St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-05

had induced an acquaintance with certain
merits that were too prone to lie violet-like
half hidden--with the sweet curves of hel
thoughtful mouth, aud the pretty turn
OF that dimple i'll her chin, with
the humor that played at bo
peep in the depth of her blue eyes, and
that quaint, wise way of holding her shapely
head that went SO well with her little old
fashioned stately bearing-l say, to be taken
under Miss Effie'S protection after an intro
duction to such daintiness as these-not
granted to all, mind you-was not thing,
no matter what film of others ds avor might
dull the event, over which any young man
might look sulky or think of his dignity but
rather clue to lead him to mediate very
gravely and seriously of old age, and loneli-
ness, and buttonless shirts, and suchlike
things. Perhaps Miss Ellie was aware of
this; but if so she looked as good-humored as
ever, and when he said ''What fuss about
a dogs toe being trodden ON !" and prodded
the turf with stick. and had no eyes for her
any more than if she were 40 instead OF
10, she did not sulk, but answered
merrily.
"A dogs toe? Mrs. Ferney's dogs toe,
you mean.''
'And why Mrs. Ferney's in PARTICULAR"
DO 1Ou dSh why DOu NOu hHOW
4 am his ordship's dog at Kew;
Pray tell me, sir, whose dog are your
Mrs. Ferney is second cousin to the Earl of
Sydenham!''
The gentleman made comic and, indeed,
impertinent grimace.
''Then it would not have been the same if
my dogs toe had suffered?' he asked, look
ing her keenly in the face.
''Not at ALL cried Effic, returning his
glance with the merriest of smiles; "nor
your own toe, | assure you. You are only
the new curate's wife's brother, you know. -
Before she had risen from her mock court
esy she repented of her pertness. But she
might have spared her bushes and her fears
of hurting her companions feelings. On
the contrary, he laughed so long and so I'M
constrainedly that she fastened to put bow
into his hands and challenge him to dozen
shots at the gold. Even then he gave way
from time to time to little fits of merriment
sufficiently disconcerting, which made Effie
doubt for whole second together whether
he were quite as charming as she had thought
him on that journey. For quite a whole
second together-at least once in the after
noon.
But, If Mr.. Fulton was now out of sight of
the select circle revolving about Mrs. Will
mington, he was not suffered to pass out of
mind. When Mr.. Hablot arrived, more
snowy as to his linen, more glossy as to his
long-skirted coat, more aristocratic as to his
rectorial person than any of his brethren
present, Mrs. Drage lost not moment in
selling upon him and telling the tale. The
truth was that Mrs. Ferney, fresh from the
shock and great crowd accompany wing her,
l.. Il
recognition. So Mrs. Drage straightway
abandoning the topic which had engrossed
herself and amused the neighbors, 1.-The
shameful conduct of those men, avenged
herself by recounting the dogs misadven-
ture; and this with such warmth of Ian
guage, and shrillness of laugh, as drove Mrs.
Ferney to the verge of Mysteries, and made
her hostess turn hot and cold all in min
ute.
II like a young man of spirt,' cried Mrs
Drage, in that jolly loud voice of hers. ''and
if had been that young felow-and fine
figure of man he is, too, much what / re-
member you, rector-I should have kicked
the dog out of the green. Now look at the
little nuisance sitting bowling in the middle
of the band, for all the world as if he were a
dancing dervishl To tell you the plain
TRUTH which Mrs. Drage sometimes told,
though more commonly she adorned it, 81
don't hold with bringing dogs to parties of
this kind, and if l had been Mrs. Whining
ton-her arrangements are beautiful! Beau
tiful, beautiful to be sure-but as was say
ing, if I had been Mrs. Wilmin gton---the
weather very favorable, ehs yes, very---they
would have found the door shut in the dogs
face. And serve them right, tool no
patience with such people!"
Mrs. Adam as she writhed upon her gar
den seat had scarce patience with Mrs
Drage. Every word was plainly audible; the
dogs mistress famed herself violently,
while the rector, the involuntary receiver of
these open condolences, looked so hot and
i'll at ease that to have famed him would
have seemed a kind action. But as the
dreadful old lady ran on, every other face
wore an involuntary smile. 1t was really too
bad, Mrs. Wilmington thought, when other
wise the thing was going off as well as
possible And yet she had no redress She
knew better than to attack Mrs. Drage, who
came of nice people, and had two uncles
and cousin on the county bench; and who,
to do her iustice--for perfect love casteth
out fear--nO more feared lord, much less
his second cousin, than she feared the town
crier. OF whom, indeed, she had some
cause to be shy; for did she not trespass
upon his prerogatiyes a dozen times a
month"; So, Mrs. Drage, being beyond at
tack, Mrs. Adam could only VOW silently
that the curate's wife should pay for all,
and endeavor by flood of small talk to
obliterate the unlucky impression.
For the time with success; but not for long
Mr.. Hablot had attracted Mrs. Drage's atten.
ton back to the old topic on which she dilated
unrestrained now by the presence of Carrie
and Flo, who, with Miss Wilmington and the
bald-headed man, were playing a select game
of lawn tennis at a distance; and Mrs
Ferney had been seotLed into nervous
quietude. The servants were handing the
tea and cakes about, and the town ladies'
such of them as were admitted to the circle
Immediately around the hostess-were in
speeding the the county ladies' dresses, and
the county ladies were-but how dare we say
what the county ladies were doing! Far be
it from US still they were doing after their
0lympian fashion, when, once more, the
demon of discord rolled into the midst Poor
Mrs. Wilmington Sirius Malignus was
surely in the ascendant.
The band had ceased for a momentto play.
The laughter and voices of the young people
AZ '"V VA' Scls cdiut IalntIy 10 nlngle Win the
murmur OF the party on the lawn, when there
rang out, loud and distinct, through the cas-
tie sudden scream-shrill. earl piercing and
eloquent OF agony. Every other sound ceased
upon the instant-every tongue was stilled.
Not one of the party but rose, and looked
with more or less Of alarm in the direction
whence the cry came. Mrs. Adam turned
pale and murmured that some accident must
have happened. Il hope it's not their faces, -
quoth Mrs. Drage, her four girls in her mind
While Mr.. Haolot, with his usual sense, said
''Is Dr. Hodges here p and Mrs. Ferney
cried Where is my darling Sweep 2" with
more than her wonted sensibility. Alas the
dog answered for itself. There burst upon
the view OF the party wildly bounding in