The Democratic advocate., 1885-07-18

with green lawn shopping down to the river,
while from beneath weeping-ash dainty
little figure, emerging from the depths Of
chaise Tongue, comes with hand extended
to meet him.
In her cool, white summer draperies and
with the Pickering sunbeams lighting up
her great childish blue eyes and waves of
pale gold hair, Mrs Fairfax is as pleasant
an object on blazing July day as any
mans eye could wish to rest upon So
Reggie Vane thinks, as, with sigh and
murmur of satisfaction, he sinks into seat
by her side, takes off his hat, and helps
himself invited from the fragrant pile of
strawberries in the basket near at hand
"Frightfully hot in London, is not it p
asks his hostess, sympathetically. Given
here, Queenie and | have been able to do
nothing but lounge about in the shade and
eat strawberries Where is the child, by
the-by? ?"
A tiny counterpart of herself, giving
promise of even greater beauty, here comes
up, and presents little hand to Vane; but
when he attempts to kiss her she shakes
her yellow curls over her face and strug-
giles away.
"Why, Queenie, what have | done ?" he
asks, half-offended, yet too languid to go
in pursuit of the baby coquette.
The mothers silvery laugh rings out
merrily. "You forgot to take away the
rose she gave you when you were last here.
Never mind, Queenie, you must forgive
him now"
sAnd won't you bring me another in
token of pardon ?" as the rosebud mouth
meets his half-reluctantly Queenie hesi-
tates, but is finally conquered by that win
ming voice and smile, and goes off in quest
of the desired gift.
"And now, Monsieur" says the little
woman, leaning back on her cushions, and
surveying her visitor through the large in-
nocent blue eyes, Chow has the world been
treating you since we last met ? Come,
give an account of yourself. Where were
you last night ?"
"Dined at the St. Elmos Stupid affair,
and intolerably hot-and no one worth
speaking to-"
''Miss Elliot was not there p This in
a careless little tone of inquiry.
"No. | took in one of the girls of the
house, who had not two words to say for
herself"
"And so left the field open for your elo-
quence Come, Reggie, don't be cross;
take some more strawberries. [ want you
to amuse me now you are here. Where
did you go afterwards ?"
'To a couple of stupid crushes- really a
barbarous institution in this weather. Lady
Hetherington's rooms were tolerable cool,
however"
"And you enjoyed yourself there? It
is hardly like you to honor an evening rout
when there is no dancing-unless some
special attraction tempted you"
"And how could that be, when you were
at Twickenham p
"Well meant, my friend, but hardly so
gracefully expressed as I should have ex-
pected from you. Queenie, darling, run
in and ask why they don't bring tea
'Here it comes-an -and-confound it =
another visitor. Why cannot that butler
OF yours learn ulScretl0n
because I prefer to exercise my own, y
replies Mrs. Fairfax. And the little figure
is drawn up, and the baby-face takes an
expression for a moment which warns Vane
he has gone too far.
"Who would have thought, he murmurs
into his beard, "that the little pussy cat
could show such claws ?"
Meanwhile Mrs. Fairfax has risen and
moved forward to receive her new guest.
The servant mumbles a name which she
does not catch, and she lifts her pretty ap-
pealing eyes in some perplexity to the
strangers face.
Something she reads in that grave
bronzed countenance that brings back old
memories-recalling time long passed
away, before poor Jack Fairfax won her
with his hasty impetuous tale of loye-be-
fore she had, as it were, leapt suddenly from
childhood into the glare and excitement of
a spoiled beauty's life. Nor is the dream
dispelled when the visitor speaks, uncon-
scio4Iy softening his deep tones with the
gentleness he would have used in address
ing a child.
"You have forgotten me, Mrs. Fairfax ?
I do not wonder-it is years since we met
-and-'-
'No, no" she suddenly cried, with a
Joyous clap of her hands. "You are Cap
tain Grahame-my playfellow of long ago.
I remember you quite well now; but so much
has happened since those day"
II know" he answers gently, wondering
whether the shadow in her blue eyes is
caused by Jacks memory, or-as he looks
at the handsome young fellow SO evidently
at home in this garden-by Jacks chosen
successor. And then the two men glare
at one another, after the fashion common
to Englishmen when they meet for the first
time, and are uncertain whether to be on
friendly terms or fly at each others throats.
"Sir Reginald Vane-Captain-no, it is
Colonel now, surely? | thought so-Col
Grahame" And while a stiff bow is ex-
changed, she proceeds to pour out the tea.
Vane renews his attentions to Queenie,
but she, from some perverse instinct of CO.
quetry, bestows all her favors upon the
Colonel, whose grave aspect would hardly
prove attractive to children in general.
Yet it melts into a kindly smile as, lifting
the little one on his knee, he glances from
her face to that of the mother, older only
by some eighteen years, and recalls the days
when Nina Forester had sat as confdingly
on the knee of the shy young cornet
"You will let me scull you up the river,
Mrs Fairfax ?" says Vane, as he puts down
his teacup. 81 have not forgotten" (here
his voice takes more tender Infection
''our last expedition to Hampton Court.
Mrs Fairfax looks doubtfully towards
her other guest, who somewhat stifiy OBJ
serves; "Don't let me be any hindrance to
your plans. Or perhaps you will allow me
to take an oar in your service ?"
Vane's face darkens, but the widow claps
her hands and answers gayly: "Capital
1t would really have been hard work for
one alone in this heat
So Queenie runs. to fetch her mother $
hat, butat the last moment finds the charms
of favorite kittens society irresistible, and
elects to remain on terra frma herself.
Vane pulls stroke, and the boat glides
smoothly away from the emerald bank and
out into tie CLASSY expanse of water, amid
scores of others gayly laden with similar
freight, and looking as if playing their part
In some holiday scene.