Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-03-06

could not be expected that he should
endure the fuss and clatter-was con
vulsed with preparations for the ar
rival of the heiress-niece and her retl-
nue.. a bed room was turned INTO
/ boudor for her private use, and two
/ bed rooms 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 larg-
err number of people than its exterior
would lead you to imagine.
Hannah Millions home was in the
north. 1t would be quite evening
before she would arrive, and Lady
Best passed all the day in state of
feverish excitment, wandering from
room to room. She seemed to feel
that there was a destiny at stake;
while Arthur, the Individual in ali
probability was the most concerned,
was perfectly cool and collected and
passed the hours in his habitual placid
enjoyment of book.
The mystic shade of twilight was
already creeping up the valley when
wheels were approaching the cottage,
and Lady Best went out into the
porch to receive her guest. Fam
would she have persuaded Arthur TO
accompany her, but he preferred an
arm chair by the window.
At last q carriage is at the door,
and Hannah Milton having sprung
out, is DANGEROUSLY kissing her aunt,
There is nothing aesthetic or dreamy
about her. She has a broad, plain,
honest, open face, with fine ewes, and
large mouth full of strengthening
white teeth-not the slightest preten-
sion to beauty, but you can see at a
glance that Hannah Milton is
thoroughly good, kind, sincere WON
an. Her voice IS very loud, but it has
the ring of a true heart.
1t frightens Lady Best, however,
as she thinks, "What will Arthur
say? Will he run away from Han
nah, or allow himself to be subdued
by herr
In the carriage beside Hannah,
helf concealed by bird cages, Per
sian cat and three small dogs of diff
ferent breeds, there is a girl-the
maid, of course. The dogs and cat
sprang out after Hannah, and the
footman takes the bird cages. Just
as the unnoticed occupant of the car
riage is stepping out Hannah Turns
round.
"Ohl l forgot let me introduce my
dearest friend, Agatha Burghley. OF
course you expected her; you know
she never leaves me.
Lady Best held out her hand in a
welcome to which her heart did not
respond; nor did she speak, except to
say:
And your maid, Hannah
Miss Milton burst out laughing.
THAT is luxury in which we do not
induIge-do we, Aggy2 We arrange
our toilets ourselves, and very effect
| i've they are sometimes, eh?"
Lady Best looked again at her com
panion Of whom she never heard be-
fore. No. decidedly; if she had, she
would not have asked Hannah to the
cottage. For Agatha was beautiful, of
that refined spiritualized beauty about
| whichpoets rave.
For an indefinite period she had in
vited Hannah, and this companion,
| this Agatha, was she also to be their
daily associate for weeks2
The meeting with Arthur, however,
could not be deferred, and Lady Best
led the way into the drawing room.
He was as cordial rs it was in his
nature to be in his reception of his
cousin, but when the same form of
introduction with which Lady Best
had been greeted was gone through,
and Agatha dragged forward by her
energetic friend, stood before him,
with the pale CLEAN of the rising
moonlight on her face, he started
back as though he had seen a spectre,
more in fear than admiration, as it
seemed tohis anxious, watching moth
Ter.
There was no time, however, for
specializing as to what feelings Ag-
atha had awakened in Arthur's
breast, the necessities were asserting
themselves and Hannah in her blunt
way declared herself to be furnishing,
"A rapid toilet and dinner. Come
| ON, Agatha, we shall not keep Lady
Best waiting long, - and the two girls
went quickly up into the room that
! had been prepared for them.
In less than a quarter of an hour
they came back, looking as spic-and
spac as if they had made no long
journey. 1t was very obvious that the
services Of a maid were unnecessary.
The evening, however, was scarcely
"a merry one. Arthur was more than
usually silent and meditatiye. Agatha
very tired; she was not so robust a,
Hannah, who was the only lively one
of the party. and chartered careIessly
to Lady Best. who. for once in her life
was not good listener. All her at
tention was riyeted on that young
person, as she already, in her mind
, designated the somewhat lackadaisi
, cal Agatha.
Hannah was very full Of the pro
iected dairy reforms She loved every
thing that gave her practical tenden
r cieS full vent; bat Lady Best was b!
= no means as keen as she was.
g While they were reforming, wha
g would Arthur and this beautiful
- Oathq ba I,ipuyN eha qsl-pd herSpl {