Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1889-11-17

Hope was not in happy frame OF
mind. She had heard (such news
travels FAST that wilmington P.
Gerrans," as his visiting cards labeled
him, was fabulously rich, and she re.
sented bitterly that he, stranger and
an American, should come with his
dollars to patch up the rents in the
family drapery. She was warm hearted
and generous, but she felt surprised
and almost jealous at the ease with
which Pauline, Clarissa and their
mother had taken a place in the So
ciety of the neighborhood, and she
fancied that their brother might sup
plant her father. She would have
fixed to refuse the invitation for the
evening, but she reflected that she
must meet her fathers tenant some
time; so she suffered herself to be
dressed by her mothers maid, and she
was amused to find the old servant
had chosen, for her, her freshest toilet
of soft silk and creamy lace, and had
arranged lovely sprays OF roses for
her hair and dress.
"Why. how grand you have made
me, Parkes" she said; "and where
did you get these fowers2 Is it to be
dinner party2"
IT don't know, miss, twas the reply;
"but they do have deal Of company;
the flowers came this afternoon from
the manor"
Hope was vexed. She had often
wished for some of the treasures Of
the greenhouses, but the girls did not
care for flowers, and it had never oc-
Cured to them to send her any, and
directly their brother arrived came
these rosesl She thought Mr. Gerrans
was of1cious. Her resentful feelings
did not last long, however, for no
sooner did the butler at the manor
usher her into the long, low, oak pan
eled drawing room, than they per
Standing IN front OF tne fireplace was
tall, broad shouldered man, in even
ing dress, looking as well in that
costume as an English gentleman does.
His dainty little mother, heap of soft
lace and crimson silk, was shaking
with laughter in large easy chair;
Pauline and Clarissa were sitting on
broad, low couch, and talking English.
Their voices, accent, the very pose OF
their heads, were altered, and they
rose and greeted her with the same
stiffness and want of animation that
most of her friends would have shown.
LET me present my brother to you, :"
said Pauline, softly.
gEhl ,,o,, howe crOs1od II now tO
laughed Mr.. Gerrans. San English
girl would have said Introduce, not
present, would she not, Miss Charl-
ton9"
ST think so, said Hope.
eve have been showing Whining
ton how easy it is to speak as you do, }"
said Clarissa, "and we shall surprise
our friends at home"
How will they like ita" asked Hope.
Not at al, !" was the reply; "you
do not know what the sound is in a
New York drawing room when q good
many girls are there for tea; they
screech and screech, like rusty car
wheels; and when I wade in with my
English they will pretend they cannot
hear. Wilmington don't like me to
say wade in,'S she added, relapsing
into her natural tones.
Hope spent a merry evening, and
was amused TO remember, as she took
the flowers from her hair, that she
had entirely forgotten Mr.. Gerran,s
wealth as well as his mpertinence.
Christmas passed pleasantly. Mrs.
Charlton was cheered and interested
by the visits of her tenant, for in the
course Of his extensive travels he had
visited Jamaica, and spoke hopefully
of the condition Of the country, tell
ing heri was extremely probable her
husband would Ind his excursion
sthiither proe lie and Dolhei
wifi with 81 sesrs D aes and Tom
.s;ffsxsu5, q ss3