Weekly commercial herald., 1886-02-26

"A the river; yet he did think 10 not lIllproD-
able that he might encourage an already
dangerous spirit Of adventure and OF course
be absolutely blameles5 if she could geg
trampled BY a horses cruel hoOfs, or crushed
by one Of the many traps going in and OUT
of barracks.
When Bootles had taken his first long
leave after Miss Mignons coming, ne mao
left her at Idleminster in charge OF her
nurse; but when long leave came rouhu
again and she must have been about Two
and a Ealf, he decided to take ner with nm:
One reason for this was certainly fear OF
any pranks Gilchrist might choose to play,
another that Lacy was taking his leave at
the same time, and Bootles was afraid, In
the absence Of both, Miss Mignon might treG
herself into a fever. And, besides, he had
missed the child during a fortnight's deer
stalking in Scotland that autumn more than
he would have liked to own.
From Blankhampton, therefore, they
went to his place. Ferrers Court, where be
was to entertain rather large party for
Christmas with a sister of his mothers, and
his only near relative to do the honors for
hin, and among his guests Mrs. Smith, a
widow, and sister to that dead girl to whom
he fancied a resemblance in Miss Mignon.
However, at the last moment, Mrs. Smith
wrote to excuse herself.
81 am very, very sorry" she said, "but a
very dear friend Of mine, with whom l
spent two winters in Italy, has suddenly ap-
peared, with travelling companion and two
maids, to pay me long-promisad visit OF
at least two months. She is Russian
countess-a widow, like myself, and wishes,
fancy, to improve her English, which she
already speaks very we'll Of course am
dreadfully disappointed, but cannot help
it."
Now, it happened that Bootles had very
deep and great respect and liking for Mrs.
Smith, and not for all the widowed coun-
tesses in Russia was he willing to upset his
plans; therefore he wrote off at once to Mrs,
Smith, after five minutes consultation
with Lady Marion, to beg her to carry out
her original intentions and bring Madame
and her retinue "along" Would she tele.
graph her reply9
Mrs. Smith did so, the reply being, Yes.
Moreover, she supplemented the telegram
by letter, in whioa she mentioned among
other things that Mme Gourbolska's
travelling companion must be treated in all
ways as an ordinary guest.
So, at the time originally appointed for
Mrs. Smiths coming, the party of six
three ladies anE. three maids-arrived.
Bootles himself went to the station to meet
them. He found that Nine. Gourbolska
was young, not mora than thirty, of the
plump and fair Russian type, quite fair
enough to hold her own beside Mrs. Smith,
whom he regarded as the most beautiful
woman of his acquaintance. The third lady,
Miss Grace, was fair also, perhaps not SO
positively beautiful as either the English or
the Russian lady, but fair-haired, fair
blue in som3 lights, as Bootles noticed di-
rectly Graceful she was to degree, and
as he watched her move across the little
station he thought how wonderfully her
name suited her.
Mrs. Smith smiled at him as he helped he1
to mount to the top of the omnibus. sis not
the likeness wonderfulp she said, with one
Of those quick sighs with which we speak Of
our dead; and then she said, "Poor Rosy
Bootle3 turned and looked at Miss Gracc
again, his mind going back to those dark
days, past and gone now, when he and his
best friend had been estrange1 for honor:
sake. When he and this imperially beautiful
woman had Stood side by side watching O
young life die out; had together seem the
sacrifice Of heart, the martyr Of love tC
man.
eyes, it is very great" he said, briefly.
That dead sister of Mrs. Smith had always
been and would always be not-to-bo- broken
bond Of union between them for the widow
knew how gladly "that grand Bootles" as she
always callel him, would have tried tc
make up for the love he had lost, while tc
Boobies Mrs. Smith stood out from the rest
Of womankind as the sister of the only
woman he had ever wished or asked to marry
him.
He helped Miss Grace up to the seat beside
Mrs. Smith, and took his own place beside
the Russian lady, who entertained him very
well during the three miles drive between
Eagles Station and Ferrers Court.
"Oh, but what a paradisep she cried as
the carriage turnel into the courtyard.
81 am delighted that it pleases you," he
answered, glancing round to see what effect
his ancestral homo had upon Miss Grace.
"Lovelym she murmured to Mrs. Smith.
III dliOtiiCl ulILl4CuU tLc! Auu uIdWn up al
the great Gothic doorway, and immediately
the figure of little child dressed in white
appeared On the top of the broad steps, kiss
ing her small hands in token of welcome
go in directly; you'll get cold Go in, ]
say" Bootle3 called out. 1t was, indeed,
bitterly cold, and few flakes of snow were
falling But Miss Mignon had budget Of
news for her Bootles, and was not to be
done out Of telling it.
''Lal has had a letter from home,n she
piped out in her shrill voice. Lal was her
name for Lacy, and home meant Blank
hampton Barracks. 'And the st. Bernard
has gotte1 two puppie3-beauties- I'm
to have cna Lal says 50. And Terry has
broked hls leg.' Terry was one of Bottles
grooms. And Maj, Ally's going to be
married.
Bootes was so surprised that he forgot
the cold and his order that Miss Mignon
should go in.
'What p he exclaimed, incrodulously.
Just then Lacy himself came to the top Of
the steps with open arms, so to speak, and
carried off Mrs Smith into the house. Miss
Mignon took advantage Of the opportunity
to run down the steps just as Bootles helped
Nine. Gourbolska to the ground.
II welcome you with much pleasure" he
said, cordially-"Miss Grace also," as he
gave her his hand to jump the last step. 81
am afraid YOU are tired You are very