Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1889-10-17

lily, blown hlther and thlther by the
wind, that howled lugubriously
through the gorges of the hills, and
ht last, as twilight was settling down
over the stormy earth, and Louise
was sitting thoughtfully before the
fire, John came in with the message:
"Miss Louise" said he, ''there's
two gentlemen, rain-bound, outside !;
pears they've missed their way, and
their horses is tuckered out, and it's
full ten mile round, bein' as the
Chestnut bridge is washed away on
the main road, and they want to
know if we can't give 'em a nights
shelter. 1 told 'em Mis- Carlisle
was sick, and want boss, but l
would ask the young lady what does
the work."
Louise involuntarily WINGED lit
tie, and then laughed at Johns un-
polished language.
"Of course they may come in"
she said. 81 would not turn a dog
away from the door such night as
this"
But imagine her amazement when,
turning to welcome the strange gen.
tlemen, she beheld in them no stran-
gers at all, but Mr.. Philip Marion
and Mr.. Max Hubert, literally
drenched with rain, their noses red
dened with the cold wind. They
stood blankly regarding her, but
Louise, fully mistress of the situa-
tion, went forward with the grace of
a young duchess.
"Good evening, gentlemen. Pray
come little nearer the fire. hard
ly supposed that in the storm-b bound
strangers who sought shelter here 1
was to welcome old acquaintance.
/ am glad, however, to be of service
to you. John, will you see that the
gentlemen's overcoats are attended
to at once? They are indeed drench-
ed."
"Oh, Miss Raymond exceedingly
glad to see you, am sure" STAN
mered Mr.. Marion, as he awkwardly
permitted his frog Like hand TO touch
hers, "but, if l may inquire, what
may you possibly be doing in such a
place as this"
Didn't John tell you?" she ask
ed with demure innocence; II am
dong the housework here"
"Miss Raymond"
"Well, why not?''
But Mr.. Marion had no reply
ready; he only rubbed his hands and
smiled feebly, as he advanced toward
the red blaze, while Max Hubert
was in turn exchanging his greet
ing.
cit is a surprise, Miss Raymond,
to see you here, he said, frankly,
"and very agreeable one."
And way down In her heart Louise
wondered what new kind of gallan-
try had taken away all Max Hube1t's
awkwardness.
"It's as good as play" she felt
gleefully when Mr.. Hubert had ex-
planned, that unexpected business
had taken them across the country,
thus bringing about such an entirely
unanticIpated meeting. She had
gone into the kitchen to get cream
for the table, and as she stood there
skimmlng off the golden accumula-
ton, she heard Marion's voice.
"Of course old Raymond has fail
ed and they have lost everything,
else she wouldn't be here: What a
pity! for with that face of hers she
might of married WELL"
"And what is to prevent her from
marrying well now?" Max Hubert
answered slowly and deliberately.
"My dear fellow, we must all look
out for the main chance. In fact, /
was once little gone myself, but Of
course that's out of the question,
7aoaO.'
And Louise, as she stood there
with burning cheeks, was glad,
somehow, that Mr.. Hubert made no
reply.
When she came back to preside at
the tea table, with John Democrat
calIy seated at the lower end, she
was as composed as ever.
For two days the raln-storm con-
tinued with unabated violence, dur
ing which time Mr.. Philip Marion
yawned over the week's-old newspa-
per, and Systematically ignored Miss
Raymond's presence.
"For fellow must not get him
self entangled," he reflected, men,
tally
But Max Hubert reasoned quite
otherwise. He haunted Louise's
footsteps with lover-like persistency,
and, somehow, although Louise de-
clared ''he was a nuisance" she
rather seemed to like it.
IN tba third dow tha vaather clear