Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-09-14

cabin further aft. At first Augusta de
INJURED to this, not from any love of tho |
lady's maid but because she had truly |
British objection to being ordered about. |
Captains orders, miss, said the man,
touching his cap again, and she yielded.
Nor had she any cause to regret doing
so; for, TO her huge delight, she found !
herself moved into charming deck cabin
on the starboard side of the vessel, some
little way abaft tho engine room. 1t was
evidently an officers cabin, for there,
over the head of the bed, wgs the picture
of the young lady he adored and also
some neatly fitted shelves OF books, a rack
of telescopes, and other seamanike con
trivances.
"Am to have this cabin to myself?'
asked Augusta of the steward.
yes, miss; those are the captains
orders. 1t is blr. Jones' cabin. Mr..
Jones is the second officer; but he has
turned in with MIR. Thomas, the first
officer, and given up the cabin to YOU
II am sure it is very kind of Mr..
Jones, murmured Augusta, not knowing
what to make OF this turn of fortune.
But surprises were not to end there. A
few minutes afterward, just as she was
leaving the cabin, a gentleman in uniform
came up, in whom she recognized the
captain. lie was accompanied by pretty,
fair haired woman, very becomingly
dressed
Excuse me; Miss Smthers, believer"
he said, with bow.
"Yes."
81 am Capt. Alton. hope you like
your new cabin Let me introd-co you
to Lady Ilolmhurst, wife of Lord Holm
hurst, the New Zealand governor, you
know. Lady Holiinurst, this is Miss
Smithers, whose BOOK You were talking
SO much about"
"Ohl | am delighted to make your
acquaintance, Miss Smithers," said the
great lady in a manner that evidently
was not assumed. Capt. Alton has
promised that shall sit next to you at
dinner, and then we can have good talk.
| don't know when | have been so much
delighted with anything as | was with
your book. | have read it three times;
what do you think of that for busy
woman
Il think there is some mistake" said
Augusta, hurricdly and with q slight
blush. Il am second class passenger
on board this ship, and therefore cannot
have the pleasure Of sitting next to Lady
Holmhurst."
ooh, that is all right, Miss Smithers, {"
said tho captain, with a jolly laugh.
You are my guest, and | shall take no
denial"
when we find genius for once in our
lives we are not going to lose the oppor-
tunity of sitting at its feet, added Lady
HolmhurSt, with q little movement to-
ward her which was neither courtesy nor
bow, but rather happy combination of
both. The compliment was, Augusta
felt, sincere, however much it exaggerated
the measure of her poor capacities, and.
putting other things aside, was, coming
as it did from one woman to another, pc
cuiarly graceful and surprising. She
blushcd and bowed, scarcely knowing
what to say, when suddenly Mr.. Nelson's
harsh tones, pitched Just now in re-
spectful key broke upon her ear. Mr.
Meeson was addressing no less person
than Lord Holmhurst, G.. c. NJ. G.. Lord
Holmhurst was n stout, short, dark little
man, with somewhat pompous manner
and kindly face.
Il was repeating, my lord" said the
harsh voice Of Mr. Meeson, that the
principle of hereditary peerage is the
grandest principle our country has yet
developed. 1t gives us something TO look
forward to. In one generation we make
the money; ia the next we take the title
which the money buys. Look at your
lsrdsLnp. Your lordsEip is now in q proud
position, but, as | have understood, your
lordship's father was trader like me"
'Hum!-well not exactly, Mr.. Neeson, "
broke in Lord HolmhurSt. Dear me,
wonder who that exceedingly nice look,
ing girl Lady liolmhurst is talking to
can be?'
Nov, your lordship, to put case, "
went on the remorseless Meeson, who,
like most people of his stamp had an al
most superstitious veneration for the
aristocracy, Il have made IA great deal of
money, rs do not mind telling your lord
ship. What is there to prevent my sue
cessor-supposing | have a successor
from taking advantage of that money,
and rising on it to a similar position to
that Sc worthily occupied by your lord
ship"
Exactly, Mr.. Mccson. A most excel
| lent idea for your successor. Excuse me,
but | see Lady Holmhurst reckoning to
me- And ne fled precipitately, still fol
lowed by Mr.. Meeson.
John my dear, " said Lady Nolmhurst,
Il want to introduce YOU to Miss Smith
ers-the Miss Smithels whom we have all
| been talking about and whose book you
| have been reading. Miss Smithers, my
! husband"
Lord uolmhurst bowed most politely,
and was proceeding to tell Augusta, in
very charming language, how delighted
hs was to make her acquaintance, when
Mr.. Messon arrived on the scene and per,
ceived Augusta for the first time. Quite
taken aback at finding her, apparently
upon ia best of terms with people of such
| quality, he hesitated to consider what
course to adopt, wherein Lady Holm
hurst. in q somewhat formal way, for she
was not very fond of Mr.. Meeson, mis-
taking his hesitation, went on to intro
duce him. Thoreupon, all III moment
as we do sometimes take such resolutions
Augusta came to q determination. Sh,
would have nothing more to do with Mr.
Messon-she would repudiate him ther
and there. come what would of it.
So, as he advanced upon irr with out
stretched hand, she drew herself up, anC
in q cold and determined voice said: 81
already know Mr.. Meeson, Lady Holm
hurst, and do not wish to have anything
more to do with him, Mr. Aeeson has moi
behaved well to mo.
"'Pon my word. murmured Lord Holm
hurst to himself, Il don't wonder she has