Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-01-22

newly elected member Of parliament and
an ohiceholder under tbs government, Mr.
joseph NoFburY had promised to consider
the serious advice Of his doctor that he
should take a sea voyage.
since the death Of his wife, Joseph Nor.
bury's only sister, Kate, had taken up her
permanent abods In his house. he was IS,
she a dozen years his junior. They had
been orphaned at an early age, but with
sufficient mean - lead a life Of indepsnd.
ence. They had only been separated when
Joseph married, and then Kate had Thought
it best she should 1--we with her aunt nc
Manchester, leaving Mr.. and Mrs. Norbury
10 possess together the dear old rambling
house On the Derbyshira Wye, near Mat.
lock. They we're only separated, alas, for
five years; but now that they had come to.
gether again the shadows of the tall white
broken column in the little churchyard fell
right across their two lives. Joseph's
trouble had even postponed indefinitely, it
was feared, the long hoped for happiness of
Dick Woodvile, who had been engaged to
Kate for more than a year. He was a
Manchester merchant, a bright, cheerful,
prosperous young fellow, and he had won
his way to tie affection Of both brother and
sister.
Just about the time that Mr.. Nee1ham.
II. p, was entering his town house On that
list of May previously mentioned, Joseph
Norbury, his sister Kate and Mr.. Richard
Woodvill were engaged in a pleasant after
dinner chat at Brambling house, the old
family residence of the Norburys. 1t was
an exceptionally fine and warm day for
Wyedale, where spring, as a rule, came
tardily. This year it had fastened its visit.
The river raced along almost With a summer
song. There were gillyfowers in the gar
den, rosemary and rue; thu thrush was
singing in the copse, and the wild cherry
was in blossom.
Dick had come over, as was his wont, to
spend Sunday and to return to business
on Monday. They sat together, with the
window open, though there was a fire
blazing and cracking on the hearth. Kate
and Dick sat near eaci other, Joseph at the
head OF the table. The DESERT was laid on
an old service of Crowa Derby, and the
table was polished oak, rejecting dishes and
fruits In q world of lovely tints and positive
colors. They were drinking old porS wine
IN the old fashion, Joseph occasionally hold
ing up his glass against the yellow fame Of
a wax candle to catch glimpses Of 'tha
wing that fioated like bits Of dead gold
leaf in the purple liquor. They dined early,
and there was no real neel for the candles,
but it was the custom to light them, and
Joseph thought, as his father before him,
that wax candles were as essential to the
proper enjoyment of port wine as a friend
and companion in the cracking of a bottle.
Kate, like her brother, was fair, but she
had hazel eyes and dark eyebrows, which
gave a peculiar beauty to her face, setting
off her pearl white skin, her rudy lips, aud
her brown, wavy hair, in watch the sun
always discovered streaks o. red gold. It
was a refined fac9, the lips only ius5 full
enough to escape the charge of being thin,
and she had a merry laugh. Dick was dark,
almost swarthy, vita a large, generous
mouth, closely knit forehead, strong hands,
a broad chest, and a strong, manly way OF
expressing his opinions, and a gentle, tender
manner towards Kate that was in strong
contrast with his otherwise robust and
almost noisy self-assertion Of himself, when
she had not to be considered.
"You are dull, old chap, wake up; [ am
sure this wine might rouse any fellow into
high spirits" said Dick.
'One is not always dull becau5e one does
not talk" Joseph replied; "indeel, 1 have
known the time when talked a great deal to
hide the fact that l was not only dull, but
wretched. tell you, Dick, l am all right,
and more than usually happy"
you are SO noisy, Dick said Kate; I'VE
come Of a quiet family-do we not, Jo9''
''Yes, we are like those thoughtful par
rots who are such bsygars to think"
Il dared not say anything like that of
you; but it reminds me that Kate is always
saying she'll think about it,"
about whatF' asks the host, evidently
not paying much attention to the CONVERSE
ton.
about whatp Dick exclaimed; about
everything! That is, it is everything to
metz
"0h, the old story, is itr said the host.
"Wel, l am selfish enough to hope she'll
think about it a long time yet, Dick"