The Penn's Grove record., 1884-11-15

hearts content off duck ana pea with
a gooseberry tart as sequel for he was
English In his tastes, and had no fancy
for long dinners of kickshaws. Having
dined, the Secretary Of State made him-
self comfortable IN an armchair with a
bottle of port at his elbow. Through
the open window he could admire the
slopes of his park, richly tinted with
the rays of the setting sun and watch
the clouds group themselves in glorious
masses of orange and scarlet To grace
the pageant of the suns departure and
herald a splendid morrow. On the lawn
Lord Huxmouth's daughter, MISS Riv-
erdale, vas gamboling with her big re-
t%riever, Lion, whose shaggy muzzle she
was pelting with oSe-leaves. This COM
blnation of beautiful prospects sent
Lord Huxmouth into a gentle snoOze,
from which he awoke every two or three
minutes with a start, to brush flies away
and murmur a BENSON on those insects.
Seeing her father asleep, Miss River
dale-a pretty brunette of eighteen
said to her mother: "Mamma dear, 1t
seems to me that Jeremy is late with
the letters. l will go down to the bel
vedere, and see whether there are any
signs of him on the road, for l am anx-
ious to know whether the modiste has
been able to match my Chinese blue
silk
VERY well, my dear" said Lady
Huxmouth, a buxom lady, who had
been half-dozing pa a g~arden-seat /;
''your father is impatient for the mail
too, as he expects a letter from a young
man who is to be his new private secre-
tary-Mr. P~ieasby's nephew"
SIS that young Mr.. Pleasby whom
we saw play at Lords in the Oxford
and Cambridge match, and who batted
so well 2" asked Miss Riverdale de-
murely.
Eyes, L suppose 50 he is a very we'll
conducted young man, and bis uncle is
proud of him."
And is he to be papa's secretary ?'
"Yes. Mr.. Pleasby promised he
should write and send his testimonials /;
but that is u mere form, for your father
has made up his mind to take him for
his uncle'S sake.
Maud Riverdale tripped off lightly
with her dog, and sang to herself as she
went. She knew far more about Har-
old Pleasby than she pretended, for she
had seen pictures of him in the Illus
trated papers. and had heard his uncle
describe him as a merry fellow so that
she was glad of his coming, for Lord
Huxmouth's last secretary had been a
dull youth, who never smiled and was
always studying blue-books. Crossing
the lawn and entering All avenue of
leafy lines, Maud made her way to a
belyedere which stood on the outskirts
of the park and commanded a view of
the fields and highroads for miles. As
soon as she had attained this coign of
vantage, she saw a sight which struck
her motionless with surprise.
Staggering across a bayfield,. III wild
zigzags, came Jeremy, the hall porter of
Lord Huxmouth's town house, with his
arm and eye bandaged as already de-
scribed. Beside HIM walked a gentle
man in a long gray oyercoat. who was
making grabs at a bag which Jeremy
f10urished over his head out of arms
reach. AS the pair drew nearer Maud
heard Jeremy crying vehemently: "No,
no J" The stranger expostulated, and
their dialogue, growing louder, became
distinctly audible, when Jeremy, all
unconscious that he was seen by his
young mistress, tottered against the
wall of the b~elyedere, exclaiming: "Lor,
how drunk l am !"
''Come, give me that letter." said
Harold Pleasby lmpatiently. "I've
told you all about it, and you shall have
five pounds if you render me this SER
vice."
"No, 40, SIR maundered Jeremy
a gem'man, | know : you've
made me very drunk, and you've gwen
me a sovereign for kicking me down
A duke couldn't have behaved
handsomer f.; but l can't give you any
Of my lords letters"
81 shall have to take the letter from
you by force if you don't" said Harold,
who was angry.
swell them shall-hollar, sir"
drawled Jeremy, with a ~hiccough.
You'l have heard such a hol-
laring as I'll set up if you try to touch
that ere bag"
AT this moment Lion, whom his mis-
tress had with difficulty held in by the
COildl4 OlOhO 6lOWIAllk IlVLA DCI udtluS |
and leaped on to the w~indOw-sill, where
he barked furiously. Harold, looking
up, saw a pretty girl cycling him Sc
aud one may judge of his NOR
tifcation when She addressed him in
bold language, which showed that she
thought him a common thief: what
do you want with my fathers post-bag, |
SIT 7" she asked, speaking loud because
the dogs barking.
81 really-a-b beg PARDON" stam-
mered Harold, who had turned crimson.
"Are you Miss Riverdale p"
Eyes, l am,'' answered Maud, start
ing and blushIng In her turn, for Har-
old had barred his head, and she recog-
nized John Pleasby's nephew.
"Well, Miss Riverdale, / must throw
on your generosity, said har-
Old desperately. 81 have written to
Lord Huxmouth and enclosed by mis-
take a letter not intended for his eyes"
"Why don't you tell my father 80
and he will return you the envelope un-
opened, replied Maud quietly.
''To be sure ; l might do that. / had
not thought Of it," faltered Harold.
IL you Will dlAON Nv 4 Al NOl1C kuIOu&u /
the gate - and he came.
But now an untoward incident oc-
Jeremy, in his shame at be-
Miss Riverdale, dropped the
post-bag, and Lion, who had leaped
through the window, picked it up and
lecamped with it. This intelligent
log had been taught to carry all sorts
Of things and appearing to divine that
there was some dispute about the bag,
he probably thought to content all par
lies by making off with it as fast as he
could to the hall.
Dear me, what a mishapi Lion
Lion p exclaimed Maud, clasping her
hands /; but the dog paid no heed and
all the faster.
well, I'm done for ~ cried Harold,
forced resignation land it serves
right"
mo; perhaps we shall still be in
lime" calculated Maud, plying him.
''Come with me this way, Mr.. Pleasby;
will take a short cut"
But the e~xpedient was Of no use. 1t
a Hve-minutes run to the hail, and
5he short cut made it longer. When
and Maud arrived breathless on