Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-02-05

as soon as he gets home he turns round on the
doorstep and snaps at the servants | think
it must be his fun. You should see him sit
ting up in his chair at dinner time, waiting
to be helped, with his forepaw on the edge OF
the table, like the hands of gentleman at a
public dinner making a speech. But, OIL"
cried Isabel, checking herself with the tears
in her eyes, chow can talk of him in this
way when he is so tlreadfully ill! Some of
them say it's bronchitis, and some say it's his
liver. Only yesterday | took him to the front
door to give him a little air. and he STOOL
still on the pavement, quite stupetieti For
the first time in his life he snapped at nobody
who went by: and oh, dear, he hadn't even
the heart to smell lamp postp'
Isabel had barely stated this last affecting
circumstance When the memoirs of Tonruie
were suddenly cut short by the voice Of Lady
Lydiard- really calling this hnie-froil, the
inner room.
''Isab /! Isabel" cried her ladyship ''what
are you aoout!"
Isabel ran to the door of the boudor aud
threw it pen. Go in, sir! Pray go inl'
she sad
without you2" Hardynan asked.
2 sslazxi@ follow 80 sir.a hayo soa.tsth:as
to do for her iadyship first"
ouC ol1Ii utlo UIlt uOOl Opeti, duu poihb-u
entreatingly to the passage which led to the
boudoir. j shall be blamed, sir" she said,
IF you don't go in"
This statement of the case left Hardyman
no alternative. He presented himself to
Lady Lydiard without another moment of
delay
Having closed the drawing room door on
him, Isabel waited little absorbed in her
own thoughts.
She was now perfectly we'll aware of the
effect which she had produced on Hardyman
Her vanity, it is not to be denied, was flat
tered by his adnliration-he was SO grand
and SO tall, and he had such fine large eyes.
The girl looked prettier than ever she
stood with her head down and her color
heightened, smiling to herself A clock 90
the chimney piece striking the half hour
reused her. She cast one look at the glass
as she passed it, and went to the table at
which Lady Lydiard had been writing
Methodical Mr. Moody, in submitting to be
employed as bath attendant upon ToInnie,
had not forgotten the interests of his mis-
tress. He reminded her ladyship that she
had left her letter, with bank note inclosed
in it, unsealed. Absorbed in the dog, Lady
Lydiard answered: isabel is doing Moth
ing let Isabel seal it. Show Mr.. Hardyman
in here" she continued, turning to Isabel
and then seal letter of mine which you
will find on the table" "And when you have
sealed it," careful Mr.. Moody added, put il
back on the table; l will take charge OF it
when her ladyship has done with me-"
Such were the special instructions which
now detained Isabel in the drawing room
She Lit the taper and closed and sealed thu
open envelope, without feeling curiosity
enough even to look at the address. Mr.
Hardyman was the uppermost subject in her
thoughts Leaving the sealed letter on the
table she returned to the fireplace and stud
led her own charming face attentively in the
looking glass. The time passed, and lsabers
refe ton was still the subject Of lsabel's con
temptation He must see many beautiful
ladies'" she thought, veering backward and
forward between pride and humility. 81
wonder what he sees in mea'
The clock struck the hour Almost at the
same moment the boudoir door opened and
Robert Moody, released at last from attend
ance on Tonmie, entered the drawing ROOM