The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-06-05

| other, as if they did not care about it.
This afternoon the same thought was in
the heart of each, and the thought took
the form of Stephen Howard When Mrs.
Trafford exclaimed. MY dear child, you
are 7eUer going out?" she meant to say,
''Have you forgotten that Mr.. Howard is
coming?" and when Julia replied that her
head was better and that she should be
back before tea-time, she intended to con-
vey that she had not forgotten that they
were expecting a certain visitor, but that
she was going out on purpose to be out
when he should arrive.
And sure enough, when Stephen How
ard knocked at the door of No. ST. Ewes,
which he did about four o'clock, he found
only Mrs. Trafford sitting alone in the
bright and cosy drawing-roOm. bright
fire burning in the well-polished CRATE,
and her deft little hands busy as usual
with some crimson silk socks.
He cast glance round the room as it
in search of someone whom at first sight
he had not perceived. 81 am all alone,
Mr.. Howard" said Mrs. Trafford, in her
most friendly and hospitable manner
''Julia has gone out-did you come by way
of the High Street? Yes! All! wonder
you did not meet her"
mo, never saw her." said he, and it
was evident both from his looks and his
tone that he was disappointed.
''Ah! She will be here presently" said
Mrs Trafford, with bland indulgence,
much as she might have done if Julia
was the acknowledged beauty of the town
and this one of score of her luckless
adorers.
1t was an admirable manner. that par
ticular manner, of Mrs. Trafford's and
she pointed to an exceedingly comfortable
chair not very far from her own.
sit down and tell me what you think
about Blankhampton," she said, cor. stay,
do you mind ringing the bell for me
first?"
Mr.. Howard rang the bell, and then sat
down in the chair.
Il suppose you are not in great hur-
ry?" she said. kindly.
"Oh, not at ALL" he answered
THAT is all right. Oh! Cox" as the
spruce parlor maid appeared, 1--WE will
have tea us soon as Miss Trafford comes
in"
Eyes, ma'am," said Cox.
And now" said Mrs. Trafford to her
visitor, ''telI me how you like Blank
hampton"
''Inmensely," he repliel promptly. "At
present better than any place | was ever
in, in all my life"
Better than Australian" said Mrs.
Trafford, smiling, as she piled her knit
ting-needles.
"Oh, yes! far and away. In fact Aus
tralia is loathsome country. hate every
inch of it,"
"Really! And yet you were born thereW
(which, perhaps is why I detest it so
thoroughly" said he, quickly. every
likely, if had been born in Blankhamp-
ton, should dislike it as much as now 1
like it,"
Eyes, that is very likely Mrs. Trafford
returned. 81 think with most young peo-
pie there is a great longing for fresh fields
and pastures new, and it is only when you
have been long time away from the
place where you were born and grew up
that you have a sentimental feeling about
it which makes you yearn to go back once
more"
Eyes, you are right" he answered; land
| in my case, when my longing for sight
| of Australia comes over me, I shall make
| longing do instead of going"
"Oh! is it so bad as that?' Mrs. Trafford
cried.
Worse than that" replied Mr.. How
ard, instantly.
But why? What is there so bad
about the country2" she asked. what
| can there be so different about England to
make you feel like that about it?"
| Mr.. Howard grew grave. "Well. to tell
you the truth, Mrs Trafford,' he said. II
never knew really happy day in Aus
until tho dow NV foil diod IIo
is dead, and they say we ought not 10
speak ill of the dead but in his case
cannot help it. He was the most mutt
| terable brute ever knew or heard of in
all my life. 1 never could see, I have
never been able to see, that he had sim
| gle redeeming quality-he was all bad
from first to last. / hated him, I despised
him, loatned him. Perhaps it is wrong
! of me to tell you all this, but at least it
| is candid. Our mother was the sweetest,
BEST kindest, gentlest of nomenclature
and worshipped her. He killed her"
''KiIled your mother?" cried Mrs. Traf
| ford, with the utmost horror depicted on
! her face.
Stephen Howard gave q short hard
laugh. "Ohl don't mean that he cut her
throat or broke her neck. He might have
been hanged for that, even in the wilds Of
Australia. No, he just stopped short of
that. but more than once he had near
shave, and only held his towards hand
just in time. And at last, when 1 was
sixteen. my mother died-his victim-the
victim of the greatest brute | ever knew.
/ ought not to tell you all this, Mrs. Traf
ford, dare say you will despise and dis
trust me for it, but-but-you are not I'M
like my mother. and II had to tell you
! somehow"
81 underestimate know exactly" Mrs.
| Trafford murmured, soothingly. "Why
should you not tell me? And am deeply
interested"
The excitement died out of the young
mans blue eyes. and he stretched out his
hand to her. How kind YOU are" he
said ''Mrs Tralford, do YOU know that
your daughter is so like M poor little
mother-like what remember her as a
child when was little youngster of ten
or twelve, you know"
"Ah. yest' Mrs. Trafford murmured.