The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-05-05
ord Glencore surmised must bt

"Pm so sorry. I thought it was only Freddy-I-" and then, better able to see who stood there, she gave vent to an agonized "Oh, Lord Glen core ]" and seemed unable to say more.
 Freddy, who was enjoying her con- fusion to the full, here burst in with, "Don't mind him; he's square enough, ain't you?"
 "Certainly am;" and then, turn ing to Peggy, he said: "I've never had the pleasure of seeing you here, have IF"
 "No."
 "But you've seen him, haven't you, Peg? And once don't you remember when the door opened up and scut- tied off and your frock caught and you tumbled down? Oh, say, what 8 game! It was a shaver we weren't caught that time."
 Poor Peggy's face was like beet root.
 "There wasn't anything to see," she said to Lord Glencore reassuringly :; Git really wasn't for that we looked, , but I-I was so curious to know what you were like;" and she gesticulated violently to Freddy behind Lord Glencore's back.
 "What's the harm?" responded the young gentleman expostulatively. "You'd do the same if you were packed off into cock-loft of garret, wouldn't you? That's what they do with her-stick her anywheres out of the way"
 "No, Freddy, mo-" Lord Glencore from out the corner of his eye saw her say, and, hoping to change the conver- sation, he said:
 'Pm afraid Pm making you lose the best of the day. I came in to see you start" Perhaps Peggy fathomed his kind effort, for she looked at him fairly for the first time.
 "Yes?" and she gave him little shy smile, "did you?"
 "1t's very pleasant, drive out of town now. Where are you going?"
 "To Richmond Park" answered the irrepressible Freddy. "Would you like to go too? We'll take you; there's heaps of room behind. Why-why shouldn't he?" This was evidently in answer to more pantomime from Peggy.
 "You don't want me-would rather I didn't go?"
 Lord Glencore had turned suddenly round and was asking this question of the young girl.
 "Oh, no; it isn't that, only Pm afraid -" and here Peggy stopped and blushed furiously. For a won der Glencore did not catch the com- plaint. Quite persuasively he said, ,"But do let me; it's what I should so enjoy"
 There was an instant's pause, and then they all began laughing; and good fellowship being thus estab- lished, some twenty minutes later the three, Lord Glencore behind, Freddy driving, and Peggy by his side, were on the road to Richmond.
 It might be tedious to retail all the folly that fell from the lips of this trio as under Freddy's guidance they persued their way. Their united years did not make up the sober age of sixty, and they had the spirits of school boys out for holiday. Lord Glencore had never felt so much at his ease before none of those who in so- ciety knew him would have recog- nized him as the same shy individual. The hours flew like minutes. It was five o'clock when they thought it three; and then to have looked at the time would not have occurred to any, body, only that Peggy, heaving a tremendous sigh, had supposed it would soon be time to think of re- turning home.
 The horse, that was SO good at going, we have omitted to state, had, at certain small hostelry, "Goat and Compass" by name, shown signs of rebellion. Stir from that door he would not, and Lord Glencore, to cut short the difficulty, had proposed that they should leave the brute there to get feed, while they took stroll in the park.
 Returning from this walk they passed the "Star and Garter"
 "I say, dinner in there wouldn't be half bad fun," said Freddy.
 "Oh, don't think so," replied Glencore.
 "Why, have you even been there?"
 "Yes, dined there twice this season with Lady Jane and your sister,"
 And chill ran through the young man as he recalled the dreariness of those solemn ordeals.
 "Ohw said Freddy, drawing in his back as if about to succumb, while Peggy burst out laughing. A bright inspiration came suddenly to Glencore.
 "Why shouldn't we stop here now" i" he said, "have dinner and go home after?"