Evening star., 1886-12-04


was 'bleeged ter follow Marse Hamilton ter hab
some splanation n tell how he'd done glib up Miss
Alice's pa n de Kunnel dey bot tended her fob
Marse Hamilton fom de fus' Sah ," her eyes rolled,
her voice became hoarse whisper, II DON know
nufin Ise old black fool But you see dat ar 1tty
bit bunch er dead o'nge blossoms under de glass
shade in Marse Hubert's room? Denis de fiowes
dem onct m1ten she had de right to ,Uear 'en,.
| Hush-h. De Kunnel dom know hit; nobody know
hit any mo-, On'y Miss Antnette, m Miss Alice n
me-"
| "Know what?" asked
| ''Nuffin." and she frowned.
81 should like to meet these gentlemen, Def
ance."
'Hope ez you may, sah," and she rose hurriedly,
as one dismissing subject into which she had
| 'tShall see them to-day?"
| "Whah at?"
'.Here in Paradise Hail. Are they not expected
to-day"
defiance" pursued, 81 do not mean to ques-
| table
| ''Dat amt muffin, nohow; we alters does dat"
| "What has become of Colonel Featherley'S sonS?"
In terror the woman shrank from me, away over
| to the piano at which she clutched with one hand,
while her other hand was raised between her
dusky face and the watchful eyes in the picture.
| 81 dahsent! l dahsent!" she whimpered; 1t
| would be de las er de Kunnel-nObody dahsent,
not eben Miss Alice. Ise ben talkin too much
| Hyah's de Kunnel; Ise 'bleeged ter go. Fob de
LOhds sake dom tell er single soltry wOd ISe done
tole yer, sah-Ise terrible old fool.Ise not ter be
1
| She hurried from the room, as the Colonel came
in with mortified apologies for his neglect of me.
window and suggested walk on the piazza.
ga little further than that for me-" said. 81
| shall go on to Akers.'
"Not until after supper Mr.. Althrop, not until
after supper. We, Madame Featherley and !, could
not entertain such proposition The roads IDS ~ VIII
be dsghuyg y th ga dy 6y 6, tx 6 heaa
| that way. 'It is Miss Tyrrell."
Miss Tyrrell !-Captain Hamiltons iance!
rrN--r vNiov ,nY, ,ry-Q
| reached there; the Colonel walked me up and
down, his chatty manner strangely disturbed,
| the hall door. Did he then, know as much as his
wife and Defiance knew about the cOquettish
beauty who had laid two affectionate brothers by
| We trod the piazza till the gong sounded, while
the sun was veering to the west and each tree
was vocal with the songs OF many birds.
Madame was not in the hall when we entered.
The Colonel, STOPPING little more than usual, or
so 1t appeared to me, led the way to the supper
room. He went to lady seated between the two
vacant places, opposite my side OF the epergne.
"My dear Miss Alice."
GLOW do you do, Colonel Featherley?" returned
Madame at the end Of the table, smiling and
fair to see, now spoke:
'Mlss Tyrrell, our guest, Mr. Althrop;"
Colonel Featherley moved aside, and was face
to face with the original Of the miniature in Capt.
Hamtons room-a dried woman OF forty or more
years, whose low broad brow heldtwO unbeautiful
corrugationS; whose hazel eyes glittered with
light that frightened little beyond their Ovals;
Wm slim Sy srabe h tetn ea nd
1atlre indeed, but with all the SoftneSS and girl
1ShneSS rubbed away.
The Colonel had the bearing of a timid and con-
tritiOuS man, his wife at the other end of the
table sending him reassuring smile now and
then-frail little Madame who controlled the Of
Tended woman seated between the empty chairs
OF the sons OF the house; for when Miss Tyrrel be-
gan cOntemptuOuS rejOinder to some statement
the Colonel had made, Madame Featherley merely
tence was not finished the thin lips hattening into
vanquished smile.
Miss Tyrrell'S bearing toward Defiance was more
deferent1al yet; and once when the negreSS offered
her something from the table, her fingers all
sparkling with jewels went up and pressed the
scanned ebony hand that held the proffered dish.
And then near the close OF the meal as Defiance
presented glass OF water to the lady, the salver
tilted, and away went the glass to the floor where
1t broke in pieces. Colonel Featherey grasped the
sides OF his chair.
