Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-08-22

he had nevertheless considerable author
" in the house The servants feared
while they also respected her; her sisters
were constantly appealing to her judg
ment, and even papa and mamma showed
4 good deal OF difference TO her opinions
Beatrice was the youngest and the
gladdest hearted Of the sisters. Much
Of her fathers old winsorne grace was
reproduced in her. with many an added
charm of her own. She was Just out of
school when returned to Mannerington,
and with her bright girls face and her
arch, bcguiiing ways she speedily became
my favorite. BefnN she had been two
weeks at home SIZE had ridden every
horse in the Mannering stables, eX-
plorcd Mannerington in its widest re-
cesses, and spraineS her ankle by falling
from the top of a steep bluff, down
which she attempted to scramble for
some wonderful MOSES lying below.
She was brought homo in a clumsy
farm wagon by tallish farmers son,
who had been hoeing corn near the
scene of her misadventure. This young
man, finding the girl unable to walk, at
first proposed carrying her home in his
arms-a proceeding to which she laugh
ingly objected He then bethought him
self of the farm wagon, and gave her
leave to choose between riding home in
that or waiting at the farmhouse which
was hard by, until he could go up to the
manor and have the carriage sent for
her. Beatrice chose to go at once, much
to the annoyance of Mrs. and Miss Man
nering, who, in their modification that
Mannering should have been seen rid
ing in a cart, quite forgot the atten-
ton due to a swollen Mannering limb
Madeline, however, bathed and ban
daged the sprain and otherwise
provided for her sisters comfort
Beatrice, meanwhile, made merry
over the modification of her family, and,
more from spirit of perversity than
any other, I think, eXtolled the comfort
Of the farmers wagon and the courtesy
of the farmers son. When Robert came
home at night she reproduced the scene
for his diversion, initiating mammals
high bred CONSERVATION and Theo's
shocked demeanor with great deal of
spirit. Robert, who had looked little
careworn when he came in, was soon as
buoyant in appearance as his youngest
child. One might have fancied that the
accident of the afternoon was the finest
joke in the world to each of them. Even
mamma and Thco could not help laugh
ing at the burleSque upon themselves
which Beatrice improvised, and all were
soon as gay as possible - all except
hot i hIr
fathers face anXiously until the care
worn look had disappeared. Then with
n faint sigh she took a seat little apart
and seemed closely occupied with some
trhe of work BY and by she went to
Beatrice and laid her hand upon her sis
ter's forehead.
"You are firing yourself, dear" she
said. II think Uncle Raphael will be
willing to carry you up stairs"
1T ought to be the farmers son"
laughed Beatrice. Uncle Rally isn't
half muscular enough for such feat"
Whereupon lifted her up and carried
her off, eager to show that yachting and
similar exercises had not left me wanting
in muscular force. Theo led the way
with light, and Mrs Mannering fol-
lowed, carrying some liniments, SO that
we made quite procession Of it, When
returned to the parlor, noticed that
Madeline and her father We're holding a
whispered conversation. which was in
terrupted by my entrance. The careworn
look had returned to Roberts face, and
Madeline's had g strange, undeiinable
expression. But Robert seemed to have
tossed off the thought Of care even while
| was becoming aware of its presence,
and Madeline's features settled more
slowly into their ordinary quiet
1T is probably some trihing domestic
annoyance" | thought, and dismissed all
uncasiness upon the subject from my
mind
Somewhat about this time | received
a call at my lodgings from lawyer OF
the name of Julius Stone. This gentle
mans personal appearance was by nc
means prepossessing. His features were
ill assorted; his little beady, black eyes
had an evil look; his hair and eyebrows.
which should have been dark to CORE.
spond with his general complexion, were
the color of furnished brass; his whiskers
were not worth mentioning, though there
certainly was n struggling, yellowish
growth about his chin and upper lip.
He came about legacy of five thousand
dollars left me by my aunt. Mrs. Mar
garet Stephenson, lately deceased, he, as
it appeared, having been her lawyer.
"An inconsiderable sum to Manner.
ing, sir. Yes sir" said julius Stone.
I'VE know something of the Mannering
greatness about here, and of the Man
nering pride, begging your pardon for
mentioning it, Not bad thing, neither,
pride isn't; that is, for your sort OF
people. OF course it would be ridiculous
in a poor devil like me. OF course, sir
Yes, sir. Know Allen Stephenson
"No," answered, CURLY enough, not
liking the fellows style of address over
| much.
"Nlrs. Stephenson's nephew, you know
or, rather, her husband nephew. He's
not about here now, ! believe Gone of
to earn his living, probably. He's another
of the proud sort sir Yes, sir, Quite
a coming down for him to get only five
| thousand out of the estate instead of
l,Dfl