Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1884-06-12

. Z =
l am due at Uxmore tonight
rather different errand from yonrs-
masquerade party. I am sorry we
ton" 1850 W. 9 eo-
Il am sorry also. Do you know any
Howard?" Af'
Never heard of them before. Are
they strangers to you?"
Entirely So"
Now, good by, old fellow. Mytraps
are all slowed away in the train, and ]
had better follow them. Take care of
yourself among those mysterious stran-
gers"
In the hustle and confusion at the
station Mr.. Byron's satchel was mis-
laid; but he presently caught sight of
the familiar object on a distant table,
and felt inwardly thankful for its un-
galnly proportions and tue huge brass
diamond which made it SO easily recog.
nized.
at Portland respectfully dressed
man in charge of a wagonette came for
ward to meet Mr.. Byron, and during
the drive to the Hall the former dis
coursed freely upon the existing state
of affairs there.
A son and heir to the fine estate had
arrived, and there had been great re-
Jolclng there; but within the past twen-
ty-four hours their Joy had been turned
to mourning by a dispatch summoning
the newly-made father to the death-bed
OF his only sister, in Germany. The
young mother seemed to feel q presenti-
ment of misfortune, and she had insist
ed upon the baby's being baptized be-
fore the departure of it's father. The
clergyman of the parish was temporari-
ly absent; hence Mr.. Byron's hasty
summons. The ceremony would be
performed in the chapel connected with
the hall, and would be very quiet, be-
ing Witnessed only, by the father and
grandfather of the child, with possibly
one or two guests.
After lunching in sombre, richly
decorated dining-hall, Mr.. Byron was
shown to bedroom, with the intima-
ton that his services in the chapel
would be required in an hour, if con-
venient to him.
There was something strange and in
teresting about the fine old mansion.
so lately scene of rejoicing, and now
silent as an empty church. No mem
bers OF the family were visible, and the
great house seemed deserted, save for a
few silent-footed servants.
AS the time for the baptism drew
near, MIR. Byron asked to be conducted
to the vestry-rocm. To make sure that
erything was in readiness, he opened
his satchel, when to his CONSERVATION,
instead of drawing forth neatly fold
ed surplice, he held up before his as
tonished gaze q doublet and hose of
scarlet and gray satin, such as might be
seen on the stage in "As You Like It."
Alas for the veracity of Messrs.
Piper and Tipson and the credulity of
the worthy Mrs. Nimsl The so.called
unique bag had many duplicates, and
Mr.. Willis Howard had bought one that
very morning in which to stow away his
fancy ball costume.
Here was predicament, indeed, for
the Reverend julius Byronl. In
desperation he flew to the wardrobe in
the yestryroom. Vain hope Not a
shred of the other clergyman's vest
ments hung there. What was to be
done? Even if in extreme cases the
church rules permitted tho clergy to
officiate-and for the moment Mr.. By
ron was too bewildered to think
whether this would be permissible or
not-how could he explain the annoy
ing mistake to these strangers? They,
already so troubled, would think him
an unworthy, careless tritler.
In his perplexity he rang for the man
who had already waited on him.
"Is there lady in the house with
whom I could speak for few momentsPD
Mr.. Byron asked.
"My mistress cousin is here; but she
does not leave the invalid's room for
just ct present"
"Then L will write. my message in q
note"
He stated the case as clearly as he
could on paper, and dispatched the SER
want with it. In answer the lady
sent her maid to inquire if search had
been made everywhere in the vestry-
room for a surplice. Hesent back word
that further search was useless.
After several moments of, to him, ter
rible suspense-fo the time was almost
come for him to appear in the chapel,
the maid returned, and with deep
bushes and nervous twitching of her
apron hem, began:
aMy young lady told me to tell you,
sir, that if you would not think it any
harm, she would send you her Oh
no, don't mean that, sir! She said
was not to say who it belonged to, but
she would cut the bands eff the sleeves
and the lace from the neck, and it would
be long, and nobody would notice thai
it was night-gown, sir; and if you
don't mind, sir, I would go and fetch il
at once, for there is no time to lose."
The girls concluding words were on,
ly too true; and, however much he
might have hesitated at her suggestion
in cooler moments, he was thankful
now for any solution to the difficulty.
"Tel your mistress that / shall be
very grateful for the loan she proposes
if she thinks the deception will not be
discovered"
The servant vanished, and was soor
on the spot again with a snowy liner
night gown. The neck at the back ha6
been torn down to admit broader
shoulders, and linen handkerchief ha6
been hastily stitched in to hide the rent
Most of the ornamentations had beer
cut away but enough remained to prove
that the garment belonged to lady O
very dainty tastes.
Thankful for this semblence of sur
pice, and too hurried to feel amuse
ment, Mr.. Byron arrayed himself, en-
tered the chancel, and the service be
gan at once. He observed with sigl
of thankfulness that the chapel was yer,
dark; and this enabled him to reat
without much nervousness. Two gen
tlemen came forward with the baby ant
it's nurse, and for brief time during
the service the young clergyman say
indistinctly the slender figure of a lad,
standing in the dimly-lighted aisle. Be
fore the end of the ceremony her feel
ings seemed to overcome her, for sh,
left the church sitting what might hav,
been sob, but which sounded strange
ly like laugh.