The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-05-29

and then after all, oddly enough, here we
are''
And here we are, more oddly still, u
cried Mrs. Trafford, gaily.
In half an hour theV were quite in the
position Of old friends, and at last Mrs.
Trafford and Julia looked at one another
as a sort of signal that it was time for
them to go.
mo, don't look ut your daughter in
that way" said Mrs Markham, smiling,
because | hear the tea coming and also |
saw Bob and my brother pass the window
| moment ago. You really must not go
| till you have seen them
Nothing 10th Mrs Trafforl let herself
| slip back on to the settee again and Julia
put her pretty skirts into the prettiest
| folds possible. Then the door was opened
! and the powdered footman entered carry
| ing nice little bamboo table, followed by
a counterpart of himself carrying a large
brass tea-tray.
1t was an exquisite tea-tray-no, mean
that it was an eXquisitey served tea.
There was Il it'll" br is Kettle and lamp
matching the trAV eXacily-;t neat little
Queen Anne teapot, sugar-basin and
cream-jug, and pretty modern Derby cups
and saucers. Everything was neat and
bright and without the smallest attempt
at show or ostentation.
'Tell your MASTER" said Mrs. Mark
ham, in low voice to the first powdered
| person.
Really, Mrs. Trafford quite enjoyed that
footman, for he was I; person Of delight
full manners, just murmuring a reply and
bending his head little, then getting
gently out of the room with n sort of glide
-Ohl without doubt, admirS BILE as the good
Cox was, Mrs Trafford would have thor
oughly enjoyed the luxury OF really
well-trained fOOtman.
''In two minutes Mr. Markham came
in. Bob" said his wife. "this is Mrs
Trafford, to whom Colonel Coles gave us
q letter of Introduction, and Miss Traf-
fOrd''
Mr.. Markham went across the room to
Mrs. Trafford, and held out his hand.
Ppm plain Colonial, Mrs. Trafford," he
sal /, but if | am anything | am hearty.
And am glad to see you-reAl glad. 1t
is exceedingly kind of you TO come and see
us before we had time to present our letter
of introduction. But perhaps the Colonel
wrote to your"
NO" said Mrs. Trafford, with quite her
own little airy laugh, "we came because
we heard that you were charming people,
and because we always like to be on good
terms with our neighbors."
II am very proud to bill you welcome
here," said Mr.. Markham. ''althOu rh it is
not my own house. / shall be more happy
when can welcome ton ther'."
He had quite Il delightfully."- old-fash ION
| ed air of chivalrOns cOurtes and Mrs.
Tr4fford was greatly pleased With him.
He waited on her most attentiyely, and
| put the sugar in her tea with rs much care
as he might have done if she had been Il
queen, talking hard AL the time.
eyes. am COlOnist," he remarked.
| ''that is not an Australian, you know.
No, my wife is an Australian and my
brother-in-law. Australians think them
selves much greater swells than mere
Colonists-at least my wife does, know"
Mrs. Markham laughed. "How silly you
are Bob'' she said good-naturedly.
'Where is Stephen? / thought I saw him
with yOu just now"
$50 YOU did, my dear. He is coming in
| q minute Yes, here he isl
| In another moment Mrs Markham's
brother, the "Stephen" of whom she had
spoken, came in.
''Let me introduce my brother, Mr..
Howard" said Mrs. Markham.
Mr.. Howard went and shook hands with
Mrs. Trafford, and then with her daugh-
ter. "Stevie," said Mrs. Markham, "Miss
Trafford has no tea"
ooh! Pm so awfully sorry not to have
noticed it before" he said. in the real
Australian voicn. slow and pleasant. sis
Al r. IL
sister poured out another cup of tea.
Yes" said the lady, and then Stephen
Howard carried it carefully across to
Julia. and then went back for the cream
and the sugar and the cake-;lish, pretty
affair with three compartments in which
were respectively bread and butter, cake
and fine purple grapes.
my sister always has fruit with every
meal" he said II believe it isn't the
right thing in England-but we, you
know, are savages and may indulge our
whins."
Every delightful whims," said Julia,
helping herself to grapes and bread and
butter
Mr.. Howard fetched his. own cup and
sat down close beside her. "How good of
you to say that" he said $50 many peo-
pie dislike everything that is not quite
customary and make no pretence of hid
ing their dislike"
"Only disagreeable people," said Julia,
stirring her tea. 81 assure you, Mr.. How
ard, there are plenty of pleasant people in
Englaud-in Blankhampton for that mat
ter By-the-by, have you made any ac-
| quaintances here yet?'
Eyes, few. Mr.. and Miss De Lisle
were here yesterday"
''Oh, yes!'' Julia's tone was a little
frozen, for but three days before Nina De
Lisle had professed herself very doubtful
! if her mother meant to call upon the new
| Corners or not. 'Meant to have the first
chance ran Juiia's tn Oughts, as she
! looked at the handsome young man be-
side her.
"You live in the town, Miss Trafford, !"
he said, looking up quickly so that their
eyes met
Eyes," she answered-then suddenly
asked, "How did you know that we lived
in the town."
| Because l saw you in shop the other
day and asked who you were"
Julia's eyes fell and her color rose.
| an IL,