Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-18
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Meanwhile the young squire mas
wakened with the thought that the
pleasantest day of his life has dawned--
a day, which in spite Of fate in the
shape Of Madam Tredennick, he means
to be complete master-a day which is
to be onlysunshine, and which is to throw
a foretaste Of radiance over all the COM
ing years of his life. He has scarcely
seen Kate to speak to since the day he
had accompanied her into Torferry, but
he had been twice over to Shepstone
preparing for her reception at the farm
house, and he thought with pride Of all
the preparations for her and her
mothers comfort. There was real
Devonshire dinner provided, which
would have served to feed dozen hun
cry troopers; ducks and plum tart, a
junket and unlimited cream. He hoped
the London ladies would be able to put
up with Mrs. Loveys's country cooking
and service. Her crockery and glass he
had supplemented with contributions
from the Park, surreptitiously abstract
ed and brought down in the Mermaid
beforehand.
And the final instructions, how Mrs.
and Miss Verey were to meet him at
the landing-stage where the little Mer-
maid lay, with all her glory of new
cushions, were conveyed to Kate in a
note, which it cost Harry some time
and pains to compose for, besides be-
il e somewhat inapt with his pen, it was
the first time he had ever written to
this girl who was so gracious, so bene-
ficent to him, giving him her attention,
her brightest smiles, her kindest words,
he almost fancied her love. If she did
not love him already she should do
so soon-she, who was so quick, must
know what browning boon was to make
his twenty-frst birthday perfect, what
birthday gift he was going to ask at her
hands.
And this note was lying unopened
with heap of other uninteresting cor
respondence on Miss Verey's dressing
table, where she had tossed it down
among the Grdphics and Punchs which
were weekly forwarded by Mrs. Cham
berain for had not Captain Anstey's
card been brought to her at the same
moment, and was not the card followed
by the owner?
Harry had left the note to be sent to
Myrtle Bank on that Monday afternoon
when he rode out to Shepstone to make
his final preparations ; to settle some
deck chairs in the orchard, where Mrs.
Loveys was to spread afternoon tea.
And Kate Verey tossed it aside unno-
ticed, as she recognized her lovers foot
step on the gravel under the bedroom
window, and then heard the sharp
tinkle of the door-bell, and the opening
and shutting Of the drawing-room door,
the hurried scufile of the maid-servant
on the stairs, and knew that the event
on which she had this summer staked
her happiness had come to pass.
And, after that the pleasant little
tea-party--which poor Harry thought
was a special institution for his bene-
ft-followed as naturally at Myrtle
Bank as it did when Captain Anstey
dropped in four afternoons week, in
Lowndes Square. And the yachting
engagement, with possibilities of an
other engagement tenderly implied in
its persuasive, q" WI you come, Miss
Kate?" was made; and the young
'sauire's carefully-considered scrawl
was swept aside and forgotten as COM
pletely as his birthday expedition and
his whole existence.
Down at the landing-stage he waited,
full of all the Importance Of the occa-
sion, through two long bright hours OF
the morning; for with countryman's
consideration for two town-bred Ia
dies, he had fixed the start good deal
later than Captain Anstey had done,
and the Halcyon was bounding miles
away while Harry sat idly pulling the
tiller.ropes Of the Mermaid and looking
I'D the little stony lane, expecting his
guests to appear. Then, seized with dread
that his instructions had not been plain
enough, and that the ladies were GER
tainly awaiting his escort at Myrtle
Bank. he left his boat in charge Of =
boy and darted up the hill at railroad
pace to fetch them, quite overwhelmed
at the thought that they should have
waited or that he had been remiss in
the performance Of any devoirs which
they had expected Of him.
..They be gone this tn hours" was
the reply Of the Myrtle Bank landlady,
who was taking the opportunity to
give her rooms good turnout and had
no time to waste in discussion. mo,
Miss yerey, her said as they would be
out a'al day, and mebbe till laate, so
they would only want supper when
they coined to home and tn lay for q
gentleman beside-they be gone out ia
sail" And with this information, she
began to sweep SO determinedly that
Harry saw she had really nothing more
to tell.
OF course that was where the mistake
lay! They had gone direct to Shep-
stone, probably in the little Norfolk
cart which Miss verey sometimes hired
for her mother.
Now for the Mermaid Is fast as might
be, and to get to Shepstone the best
way be might, sailing or rowing IS the
tide served, to repair as much IS posi-
BILE the unlucky misadventure Of the
morning. But at Shspstone came out
.ap,alx Mrs. Loyaya. In her best spotted