~ hope our guests will pardon me, he said.
And then sternly, ''Defiance, are you aware that
that glass was one of the set which Captain Ham,
1lton gave to his mOther?"
Miss Tyrrell slowly looked at him.
''EXcuse me, Col Featherley," she drawled;
s.the glass was one OF those which Mistress
Featherley allowed me to present to her last
presumably, safe; Here mammy?" She laid a
bank-bill in the Old woman's hand. "YOu can re-
pair the injury to your sensibilities."
81 don nebber mean ter impair muffin ter my
sensibleness, Marse Kunnel," cried Defiance; II
don mean foh ter keep hit and laid the bill be-
side Miss Tyrrels plate.
The lady smiled
II should scarcely have expected from 'Grandi-
SON. Featheriey such small appreciation of my
consideration for servants feelings" said She
and with her silver fork daintily lifted the bill
TO her plate where she minced 1t into shreds,
speaking In her provoking manner all the time.
She had not deigned to notice me since my pre-
sentaton to her. but On laying aside her knife and
fork she said across the table:
''IoU are from the North sir, / believe"
''MiSS Alice." the ColOnel'S voice was firm.
She impatfently tossed her head
fhrnn in hn pncfa
some years ago, between your part Of the world
and ours, which side OF the argument did you
make your Own?'
"Really, Miss Alice" the Colonel began while
madame ratified the teaspoons In the holder
-Really, Col. Featherley,' retaliated Miss Tyr-
rell, 81 am Infringing upon none of your preroga-
tives. Mr.. Althrop, Col. Featherley, like my de-
ceased father, belongs to period that Is back of
you and me; decade OF mannerisms and form.
While you are his guest he would no more ques-
ton your antecedents than he would deny a crust
TO beggar In the quarters. Yet, after you had
left his house should he discover that you or yours
were deficient in those qualities which he con-
SlderS essential to the formation OF q gentleman's
character he would refuse to recognize you again,
even though you had been a year within his
walls and at times his favorite companion-to
whom he had impaired his most sacred family
secrets"-the last part Of her speech directed to
the Colonel, at whom she shot Sharp glance.
"Alce! murmured Madame's sweet voice, and
Miss Tyrrell, Struggling her shoulders arranged at
the collar OF her gown single orange blossom
which she took from the epergne.
Madame made movement which put an end to
aWkWardneSS, and we arose. In the presence OF
Miss Tyrlell the Old people did not offer to detain
me as made my farewells then and there-rare-
well words spoken hurriedly, for had now become
anxious TO leave the radius OF their sorrow, what
ever its nature might be; and Miss Tyrrell forced
the anxiety.
In the hall when we came to the drawing-room
door looked in at the pictures over the mantel-
piece. The brilliant afternoon light Hooded the
apartment and made the painting dull and fiat:
but the eyes looked down as ever calm and ObSery.
ing, ray OF sunshine straying across the hand OF
the younger boy, holding, doubtful and timid to
the bold protection OF his brothers arm.
''StOp" claShed the voice OF Miss Tyrrell who
all the way had been arranging her orange bios
som. ''StOp!' knew that she designed further
onslaught on the Colonel. ''YOu are no longer
Col. FeatherleyS guest; you have said Fare
well! Pray answer the question l put to you
SIR;
With a stride the Colonel had left his wife's side
and had his hand upon my shoulder:
''ThiS gentleman is still under nv roof, he
thundered; "he IS my guest while he is upon an
inch OF my ground and my ground extends a mile
each way around my house."
Miss Tyrrell laughed and turned to Madame
"COme." she said tenderly, so suddenly tender
as TO be startling. "Come. shall we not 90 noW?n
She took light shawl that hung on q set OF
antlerS and arranged 1t about Madame soltcitons
not to crush the lace on the stiff robe
The Colonel buttoned his coat and pulled up his
satin stock. f ~
81 am still your host Mr. Althrop,n he said in his
1rm manner; ALLOW me TO accompany you little
way on your Journey
His wife and Miss Tyrrel had gone out on the
piazza before us Up against the side OF the house
rested two wreaths OF fresh flowers one OF bright
@ red roses, the other OF pale orange buds-brfdal
blossoms.
Defiance, as though it was no unusual thing for
her to do, strung the garands upon her arm aited
for us to pass and fell in the rear
MISS Tyrrell turned and seeing me with the