, 1890-02-27

49, 49,
rs had made up her mind to remaiz
there permanently, when once she had
obtained a footing.
Hyacinth, what mamm calls that but
pushing"
The Melthorpes went down by train
the next week but one, leaving the pack
ing boxes on storage and taking only
nine trunks- For Harper Castle was not
many miles from Saratoga, and Ma
Helthorpe intended that dear Norinev
should have the benefit of the fashion
able season.
albert Harper Is as rich as Croesus,r
thought the mAneuvering mother, "and
there's no reason that some Of the money
shouldn't be spent on his niecesi"
She had not seen much of the Harpers,
Of Harper Castle, OF late years, because
there had been no very particular warmth
OF Affection between herself and her sis
ter. "If l had supposed" reasoned Mrs.
4elthorpe, THAT Artemis was going to
marry rich, l should have treated her
very differently those years that she
lived at homo with me. But Melthorpe
said there wa no eason she shouldn't
earn her living and ave us the extra ex-
pense Of a lady's maid. and Of course all
that is a bygone how, and il we play our
cards well we can have a home at bar
per Castle for the rest of our Iivesr'
The elegant open landau with its deep
bay horses glittering with gold plated
harness, and its two coachmen in black
livery, was waiting at the station.
Norine entered 1t, more like royal Juno
than ever. Mrs. Melthorpe hustled after
her, and Hyacinth seated herself timidly
at the back Of the carriage.
This II something like" said Norine,
languidly exultant. Mamma, we've
been grubs all our lives, now we are COM
mencing to be butterflies. I must say, l
like to feel my wings"
And Hyacinth was silent.
Col Harper met them at the door-a
superb arched portal beneath a row Of
Corinthian columns. He was . hand
some. middle aged gentleman, his hair
just sprinkled with gray, his keen, dark
eye sparkling through eye glasses.
Norine kissed him e~ffusively. Mrs. Mel
thorpe squeezed his hand. Hyacinth
shrank back, scarcely daring to appro-
pirate any Of the welcome to herself.
"Pray walk in," said the colonel. 81
was just considering the propriety of
writing to you when I received the let
ter announcing your speedy visit"
my dear Albertl OF writing to us?'
"Yes," said Col. Harper, usherina
them into a stately drawing room. al
do not know that my affairs particularly
Affect the rest Of the family, but l had
dorjdoI - Iat -N.x -4x 5000
marriage"
Mrs Melthrope gave a gasp. Norine
looked appalled,. No thunderbolt could
have taken them more by surprise.
"Artemis has been dead a year now
went on the colonel, in cool, business
Like ccents "The lady who has hon.
ored me by intrusting her future to my
care IL . connection Of this family. Eve
lyn, my dear" (beckoning to q slight
figure which up to this time had fingered
among the shadows Of the bay window
drAperies), II Wish to introduce you Ia
my late wife's sister and her daughters.
Mira Melthrope-young ladies-this Il
Mrs.. Harper"
"Whyi" cried out Hyacinth, in her inn
pulsive fashion, cit is Uncle Mark Anto-
ny's widowr'
Mrs. Melthorpe had Redeemed as if boil.
through all her veins. Norine grasped
at her lace neck frills as IL she fount
difficulty in breathing. Mrs. Harper
greeted them with a certain calm gra
ciousness, like a queen receiving her sub
jects.
Il tried to tell you about it that day Ii
the city" said she. II should have
liked to ask you to our quiet wedding
but you declined to hear me out. You
desired me to read the newspapers, or tc
buy a typewriter, or something Of that
kind l could not get a chance to ex-
plain to you that Col. Harper was q
friend Of mine in the old days before
married Mark Antony, and before he
was betrothed to Miss Artemis Nay.
wood"
Mrs. Meltlorpe and Miss Norine re-
turned to New York in the evening train.
After all that was come and gone they
deemed 1t best speedily to retire from
the field. But Mrs. Harper put in a ples
for Hyacinth to remain at the castle.
"She was the only one who spoke kind.
~ to me-" said she. "Without intend.
Ing to be an eavesdropper, / heard he1
begging for quarter for me. That it wa.
cavalierly refused was no fault Of hers
You will stay with me, lear little Hya,
cinth7'
III mamma does not object" said Hy'
acinth, secretly wondering IL the world
was coming to an end.
"Mamma" did not object in the least
It was something to have hat tall, awk
ward school girl provided for, she
thought.
"But what Col. Harper could have
9 to fancy In Mark Antony's widow
sid she afterwards to Norine, ~ CAM
imagined"
Perhaps all this was a lesson to Mrs
Melthorpe; perhaps not. There are
some people who will never learn much
in the school Of that grim old pedagogue
Experiencet-Amy Randolph in New
York Ledger.
fny1ng Then on.