The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-07


- ber with hot water. She had never
worn ono before, and it certainly IS trying
To nut On e. low dress for the first time in
full daylight-indccd sEo felt as guilty
as does a person of temperate habits when
he is persuaded to drink a brandy end
soda before getting up. However there
was no help for Il. SO, throwing shawl
over her shoulders, she descended
my dear, DO. let me see, said Lady
rrolmhurst. As soon as the servant had
left the room.
it'll sigh Augusta uncovered her
shoulders. and her friend ran around the
table 10 look al them. There, on her
back. Was the viii The cutie ink he'd
proved an cxcellcnt medium, and the
tattooing was IS frcshas the day on winch
it had been done. and would. 10 doubt,
remain so till tho last hour Of her life.
"Wef. said Lady lIolmhurst, Il hope
that the Young man Nill be duly grateful.
| should have to be very much in love,
and she looked meaningly at Augusta.
before | would spoil myself in that
fashion for any man.
Augusta blushed at the insinuation and
said nothing. AT 10 o'clock, just as they
vero half through breakfast, there came
a ring at the bell.
Here he is" said Lady Holmhurst.
clapping her hands well. If this isn't
the very funniest thing that ever heard
Of told Jones to show him in here.
Hardly were the words out Of her
mouth when the butler who looked as
solemn as a muto in bis deep mourning,
Il o,.I alHaffnTaH tfA Mr.
Eustace Meeson,' in those deep and com.
handing tones which flunkies, and
flunkies alone, have at their command.
There was a moments pause. Augusta
half rose from her chair, and then sat
down again; and, noticing her cmbmrass-
ment. Lady IIolmhurst smiled uali-
ciously. Then in came Eustace himself,
looking rather handsome. exceedingly
nervous. and beautifully got up-in
frock coat, with flower " it.
"Ohl how do you dor he said TO Au-
gusta, holding out his hand, which she
took rather coldly.
How do you do, Mr. Meesony she an
swered. let me introduce you to Lady
Holmhurst; Mr. Meeson, Lady Holm
hurst" Epstacc bowed, and put his hat
down on the butter dish, for he was very
much overcome.
Il hope that have not como too
carly" he said in great confusion, as he
perceived his mistake. II thought that
You would have done breakfast. "
"Oh, not at ALL Mr. Meeson, " said Lady
HoImhurst. Won't you have a cup Of
teal Augusta, give Mr.. Meeson a cup Of
tea"
He took the tea, which he did not want
in the least. and then there came an awk-
ward silence Nobody seemed to know
bow 20 begin the conversation.
How did you find the house Mr.. Me-.
on" said Lady IIolmhurst a. last Miss
Smithers gave you no address and there
are two Lady llolmhUrsts-my mother
in-law and myself.
"Oh, looked it ont. and then ] walkcl
here last night and saw you both sitting
az the window.
Indeed said Lady Holmhur-t And
why did you not come I'M You might
have helped toprotect Miss smitlers from
the reporters,
Il don't know, he answered CON
fusedlv. # did not like to; and besides,
a policeman thought | was a suspicious
character and told d.. 20 move on
Dear NE, Mr. M,oson; you must have
been having good look at us.
Here Augusta intcrp0sed. fearing lest
her admirer-t0r. vth an uncTlug ia
stinct. she now guessed how matters stood T
should say something foolish. a Young
man who is capable OF standing to stare
40 q house in Hanover square u.s. She
thought, evidently capable of anything.
Il was so surprised to see you yester-
day, she said How did you know that .
We were cOmingl
Eustace told her that he had seen IL in
The Globe. Il am sure you cannot have
been so surprised as | was, ho went on
II had made sure that YOU were drowned.
| went up 10 Birmingham % call on you
after you had gone and found that YOU
had vanished and let no address. The
maid servant declared that you had sailed
in a ship called the Conger Eel-which !
afterward found out was the Kangaroo. I
And then she went Down; and aftera long
time they published full list Of the
passengers. and yoIr name was not
among them. and thought that after all .
you might have got of the ship on some
thing Then, some days aftcrwerd, came
q telegraph from Albany, in Australia,
giving the names Of Lady Holmhurst and
the others who were saved and specially
mentioning Miss Sm,thers the novelist.
and Lord Holmhurst as being among the
drowned, and that is how the dreadful
suspense came to an END. IL wa1 awful,
can tell you"
Both the Young women looked al Eus-
faces face and sawt az there was 10 mis- F
taking the real nature OF the trial through
which he had passed So real wGs.it. that =
it never seemed 10 occur 10 him that there
was anything unusual in his expressing
such intense interest in the affairs 81 @
young lady with whom hc was outUardly
AZ any raie, on the serms Of mercst &c
quaintance.
1T was very kind Of you to think SO
much about me, said Augusta gently.
Il had no idea that yOu would eail again,
or would have left word where | was
going"
We'll. thank God You are safe and
sound. at any rate. answered Eustace;
and then, with a sudden burst of anxiety
You are not going back to New Zealand
just yet, arc you9'
u don't know ! am rather sick Of the
sea just now"
No, indeed, she is not said Lady
Holmhurst; she is going to stop with
~, a,.I MI No. Csc .. .. ..l Il. d..