The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-07-31


I'd be giving the boy an ungracious gif
in such wife," he muttered. "Ineve
saw her, and wish l could. / wondei
how | can manage il? All! IL IIarrie
would do it! I'll write and ask her, >
and he took up his pen and wrote rap
idly for some moments.
When he had finished he read what
he had written and laughed amusedly
as he folded the sheet, sealed and di
rected it. .s
"Young heads are not always best tC
plan," he said complacently, and ring
ing for a servant, he gave directions
that the letter was to be sent immedi.
ately. Jack heard no more about the
girl he had declined to marry in the
three days that followed. On the
fourth his uncle addressed him as he
was going out:
Your aunt Harriet is coming for Q
week or two," he said. "I believe she
brings a young friend with her--no
doubt a shupering miss, who will de-
mand all your time and attention; but
you will remember, will countenance
no filtration. no nonsense"
Never was guilty of any in all my
life" Jack said, innocently; "and III
not begin now; what is the name of the
simpering miss, uncle?"
His uncle bit his lip, but turned to the
letter he held open in his hand.
Something silly; here it is-'Dith0
Fitzgerald What names some people
give their childrenp'
"If they all gave them as pretty
names as that one" Jack paused
"there wouldn't be any Judiths in the
world, uncle" And he laughed lightly,
"When do our guests arrive?"
To-day. They will be here for din
ner."
"Then I'll be on hand" And Jack
whistled merry tune as he went for
his ramble, while his uncle smiled pc
culiarly.
He was very particular about his gen.
eral ''get-up" that evening, and paused
moment before opening the door OF
the drawing room, from which came a
low murmur of voices.
"Wondcr what she's like?' he
thought, turning the knob, and finding
himself submitting to kiss on either
cheek from his aunt with laughing pro-
test.
Il say"' he exclaimed, holding her
off; "this is effusive. Bat, auntie, you
bloom like a midsummer rose, and I'm
awfully glad to see you"
"You ought to be, when I've come a
hundred miles to let you see me-" his
aunt replied, 'and l brought young
friend with me. Ditha, my dear, this
is the nephew of whom told you.
Jack, let me present you TO Miss Fitz-
gerald.
"Overjoyed," said Jack, taking the
white hand held out to him, and the
girl gave him laughing, roguiSh look
from pair of the bluest eyes he had
ever seen.
"Recognizable on sight from your
very accurate description of him, Mis-,
Trewson," said sweet, girlish voice,
which, somehow, made Jack feel as
though he had known the owner all his
life.
And then he was leading her in to
dinner, and could quietly take survey
of his companion without any danger of
being thought rude.
She had masses of reddish brown hair
which was waved and drawn back in a
loose, graceful coil at the back, while a
few soft ringlets fell over the white
forehead; eyes as blue as violets, full of
laughing light and heavily fringed with
reddish-brown lashes; sweet, spirited
lips, red as a cherry; a complexion fair
ly dazzling in its pure pink and white,
and slender, willowy form, which the
simple white dress she wore set off to
good advantage.
Perfectly lovely!' Jacks thought;
aloud, he followed something she
had been saying about his finding it dull
living so far from the city.
"Dull?" he repeated; mot exactly; !
read a little, you know, boat little,
fish little and ride great deal. Do
you rfde?"
''Do ~" she began with enthusiasm;
then, dropping her eyes demurely, "a
little"
"Then wen try a daily canter,"
Jack said, forgetting his uncle's adj
monition. "If you are timid we can
furnish you with a very gentle piece of
horse flesh"
"Thank you," Ditha said, an amused
sparkle in her eyes, and then she spoke
to Mrs. Trewson, and general conver
sation ensued, bright and sparkling, Of
ten interrupted by laughter, which last
ed through the whole meal.
GLOW do you IKE JackP" Mrs. Trew-
son asked Ditha, when they were alone
in the drawing-room. The girl laughed
merrily.
VERY well, indeed" she answered.
"We are to ride tomorrow, and he of
fered me the gentlest piece of horse
flesh in the stabler' and again she
laughed merrily.
"Hushr' her companion whispered,
''here they are" as Jack and his uncle
entered. Snow, Ditha, "she continued,
"go and sing for Jack. want to have
a long talk with my brother-in-law.
And Jack offered his arm to the girl
and led her to the other end of the
long room where an elegant piano stood.