had better under
stand each other at once.''
"You shall hunt as much as you like"
Lord Carlton said with a sigh, provided
you promise to take care"
You won't insist on my riding down
green lanes with you, instead of jumping
fences ?' She gave him a coquettish
glance which sent the blood to his cheeks
Eta had been courted before, and knew
the way to mems hearts.
Not more than can help, darling
With this assurance she had to be con-
tent. and, arriving at the castle soon after
went up stairs with the intention of taking
off her habit and informing Mrs Weldon
of her engagement. Instead. however,
by some feminine precocity. she only exc
cuted half of her programme, arraying
herself in a tea gown and reading BLACK,
but Comely" by the fire till dinner time
came and the hour for confidence was
over.
A year elapsed. Christmas approached.
and with it the hour of Etta's majority
She had insisted on such rigid secrecy
respecting her engagement whether from
maidenly modesty or girlish love for mis-
chief did not transpire, that even easy
| going Mrs. Wheeden knew not what to
think. She only noticed that Eta dropped
somewhat. that she was quieter and less
self-willed used fewer slanp phrases and