The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-05-21


Lord Hcriot remarks. '"rhat hall is always
as cold in winter as the Arctic regions. 1t
would take q ton of wood to warm it thor
oughly. The servants are decorating down.
stars to-day. Have you heard of the ball we
are giving, Miss Middleton"
cot course l have, and I am going to
dance at it, too. And do you know whom
have fixed upon as partner? That hand
some galnekeeper of yours, Lord Heriot-I
forget his name.
Il suppose you mean North. Is he hand
some? Avid looking uffian thought him.
Sut how did you see him, may l ask I"
81 was down stairs this morning, looking
at their decorations in the servants hall.
My FREUD Mrs. Jack the housekeeper intro
duced me in:o it : she is SO proud of it all.
And North was there, putting up sconces
for candles round the walls. l thought him
remarkably Lancsome-lille an Italian ban
dit, you know"
lis that the style you admire 2" Lord
Heriot says rather pilued
'ls it not an admirable style? 1 wonder
who will be the belle OF the ball Tonight =
''Have you not said that you were to be
present y
Miss Middleton mckes him laughing bow
across the table.
81 can tell you thu, - Doctor Jones puts
III, rubbing his hands. There will not bea
prctticr girl in the rocnl than Anne Grace
Trathaway, l don't care who is there"
And Who is Anne Grace lrathaway?" Miss
Middleton inquiries perhaps little piqued
in her turn.
Don't you remember her-the little girl
who used to bring us the primroses the year
before last ?" Lady Gladys said quietly.
"Oh, that little thing? Where has she
been ever since:"
cat school, L beliseo. I have not seen
her since she came he me but Doctor Jones
has made me quite curious about her. We
shall see her tonight
GLOW will tkAy DRESS these people? Full
ball costume ?"
81 fancy not. Merely their best Sunday
gowns. But 1 reilly forget. We're, I want
you to do two OF three things for mo in the
village as you pass through. am SO sorry
that [ cannot go down there myself
''Why don't you put on pair of thick
boots and defy the snow2"
II almost think l shall. VIII you come,
Bab?"
''That WON'T" Miss Middleton answers,
shivering. 81 hate walking in snow. am
always afraid I shall sink right down into it
am such little thing, you know! Besides,
it is so dreadfully unbecoming to me-"
elbow unbecoming to your" laughs Lord
Heriot.
cit makes me look like crow But we
will decorate the hall during your absence,
Gladys, SO you can't accuse us of idleness.
81 had no intention of accusing you. You
must go over to Nettlewood early, We're"
Eyes, at once. 1 suppose I may bring
Cartwright over for these festivities? One is
thankful for any amusement during snow
ing-in like this.
The sun is shining gloriously upon the
snowy landscape outside the window when they
all rise together from the breakfast table.
Lady Gladys feeds her peacock, and Here
ward cannot help thinking, as he holds the
window open for her, that snow is not unbe-
coming to her, at all events. Not even the
cold, searching, refracted light can spoil her
complexion.
Lord Heriot takes his departure, accom-
panied by the little Doctor. Lady Gladys is
summoned to the Countess's appointments.
The Countess had not taken much notice of
Hereward the evening before In fact, be-
You'd her formal note of invitation, written
on crested paper and signed "Francis K"
and the solitary question ''Do you find Kings
court very cold !" put to him during dinner,
she had taken no notice of him at all.
Miss Middleton causes fires to be lighted
IN the two fireplaces at either end of the
great hall She also causes handsome sprigs
of holly and ivy to be carried thither, and
piled in the centre of the floor. She like
wise insists upon Herewards leaving his
book, and the library, and spending the
morning in attendance upon her. They
have q great deal of chat and much laughter
over their decorating, at least Miss Middleton
and EVE chatter and laugh, and Hereward is
not absolutely silent. He finds himself
called upon to scale inaccessible heights, to
reach to impossible lengths, to prick his fingers
useful, and to look as if he enjoyed it. Per-
haps he does enjoy it-after a fashion. But
when the luncheon bell rings he declares
that he will do no more, and Miss Middle
ton is fain to be thankful for having got him
to do so much.
At luncheon Lady Gladys appears in her
sombre fur-edged dress. She reminds Here
ward of Russian princess he saw skating on
the Neva one day.
'Really going?" Miss Middleton exclaims.
'Gladys, are you not afraid to venture?"
''No, am not afraid These poor people
in the village won't feel as if it were Christ
mas if do not pay them my usual visit.
There are great many too old and infirm to
come up here this evening""
SIS the Fraulein going with your"
mo. am going alone, since you will
not come"
Gould be of any assistance to you ?"
Uereward asks
1t is the first time he has ever addressed
Lady Gladys Palliser in SO many words.
7 sp1,