, 1886-08-18

gap in their relations. 1t was while
wandering aimlessly around Europe ten
years later that Lancelot made up his
mind to return to America, and to visit
the home of his fathers.l The resolu-
ton once taken was acted upon with
almost feverish zeal. Now that
he had again shaken Halls hand, had sat-
isfed himself that the slim lad Of 10 was
still somewhere lurking behind the veil
OF adipose matter ~enshrouding the man
of %. Barksdale breathsd . long sigh Of
relief. As for the squire, he was one of
those guileleas natures content to take
things as they find him. Barksdale's for
eign airs excited in him wonder not un-
mixed with amusement. He fell to spec-
ulating over what the women would say
to the coming OF this importation Of fas-
tidious elegance into their impoverished
household. In old times Cherrycote had
never speculated; secur In homely
plenty. it had simply flung wide open its
doom and hidden the stranger in.
Suppose we walk the rest Of the way"
Barksdale said, springing with alacrity
from his mouse-trap of an equipage. II
have 8 much to say to you, Hal, 1 don't
know where to begin" % CIV nnlI.t .
Il don't walk much nowadays; but
still" said the squire. getting down in
rather a breathless fashion, and leading
the mule. followed by Pos and his spav-
ined steed. along . road cafpeted with
pine tags and bordered with wild honey
suckles. sFt f. .r4I-.
Il haven't asked you about your wife"
Lancelot said, when it appeared that the
question could nc longer in common
courtesy be deferred.
Kitty Why, she's splendid" said
the squire. heartily. And If you'll be-
lieve me, Lance. I've six young ones, all
girls. The old house is a full as ever,
but you'll find things down at the heel,
! reckon. The same story everywhere
hereabout: no money, poor labor, no re-
pairs; the women struggling with inefh-
Gent servants, worn-out furniture, worn
out clothes. But Kitty's temper don't
wear out, thank God! You've not for
gotten what a splendid girl she was,
Lancer
Il have not forgotten her in the least, +"
his brother answered, in a tone Of slight
restraint.
you must have been surprised to hear
l married her. When you left, I was
far gone in the direction Of Polly Rivers,
Of Rivers hall, you remember. Polly
played the devil with me; was engaged
to another fellow all the while she wore
my ring. l saw her last year at the Old
Sweet, and, by George, Lance, she's as
big round as a barrel, and has three
chins. Kitty, now, is slight, and has
kept her figure wonderfully. 1 didn't
lose much time in counting her after
Polly bounced me, did l? She was al
ways the jolliest little thing, was Kitty"
Lancelot thought Of the time when he
had last seen Kitty Morris, then a youth
full cousin of Mrs. Barksdale's, on a sum-
mer visit to Cherrycote. She was stand
ing in the deep grass of the old orchard,
under the cherry blossoms, in the spring OF
81. She was amere slip of q girl Their, with
large, dark eyes, and a weight Of dusky
hair upon her small, proud head. He
remembered the gown she wore, = sort
of full-bodied. thin white stuff, with a
sash Of crimson, and the trick she had
Of interlacing her small, brown south
ern fingers when she talked.
hCNCh4 A6a S4AC4 Ooty III
an impetuous treble, the sound of which
still echoed in his ears. -What l prom
ised was not to an enemy of my coun-
try. / would rather die than marry
you"
She had faced him bravely, d~eflantly,
two red spots flaming in her ordinarily
clear, pale cheeks, but there was q trem-
BILE in her voice as il she would have been
going to cry instead Of speaking.
Thus they had parted, and now Lance
lot was again to meet her as the wife OF
his half-brother. the mother of Halls six
girls. For a moment he felt like turn
ing back upon the threshold OF his
visit, but after poor little vaga-
servants quarters in quest of refresh
ment for man and beast, the two walk
ers struck into a well-remembered path
across the orchard leading to the house,
The cherry blossoms were again in
bloom, and there, under . green arcade
Of snow-laden boughs, was seen a merry
group Of ladies and children picking VIC
lets in the grass.
Lancelot caught one glimpse of Kitty,
recognizing her instantly. From the
girl Of II she had expanded into a splen-
did beauty of 81, 1.-THE and brown as
ever, with a rich color in her cheeks, not
in the least suggesting a matron OPP
pressed by many cares OF maternity and
housekeeping. Swarming over her
were a number of affectionate small
girls, and at a little distance sat Mrs.
Barksdale the elder, looking thin and
care-worn, engaged in conversation with
a lady whom he dimly recalled as an
other cousin Of the by-gone days, then a
coquettish parsonage with dimples, and
wonderful plaits Of hair worn in a crown
around her head. The dimples were
still evident, though the cheeks had
faded, but the abundant braids were
perceptibly thinner. rBarksdale took in
all these details, although he wondered
at himself for observing them in face Of
the immediate and powerful impression
made On him by the first view OF his
s~ister-in-law. The color had recedet
from his face, leaving him deathly pale
what is the matter with your" asked
Hal, ~innocently. mo doubt our Vir-
ginia sun has been too much after sucl
a confoundedly long walk. l say. Lance,
If you'd care to come into the dining
room and let me mix you a julep before
you see the ladies!" ID ls
Capital ideal" Lancelot found himself
answering, with = strong effort at self
control. He succeeded presently, and
while Hal hustled around among the do
c~anters, calling for ice and mint and
strawberries, stood battling with the
ghost OF his younger self. The trial had
been to the full as painful as he had OK.
pected. Often as he had presented Itself
to his imagination, the reality Of suffer.