Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-29
THE DEANS SISTER.


days OF modification 10 the ordinary
guests at Durnsford's. For few hours
the white corner house with the green
shutters ia given up to Babel. A crowd
of people. fassily important because
they are bound 10 the Eas; or from the
East, pour into the hotel. talking loudly
in the passges--about Shepherds or
Colombo---and driving into corners the
timid residents, to whom yesterday
Durnsford's was home. They engross,
these newcomers, the ialousied windows,
they mouopolize the shady balconies,
and standing on these tnrn up their noses
even at Government House. AS FOR the
luncheon table. they swoop down upon
il like harpies, and drive the walters
crazy. Beppo resigns himself 10 tears
Angelo, man OF sterner stud, locks
himself in the china closet, and utters
dainty oaths in lingua Francas&
All this occurs on an aversEe once a
week and as often the hotel lions, with
certain exceptions, become lions couchant
and PEASANT On certain Friday in last
February the storm ragged about the
house with quite phenomenal fury and
there were two exceptions, and two only.
They were the Dean OF Dromore and his
daughter Ii was strange. No one took
their places No one opened the VIM
dow behind them or snstched away the
dish while their hands hung fsteful over
the ripest mandarin, or did any of the
things to them which drove common peo-
ple-nay, even Lady BRITT and her
uiece--to beat an early retreat.
But then the Dean was one OF a thou
sand; q man OF portly, handsome
presence, tall, fresh-colored, clean
shsyen. HIS manner srnacked OF Eton
and command. Blue-jackets and ma
rines looked after aim in the street, and
the former spoke of him as THAT there
king" At the Union Club il was whis-
pered that good judges had taken him
for President Grevy. the Cardinal Legate
lin muftibus), and the Bishop OF Gibral-
tar. 1t was certain that he had conde-
seconded 10 the Governor and set the
Admiral night on point of tactics.
Even now, as he sat chatting with an
old friend who had come in by the
Surat, he had an indulgcnt smile for the
saturnalia that reigned about him. But
he was otherwise unmoved by it. "And
80 you are going TO India for another
spell of duty p be was saying.
Yes, it is better than being laid on
the shelf" the Colonel replied. "And
you? You are taking life easily, I sup
pose? How long have You been here "
His eyes strsyed as bespoke TO some one
sitting opposite him.
Chow long ?" the Dean said, noting
the direction OF the glance with covert
place suits me. That is my daughter
You are looking at, by the way.
"She is, is she? Then you have an
uncommonly pretty daughter ! the old
soldier retorted bluntly. "Much trouble
with the subalterns, Dean ?"
The clergyman laughed softly. "No,
no. Not much. Mary is a good girl
very good girl"
"And that is your son talking to
herr"
my son?" with surprise. "Oh,
dear, MOI"
"Ahi !" replied the Colonel slowly, and
with a peculiar intonation, mot yet ."
The Dean shook his head in gentle re-
pudiation of the idea. But his eyes
twinkled.
"Who lie he ?" asked the other,
"He is brigade major here, Major
Observation-Disclosures Macdonald. "
cha A son of Lord Macdonald OF
Glenmore, is he not? Eldest son ,"
"Ye-es," the Dean admitted grudg-
ingly. al believe he is the eldest "
And if his friend chose to pat him on the
shoulder. and to chucNe somewhat
rudely, why he could not help it, For
this was no common colonel, but man
with half the alphabet before his name
or after ia man not lightly to be re-
pulsed. Yet, some seeing him, mean
and meagre little creature, paving the
Dean, and knowing nothing of all those
letters, went away sorrowfully, forced TO
think that even this hon had not escaped
with dew-claws uncut.
After lunch the guartette went out to
stroll on the Barracca. AS they passed
along the Strada Reale by the lace and
silver shops OF the Borgs many eyes fol-
lowed Mary Young, and endorsed the
gallant Colonel's opinion. Her face pos
sessed that shy brightness-not of the
eyes alone, for that you may find under
many an unsightly Maltese hood-which
is the charm of girl at once healthy
and sensitive. Her clear complexion,
perhaps her wavy brown hair, were her
fathers but tine soft lines of mouth
that seemed ever trembling on the verge
OF tears or laughter were her own. She
wore sailors hat and tight-ftting,
jaunty-tailed jacket, and she carried
stick.
For Major Macdonald, though he
twirled his moustache--it was reddish.
and his face was freekled-and swag-
gered little as no passed the club, he
made but poor show. tie had no
longer anvil OF his own, and the men at
the club window knew it. BE had lost
his heart, and Mary knew it. He had
nothing to say, and thought himself in
expressibly stupid. He made no resist
ance even when the Dean presently
shook him off; but went away to nope
alone. But courage, Major Perhaps
some one found the gallant veterans
wit and wisdom poor substitute for
your stupidity and was scarcely sorry
when the boat which bore his knightship
to his vessel Was lost among the score or
30 that were darling this way and that,
like 30 many gresn-and-blue dragon
flies at play on the rippling surface.
The father and daughter stood awhile,
looking over the quarantine harbor,
and debating whether they should pay
certain call at Sliems, the suburb beyond
il. They had inst decided TO do 30,
when Mary espied Davies the Deans SER
want, hurrying toward them. "What is
il ?" asked the Dean, when the man had
come up with them.
"Your sister has arrived, sir +" he re-
piled, breathlessly.
The Dean looked down at him a mo-
nenf, o faint expression of amusement
on his face T; and snch was the kindly
criticism OF his attitude that the painter
OF his portrait could have wished for no
better opportunity. 81 am glad" be
sid at last, in measured accents, I" / am
glad that you are not given TO gossip
ping, Davies"
nhA aevvanf innka1 astonisbe1 az we'll