The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-08-14


quieter place-my sister is coming to be
with me-"
81 am afraid there are no lodgings-at
least none that would be comfortable. The
New inn is the best, but it is full"
1--WE must be satisfied with the one we
are in, then" he remarked cheerily, land
/ dare say we shall do very web. had
no conception that anything so beautiful
and so absolutely unspoiled as Selswyke
was still to be found in this ironclad
country of ours. Oh, here's the train COM
ing. Thank you for giving me leave. |
hope 1 have not taken a liberty in asking"
''Oh, dear, no. am going to the station,
too, said the squire, who began to think
that it would look odd if he staid where
he was any longer.
"My sister and are alone in the world.
We have the misfortue-or perhaps l
ought to say fortune-to have no rela-
tions."
my mother and 1 are exactly in the
the same plight, and we have sometimes
the same difficulty in knowing whether it
is an advantage or a disadvantage" OBJ
served the squire, and never in his life
had he spoken so freely TO stranger, and
then he abruptly recalled himself to some
thing more like his usual reserve of man
ner. "See if there is a small parcel for me
in this train" he cried to the porter, to
supply motive for his appearance on the
platform. He staid by young Fairfax,
though he was quite sure he should not
like that sister. Seeing girl in rather a
fast-looking hat he felt certain that she
was agnes but turning to see If Fair
fax was gazing at her with eyes of affec-
ton, he found that he had darted off
to a third-claSs carriage, whence issued
1axlx 81
Internationally or so, looking very bust
ness-like, and eminently able to take care
of herself. She was prettily dressed, but
not by any means in the style of the
three or four young ladies who repre-
scented county society at Selswyke. Her
hair was light brown and curly, like her
younger brothers, and her brown eyes
looked out of rather a pale face, full of
spirit and character. She seemed lively
enough to have sent that telegram and a
great deal more beside, and the squire
was charmed And he would have to
watch her walk away with young Fairfax
and see no more of her. But would he +?
There was a difficulty about her luggage.
The solitary porter was so busy trying to
find what was not there for Squire
Rokewood that he would think of nothing
else.
81 must have the rest of my sisters lug
gage out, F" said Fairfax to the station mas
ter. Two trunks were already on the plat
form. "How many more has she BROUGHT"
wondered the squire, "and who is there
here to see her pretty dresses ??
Robin, it's all out but the book box
brought box of books" said Agnes.
jackson, attend to that lady" cried
the squire. 'Never mind my parcel. J"
But Agnes did not hear, and what the
porter regarded as the 'squire's mag
nanimity went for nothing.
PART II.
Other things engaged Squire Roke-
woods attention for some days, and he
had partly forgotten about Fairfax and her
sister, " hen one day, happening to be fish
ing in the mill-beck, he came upon some
thing that was decidedly abnormal in a
title wood which went by the name Of
Little Scroggs. 1t was a large, white
mushroom-like umbrella, and man was
sitting beneath it sketching, and by his
side, on the bank, was a young lady in q
blue print dress with some white about it.
as the squire himself would have said if
asked to describe it. ooh, the Fairiaxes!"
he thought. "That is where he asked
leave to paint, OF course" So he reeled
up his line, strobe out of the bed of the
stream, and looked Tor place where he
could get on dry land-a difficult thing to
find lust there, for the bank was cut short,
and ended in a wall descending straight
down into the water. Having succeeded
in landing by retracng his steps a little
he went to the FairfaXes, who as vet were
unaware of his presence, taking care to
approach in such a way as not to over
look the artists drawing Good morn
ing" he said; 81 won't disturb you
don't move, Miss Fairfax"
"My sister-Mr. Rokewood," said Fair
fax, perhaps intending to administer q
gentle reproof.
Mr.. Rokewood felt it so, and humbly
hoped that they were tolerably comforta-
bic at the inn and that it was not so noisy
as Mr.. Fairfax had feared.
Miss Fairfax shook her head. at really
is noisy" she said. II suppose the sailors
come" How pretty, how delightfully."-
pretty she was, but Mr.. Rokewood thought
her singularly indifferent to his presence.
| She was fastening lime leaves into each
other to make a wreath, az he had seen
German children do, and she went on
| doing it after the first words of greeting
had been said.
He was silent for minute or two, and
then said: 81 am thinking of an arrange
ment that might, perhaps, be made, but ]
am not sure that it would suit you.
would tell you about it, only am so afraid
| OF disturbing you" He was speaking TO
| Fairfax, but his sister looked up and said
You had better talk to me if there is
anything to arrange; he forgets TO listen
when his effect is on"
"Cool people, these" thought the
squire, but he only said: "Can you give
me an idea what accommodation you
| want?"
I'VE want two bedrooms and two sit
ting-rooms if we can get them, but we
| have only one sitting-room at the inn, and
could make one do in a new place"
"0h, then think it might do very
well" SAID be, dropping down on the
earth, which he never for moment for
got was his own property. with the air OF
man who needed no invitation to take n
seat.
Miss Agnes, though he was not very
near her, instlnctiyely moved a little fur
ther off.
1T is at my agents house," said the
squire. 81 never allow him to let rooms,
but will gladly make an exception in
your case.
She thanked bim-the sensation OF be-
ing thanked by any one so pretty was
very pleasant-and asked where the agent
lived "You know the Manor house p'
asked Mr. Rokewood. "'The agent lives
in the white house not far from tho lodge
gate"