Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-07-16

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quite innocently.
She has evidently not seen 1.-THE Mi
kadO," This is really a new and delight
full amusement young Brown has discov-
cred, aud none can say how far he might
have pursued the subject had he not been
suddenly interrupted.
Mrs. Smith, missing Sallie from her
side, gives her an imperious summons to
join her. She has not quite made up her
mind that she approves of these chats
with Mr.. Brown.
Sallie obeys reluctantly. Her mother
IS conversing with some one else, and
she has no opportunity of protesting or
mentioning her news.
'Ma, / want to go in and speak to
ILL minute" she says hastily, as they
pass Judge Farnham's door. AMI with
out waiting for permission, she enters
and communicates the intelliience to
her "most intimate friend"
Miss Farnham is of less gentle and
credu,ous nature than Salie, and stoutly
declares: II don't believe it,"
''Oh, but it must be true. Lem Brown
told me- And now shall have to run
home, for ma won't like me to stay"
The ball thus started rolls swiftly on
ward, and before night there are few
people who have not heard that Profes.
sor Moncure Conrad, Mrs. Longs
nephew, had married Japanese wife.
Some even averred that anybody could
tell it was so to look at her, and dis
covered unmis:akable Orientalism in her
hair and eyes.
Mr.. Thompson Black, a visitor in
town, lounging at the court house corner,
hears the tale Thououh he has not men
toned it before, he hal college az
quaintance with Moncure Conrad, and
owes him a grudge His own college
record has not been of the fairest, and he
well remembers sharp reproof for
some misdoing he once received from the
said Conrad. 1t has ranked in his
mind ever since, but he has never had
any chance of repayment. married
Japanese wife, did hel" he says to his in
formant. "Like enough he's left two or
three others behind him in Japan.
knew Conrad at college -signifcantly
1t is but the dropping of an idle word,
but it has its effect.
Bromley is startled; Eromlcy hesitates.
This is Queer story about Mrs. Longs
nephew's wife, isn't it3" says Mrs. Jones
to Mrs. Parker. OF course, if she had
beel staying anywhere but at Mrs. Longs
we should all have called on her before
we had chance to hear any stories
about her. But now-do you think we
ought to go2"
"My husband says it's all stuff; he
don't believe a word of it," SAYS Mrs
Parker, with little sigh; ''but it is very
uncomfortable.
Meanwhile the object of so much dubi-
tation is to be seen driving and walking
around town and over the beautiful
mountain roads in unconscious inno-
cence.
At lst Mrs. Long begins to wonder a
little vaguely why no more visitors have
called upon her guests. Judge and Mrs.
Farnham have left cards, but she was
not well enough to see them that after
noon, and Moncure and his wife were out
dri ing.
DO you know, Pen," said the young
husband they were out for an afternoon
drive) 81 have taken great fancy to
that little house up on the hill beyond
Aunt Catharine's, and I think I should
like 10 take it and spend the summer
here. How would it strike you2 Fa-
vorably"
Mrs. Conrad hesitates. 'It is a beau
tiful pace" she says.
"Yes, but that's hardly an answer to
my question"
well, the fact is, Moncnre, the peo-
pie stare at me so don't know what to
make of it, and feel as if l could not
stand it,"
"Your dark beauty is so attractive,
my love-" her husband says, with little
laugh.
"Nonsense!" she answers, laughing
too. "But I'll make you notice it the
next time we walk down the street"
And so she does Even the small boys
turn and run after her.
at will only be nine days wonder,
my dear, )" he remarks; but he is little
annoyed as well.
Mrs Long is so charmed with the sug.
gestion about the little cottage that she
valves aside all objectio s. ooh, Pencil
ope, my dear, am sure you will like
the place and the people aud everything
after you get to feel at home here; it will
he delightful to have you settled near
me even for short time" Aud Pencil
ore, seeing that her husbands heart is
somewhat set on it, makes no further OBJ
lection.
So the little house, which is partly fur
nished. is rented, and they begin to ar
range it. At one side is long narrow
room, with la"ge glass windows and
blinds, which has in times past been used
rs a sort of conservatory. Mr.. Conrad
has it covered with mating, and dcdica-
ted to another purpose. His wife sits
down on low stool, and he throws him
self on the mating beside her, billiard
cue in his hand, and falls to discussing
their plans, quite unconscious of an OBJ
server.
Jimmy Parker is peering through the
blinds The japanese lady has became
an object of deep interest to him, and he
pursocs his researches indefatigably,
often at imminent risk of discovery and
punishment. At last Mr. Conrad rises,
and this scares him away, and presently
he is telling an excited tale to an inter
ested ring of small boys
Jimmy! didn't see 'em both sitting
on their floors Just as my mother says
they do to home in Japan, and with their
big eating stick they call 'em chop
sticks'-in their hands!"
Il don't believe YER" says the audi
ence.
81 tell you it's true, and they're yard
or two long,
Now Jimmy had been brought up in
family with the strictest code of morals.
was quite ignorant of billiard table or
its uses, and never having even pceped
into the lower regions of the Denham
Hotel, on Court Street. had not so much