Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1890-05-02

obtained q footing.
"And | wonder tiaught indignant
lIyacinth. "what calls uiai bat
pushing.
Tae Melthorpes went down by train
the ext week hut one, leaving the Jack
ing uoxcs on storage and taking only
nine trunks For Harper Castle was not
many miles from Saratoga. and Mrs.
Mslthorpe intended that dear Norine
should have the benefit Of the fashion
able season.
albert Harper is as rich as Cresus."
Thought the m%aneuvering mother. land
there's no reason that some of the money
shouldn't bc spent OH his n%iccesi"
She had not secn much of the uarpcrs.
of Harper Castle. Of late years, because
there had been no very particular warmth
Of affection between herself and her SIS
ter. IF | had supposed. reasoned Mrs.
MelthOrpe, ''that Artcmis was going TO
marry rich. | should have treated her
very differently those years that she
lived at home with me. But Melthorpe
said there was no reason she shouldn't
earn her living and save us the extra cx.
pensc Of a ladys maid. and Of course all
that is q hygOne now. and If we play our
cards VOL We can have a homo at llar-
per Castle for the rest of our lives
The elegant open landau with It's deep
bay horses glittering with gold plated
harness. and its two coaclunen in black
livery, was waiting az the station.
Norine entered il, more like royal Juno
than over. Mrs. Melthorpe hustled after
her. and Hyacinth seated herself timidly
at the back of the carriage.
"Tlis is something like" said Norine.
languidly cxultant. Mamma. we've
been gruhs all our lives. now we arc com
mencing to be butterflies. | must say, l
like to feel my wings"
And Hyecinth was silent.
Col. Harper met them at the door-a
superb urchcd portal beneath a row of
Corinthian columns. He was Il hand
some. middle aged gentlemen. his hair
just s%prinkled with gray. his keen. dark
eyes sparkling through eye glasses.
Norine kissed him enusively. Mrs. Mel
thorpe squeezed his hand. Hyacinth
shrnnk back, scarcely daring to appro-
pirate any Of the welcome to herself.
Pray walk in" said the colonel. II
was just considering the propriety Of
writing to you when | received the let
ter announcing your speedy visi'
My dear Albert! OF writing to u.s."
Yes" said Col. Harper. ushering
them into a stately drawing room. Il
r do not know that my affairs particularly
| affect the rest of the family, but | had
: decided to let you know Of my second
marriage"
Mrs. Melthrope rave a gasp. Norine
, looked appalled,. No thunderholt could
q have taken them more by surprise.
"Artemis has been dead a year now.
went on the colonel, in cool, business
like accents. THE lady who has hon
ored me by intrusting her future to my
u care is n connection OF this family. Eve
a Ign, my dear" (becloning to a slight
figure which up 10 this time had lingcre,
/ among the shadows Of the hay window
2 draperies). Il wish to introduce YOU tC
a my late wife's sister and her daughters
k Mrs. Melthrope-youns ladies-this is
8 Mrs. Harper.
e "Wly!" cried out Hyacinth, in her i'm.
pulsive fashion, lit is Uncle Mark Anto-
py's widow
! Mrs. Melthorpe had REDEEMED asst boil,
! ing carmine paint had been poured
l. through all her veins. Norine grasped
at her lace necg frills as if she found
difficulty in breathing. Mrs. Harper
greeted them with a certain calm gra
3 %ciousness, like a queen receiving her sub
: jects.
Il tried to tell you about it that day in
the city" said she. Il should have
! liked to ask you to our quiet wedding
y hut you declined TO hear me out. You
u desired me to read the newspapers, or tC
! buy a typewriter, or something Of tina.
kind. l could not get a chance to ex
plain to you that Col, Harper was
y friend Of mine in the old days before
married Mark Antony, and before h,
d was betrothed to Miss Artemis May
e wood"
Mrs. Melthorpe ard Miss Norine re
turned 10 New York in the evening train
After all that was come and gone the,
re deemed it best speedily to retire from
the field. But Mrs. Harper put in a pie
n for Hyacinth to remain at the castle,
"She was the only one w-hospoke kiad
Is to me- said she. Without intend
ing to be an eavesdropper, l heard he
iy begging for quarter for me. That it wa
er ~caralierly refused was nc fault Of hers
y You will stay with me. dear little Hya
a cinthY'
n IF mamma does not object" said Hy
acinth, secretly wondering if the worl
y was coming 70 IN end,
"a ''Mamma" did moi object in the lcas.
1t was something TO have that tall. awl
ne ward school girl provided for. sli
thought.
"a. "But what Col. Harper could hay
seen to fancy in Mark Antony's widow,
said she after wards to Norine, Il can
10 imagineg
ieT Perhaps all this was a lesson to Mr.
Melthorpe; perhaps not. Thcre ~
ONE people who will never learn niue
ile in the school Of that grim old pedagogu
~ Experiencc!-Amy Randolph in Ne
York Ledger.
nd
tia Paying Them on.
il Mannofn0 E1ifor-Did Won nav Il