The Washington critic., 1888-04-07
"(OMING herer' exclaimed
Nat Ellis in astonishment,
" as he took his seat nt the din


Nat Ellis in astonishment,
~ as he took his seat at the din
ner table. "Those rich people from
New York coming to spend the sum-
mer at this ridiculous old tumble
down farmhouse Why, mother,
what can you be thinking Off"
Nov, that's just like you, Ma
thaniel, to be running the old place
down as if it warn't bigger than hen
coop. l want to know II there amt
ten nice rooms in the house, and four
spare beds. since Matilda and her man
went to Bosting? / want to know
that? 1t may look old and shaky on
the outside, but it's just rs comfortable
on the inside as any house."
81 know it, mother. l was only
thinking that if these people are so
rich they will expect something more
than comfort-they will expect the
luxuries of Brussels carpets, elegant
sofas and lace window curtains"
Brussels iiddlesticksl Lace yer
granny's night cap! Lor' bless you,
Jedge Carlisle was here himself this
morning"
WAS he? didn't see him."
You was In the field"
''Did he see the rooms?"
Yes; your father and showed him
over the house,"
And he wants to come ?''
He do, and his daughter, as well.
He says to me, says he, Miss Ellis,
my daughter will be right down glad
to come"
''His daughter p'
There's three on 'em comin'; the
Jedge and his daughter and another
man named Vincent. And / hope
you'll spruce up bit and try to be
right pert while Miss Carlisle is here,
for they do say she has growed up to
be mighty fine lady since l last see
her, ten years ago The Jedge sets q
heap by his gal. Lor' bless you, of all
the schools that gals been to body
couldn't begin to tell; drefful sight
caddamies and cemeteries and the
Lord knows what not. But they say
she aint stuck upa bit.
Nat smiled, but felt very uneasy at
the prospect of having a trio Of idle,
exacting city people about the farm
all summer.
Old Farmer Ellis didn't trouble
himself about the matter, one way or
the other. But Nat was young edu-
Gated and sensitive, and knew
enough about people of wealth and
station to despise the whole lot of
them as a supercilious, purse-proud
class, wlro- regard poverty as one OF
theInpardonable crimes.
Inespite of this, however, the sum-
merboarders came-at an unexpected
hour, when Nat was working in the
field. He had fully intended to act
upon his mothers suggestion and
spruce up bit in honor of the ar
rival, but being completely taken by
surprise, his plans were upset.
This is how it happened: Just after
sunset, as Mrs. Ellis was exhibiting u
bed of pet crocuses to Miss Carlisle in
the garden, Nat suddenly burst into
view round the corner of an arbof,
carrying q hoe overhis shoulder. He
came-to standstill and stared at the
sight that met his gaze, while his
hand sought the brim of his old
straw hat.
He .saw5a tall graceful figure, in a
blne silk princess enveloped in q haze
of blue gauze; he sawa pair OF won
derfnl blue eyes, and the fairest face
ilo Afdtl' ttNCI HbChtfdy Mttti IL tbdEo VI
golden hair arranged tastefully on
the .shapely head. Then he became
suddenly aware that his mother was
introducing him.
"Your servant, ma'am," he stam-
mered, with a low bow; ami then he
strobe blindly on toward the house,
stumbling over everything that lay
in his way, and making as much
noise as q drunken man as he went
laundering up stairs to his room.
Il didn't expect to see such q
beautyp' muttered Nat, beginning to
breathe again. "Whew ! she's a
regular queen Just my luck to
meet her in tins plight, looking my
worst ] suppose acted like con
founded fool"
Nat prepared to array himself in
his best suit, and giving his dark,
silky moustache holiday twist, as he
called ii, he went down and was pre-
sented to the guests with q grand
flourish by his proud mother
II hehad thought Sybil Carlisle n
queen when he met her IN the garden,
he thought her a goddess tonight in
the light Of the parlor lamps; she
was so sparkling and vivaciOus; so
witty, so dstractingly lovely.
Judge Carlisle was q iovial, talka-
tive old gentleman, with an. mex
haustihle store of knowledge, which
he seemed to take great pleasure in
airing for tiie edihcation Of his
hearers.
About Mr.. Clarke Vincent there
was something to attract more than q
passing notice from any one Tall
and well-proportioned, with the easy
politeness of a man of the world
there was that in every detail of his
personal appearance, from the white
rrayat down TO the low-cut shoes and
silk stockings, that bespoke him o