St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-26
MISS MABEL'S SURPRISE.

had a great liking for Squire Denthorne
of the Grange, a good-natured, hard
riding and kindly, if choleric, old gen.
tleman. He was blessed with an only
daughter, Mabel, who, accustomed
from childhood to do pretty we'll what
she liked, was, perhaps, little wilder
and self-willed than are most girls of
nineteen. Still, she was sound to the
very core; and was a favorite just as
much with her own sex as with men.
"Fearless in praising, faltering in
blame," she was of chivalrous, gener-
Gus nature, easily moved to laughter or
tears. And being, in addition to her
many accomplishments, an excellent
rider and devoted to hunting, what
could be expected but that many good
fellow should fall down and worship
the fair chatelaine of the Grange? But
Miss DenthOrne was not so easy to
please, and every one in the neighbor
hood was finally extremely surprised to
learn that she had become engaged, after
barely months acquaintance. to hand
some George Mowbray, man who had
quite unexpectedly come into his I'M
cle's fine place, Stalibridge Park, close
by, and had now for the first time set
foot in the county.
And, naturally, surprise might be ex-
pressed; for Mowbray-shy, taciturn
and reserved-seemed hardly the one to
win the fancy of a bright, light-hearted
girl. But there the fact was, and it had
to be accepted. The squire was we'll
satisfied, and certainly his daughter
never for one moment even limited to
him OF to any one that she
in the very least regretted the
step she had taken. AS for Now
bray, he w0rshiped the ground
Mabel trod on, and more devoted
fiance no girl could have desired. But
he never obtruded himself, and there
seemed in him a strength OF purpose
and power Of reserve that drew Mabel
nearer and closer to him. And so much
was this the case that she tried to put
aside many of her own particular whimS
honored above all others, endeavOred to
pattern herself on his more staid de-
meanOr.
The strain was, however, too great to
be always kept up, and now and then
she would break out in her old, accus-
toned manner; and George, hardly I'M
derstanding, would look up in wonder,
and then. swiftly unbending, strive to
appreciate the happiness of the jest or
the subtlety of the thought, and. almost
against his own better Judgment, would
join insthe merriment'o of the moment.
$ One evening, wien sitting in the
drawing room, after a hard day with
the hounds. the squire all of sudden
bethought him of letters that must be
written, and strolled away, leaving the
engaged couple warming themselves by
the blazing fire. The lights had been
brought in and the tea things removed,
and Mabel, still in her riding habit,
lazily leant back in her lounge chair, in
a bewitching attitude of careless ease.
81 suppose" said Mowbray, breaking
the charmed silence, my man has.
brought over my dress clothes. and that
/ must go and get ready for dinner"
mo, George. wait bit. It's SO jolly
here. and l really can't STIR
LAS you like. darling. [ don't feel
much inclined to move myself"
''Pve something to show you," pres
emily said Mabel, with some little
hesitation.
Haven't seen it before?"
''Seen it! No, l am sure you have not.
By the-by, | wonder, George, you never
checking herself in pretty confusion,
II did not mean that"
Mowbray looked at her curiously,
waiting for any explanation she might
desire to give. However, she gave
none.
well, sweetheart, what have you to
show?'
You'll see tomorrow. 1 am going to
surprise YOu,n
My chief surprise is,' he rejoined,
''that yOn can see anything to care
about in me.'
''Now would be the time" she
laughed, ''to pay you very pretty COM
pliment, but [ shall see your bushes.
AhW taking up the Daily Graphic,
''here are some more pictures of women
riding EN- cavalier. [ wonder how l
should like the costume? l feel in
clined to it,
''Good heavens! You are not in ear
nest?"
''Well lots of ladies ride like that. Is
it not the case that queens and women
of the highest rank have done So?'
''That may be. But what has that to
do with the matter?- | can'tunderstand
how it would be possible for lady of
any refinement to adopt such cos
tune"
''And how do you know (Saucily) am
not going to adopt it? l am sure 1t
would suit me.''
81 know, dear, you are only joking,
but don't like you even to jest on such
a subject"
''Just you wait here" said Mabel,
rising as she spoke, land I'll honor you
w.thaprivate view, all to yourself, of
how Hook in my new riding dress. 1t
will prepare you for Tomorrow" and so
saying, before he could demonstrate,
she ran out of the room.
MoWbray more than half believed that
what his fiance had said was all jest.
but there was also an uneasy suspicion
in his mind that he might he wrong;
and while he was still modify turning
the matter over the door was thrown
open, carefully closed, and before him
stood Miss Denthorne in the garb of the
Darkmere hunt-cap, boots, breeches
and all!
rAnd how do you think l look?" in
quired the handsome girl, standing
sadcily before him, her hands on her
hips, with little mutinOus expression
in herieyes.
Mo8bray started up in dismay.
81 beg-I implore, Mabel. that you
VIII dt OIlCC TAKE tllOSC ClOtHCo Ous liz
passionately urged.
..Why should L? They fit very well.''
eff I have any right to speak and,
surely have" he holly said, you will
at once resume your own dress"
Are you not rather premature"' she
replied, with an angry movement of the
head. Il am not aware that l have yet
given you authority to dictate to me
what am to wear"
IF your own good sense and lady
like feeling" he coldly made rejoinder,
'.do not convince you of the indie
cency-"
"Stop, sir" said the now angry girl.
ssy0u go too far. If l am wanting, as
you imply, in good sense, ladylike feel
ing. and the sense of decency. it seems
to me that we have both of US of late
been standing on false ground"
81 cannot Withdraw one word l have
said. But, Mabel" now changing his
tone to one of entreaty. 'surely you are