Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-08-29

tiOnal Bureau, a week ago.
What a singular coincidence ?
said Miss Morton, shaking her cher
ry-colored bonnet-string. while
1 am going to be companion to old
Mrs. Grove, of Grove Rookery, the
very next place to Chessington
Hall. How l do envy you, Lillian 7
Envy me, Eulalie?'
yes. Haven't you heard about
it p said the brunette. 'The Chess
ington children, your future char
ges, are motherless, don't you
know? They are under the care of
an aunt, so Mrs. Grove told me
and there is handsome widOwer
and interesting young bachelor at
Chessington Hall.
Lillian cOlOred, hOtly.
Neither of whom l ever expect
to meet said she.
1T will be your own fault if you
DON'T observed Miss Morton,
'Why my dear, here is your career
all chalked out for you. Sentimen-
tai widower, with lots of money
pretty governessHmutual fascina-
tion-growing devotion-fnale, a
weddingl Hey. presto, your for
time is made "
'Eulalie, how can you talk so I?
cried Lillian, flushed and indignant
q am not on a husband-hunting ex
petition; | am simply trying to earn
my own living
The more goose you, to neglect
such an opportunity as this said
Eulalie, laughing. IF you don't
try for the widOwer, l shall Grove
Rookery is only half a mile from
Chessington Hall, after all; and a
rich husband would solve the prob.
lem of my life at once
This is too ridiculous, Eulalie,
said Lillian. q could not respect
myself if l we're to plot and plan
like this. know it is unjust; but
you have made me dislike Mr..
Chessinton already
The more the BETTER said Miss
Morton. There will be all the bet
ter chance for me. They say he
is very handsome; and one could
easily send the two children of to
boardlngschool. I can assure you
I'll have no Old-maid aunts and in
terfering uncles about the premi-
ses.'
'Eulalie, let us talk Of something
else, said Lillian, resolutely. Tell
me all that has happened to you
since graduating day.
Enlalie laughed out a merry,
ringing laugh.
well, if you must know said
she, I've been trying my best to
get nice husband, but without
any success
rs matrimony, then, the end and
aim of all the wOrldY said Lillian,
with queenly disdain.
AS far as | am cOncerned-yes,
acknowledged Miss Morton, with
charming frankness.
Pardon me, Enlalie,' said Lillian,
'but it seems to me that you have
degenerated frightfully since those
dear old days at Madame de Tourn-
aires
Miss Morton yawned.
'How tedious all this is,' said she.
Miss Ferguson turned lecturer,
ell? How | wish that poor fellow in
the corner wasn't deaf.and-dumb,
I'd firt with him, just to aggravate
you, Lily
Lillian made no answer. She
leaned her head out of the stage
window, and watched the purple
dusk creep up the mountain side,
counting the stars as one by one
they shone out. Anything was
better than Eulalie's shallow chat
ter.
Grove ROOkery was soon reached
and Miss Morton babe her old
an elusive farewell.
Il see that the old lady has sent
the carriage to meet me- said she.
'Good.by, Lily. You must be sure
and introduce me to the charming
widower when | come over. Au
revoir, darling-au revoir.'
The deaf.and.dumb gentleman
left the stage very soon. Miss Fer
guson watched with some interest
bat no carriage of any description
seemed to be waiting for him.
He disappeared into the woods
like a shadow, and vanished from
her sight.
Il suppose, poor fellow, that he
lives near here, thought she. How
dreadful it must be, thus to be
cut off from all companionship with
ones fellow beings
But even while these reflections
passed through her mind, the stage
again, before a glittering
facade of lights, half-veiled in sway
inp summer foliage. Chessington