The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-06-19


"My dear Mrs Trafford," it said-"We
are having large party at Matcham for
shooting next week, and it will give Lord
Lucifer and myself much pleasure if you
and Miss Trafford will come TO us from
the 21st to the 2Sth of the month. Mr..
and Mrs. Markham and Mr. Howard will
be with us then. know you will find it
pleasant to meet them. If you can give
the man who brings this note an answer
it will be a convenience to me, as l should
like to know before post time if you can
come or not.
My dear Mrs Trafford. yours sincere,
", Violet Lucifer"
Now it happened that Julia was not at
home when her mother received and open.
ed this letter. Mrs Trafford did not hest.
tate about what answer she should make.
She went to her little desk and wrote a
sweet cote to her dear Lady Lucfer to the
effect that she and julia would be charm
ed to come to Matcham on the 21st of the
month
Every sweet, I'm sure, of Lady Lucifer
to think of u.s. she said, as she saw the
admirable Cox go out to the groom wait
ing on horseback at the door. 81 wish
Julia would come in"
She saw that Cox asked the man some
question, for he took the note and still
waited while Cox went back into the
house, re-appearing in two or three min
utes with tall glass of beer on a neat lit
tie tray
Really, Cox is an admirable and valu-
able servant" murmured Mrs. Trafford.
She was not sorry to have a groom in
the LUcifer livery standing for time at
her door. Mrs. Trafford always had half
an eye to effect on the Mauleverer spin
sters three doors away.
How she did wish Julia would come
home, but the minutes went by and Julia,
who was at that moment in the principal
music-Shop of the town turning over the
latest songs, did not make her appearance
and her mother had to possess her soul in
such patience as she could. Just before
lunch-time, however, she came, to hear
the great news and to say with some
thing like dismay-"Mother dear, 1 really
don't see how am to go without a frock
CT two"
Now Mrs. Trafford had but lately had
two smart weddings to drain her slender
purse, and Julia was a good girl who
never put her mother about in the way OF
expenditure if she could help it. But
Mrs. Trafford was a wise s.nd skiIlful gen
eral; she knew when to hold her hand and
when to pile on all her strength, and she
laughed at Julia's dismayed face.
''Oh, my dear, you must have frocks and
so on" she said. 'You know we do not
go to Lord Lucifer's to stay every day.
/ shall not need much-I shall have a new
tea-gown for I really want new one
apart from this visit. But think that is
all, nobody will look much at me. But
with you it is different; you must have
a couple of evening gowns and new
morning-frock, and anything else that you
want"
1T is awfuIly extravaganza, protested
Julia.
1T is imperative, my DEAR" returned
Mrs Trafford, in a tone which did not adj
nit of argument.
Yet all the same, she felt that it was
good of her girl to be willing even to think
of cost at such time. Nobody has
such good children as I have" she said to
herself, and her thoughts included her
niece, Madge, as one of her children just
as much as her own daughter, Laura
Immediately after lunch they went off
to the dress maker and held consultation
with her. 81 will have something quite
inexpensive, mother" said Julia, as she
went 81 can get something very smart
in soft silk or cashmere, and you must
have your tea-gown of a rich material"
81 suppose [ must" said Mrs. Trafford
doubtfully.
She was very unselfsh little woman,
and would have gone cheerfully to pay
her grand visit without SO much as new
pair of gloves in order that one of her
girls might be freshly dressed and well
finished off in all the little details of her
costume. But Julia was unselish, too,
and Julia insisted upon the material for
the tea-gown being of rich and suitable
kind, and arranged fully with the dress
maker that the trimmings should be
neither poor nor skimped. Oh, yes; they
were good girls, not doubt about it'll
Well, on the appointed day Mrs. Trafford
and Julia set off for Matcham, matter
of ten miles or so by rail and three or four
beyond that by road. They were very
happy, the mother and daughter; the
mother because she was going to stay a
week at one of the smartest houses in the
county, the daughter because he would be
there
They had seen a good deal of him dur
ing the time between the little afternoon
gathering after the service at the Parish
and the day on which they found them
selves at the station for Matcham, but
though they had got on hke-like a house
on fire Julia would have said, neither
Mrs Trafford nor Julia herself was pre-
pared to find Stephen Howard awaiting g
them on the gravelled platform of the lit
tie country station.
"Oh, Mr.. Howardr' exclaimed Julia, as
she caught sight of him.
Are you come to meet us?" cried Mrs.
Trafford, as she gave him her hand to
aEght.
"Why, of course" he answered. eve
were all doing nothing-some of US think.
ing about tennis, and others not thinking
about anything at all. / found my way
out to the stables to find something there
to think about, and happened to see the
break coming off for you-so / came wi"
it,"
That was very nice of you," said Julia,
sweetly.
How ,Ju1ia was altered! Bv the tim