Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-02-12

| The elegant open landau with its deeI
bay horses glittering with gold PLATED
harness, and it's two coachmen In blacl
livery, was waiting at the station. Norine
entered it, more like royal Juno than ever
Mrs. Melthorpe hustled after her, and
| Hyacinth seated herself timidly at the back
| of the carriage.
"This is something like." said Noriue,
languidly exultant. "Mamma, we've been
grubs all our lives, now we are commencing
to be butterflies. I must say, I like to:.feel
Emy WINGS"
And Hyacinth was silent.
Col. Harper met them at the door-a
superb arched portal beneath a row of
Corinthian columns. He was handsome,
middle-aged gentleman, his. hair just
sprinkled with gray, his keen, dark eyes
sparkling through eye glasses. Norine
kissed him effusively. Mrs. Melrhorpe
squeezed his hand. Hyacinth shrank back,
scarcely daring to appropriate any of the
welcome to herself.
"Pray walk in," said the colonel 81
was just considering the propriety of
writing to you when received the letter
announcing your speedy visit"
''My dear Albert! Of writing to us?''
"Yes," said Col. Harper, ushering them
into stately drawing room. 81 do not
know that my affairs particularly affect the
rest of the family, but had decided to let
you know of my second marriage"
Mrs. Melthrope gave gasp. Norine
looked appalled,. No thunderbolt could
have taken them more BY surprise.
''Artemis has been dead year now,"
went on the Colonel, in cool, business-like
accents 1.-THE lady who has honored me
by intrusting her future to my care is a
connection OF this family. Evelyn, my
DEAR" (beckoniug to slight figure which
up to this time had fingered among the
shadows of the bay window drsperies), 81
wish to introduce you to my late wife's
sister and her daughters. Mrs. Melthrope
young ladies-this is Mrs. Harper"
'Whyp' cried out Hyacinth, in her i'm
pulsive fashion, sit is Uncle Mark Anto-
ny's widowW
Mrs. Melthorpe had redeemed as if boil
ing carmine paint had been poured through
all her veins. Noripe grasped at her lace
neck frils as if she found difficulty in
breathing. Mrs. Harper greeted them
with certain calm graciousness, like q
queen receiving her subjects.
81 tried to tell you about it that day in
the city," said she. 81 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 to buy type
writer, or something Of that kind. could
not get chance to explain to you that
Col Harper was friend of mine in the old
days before l married Mark Antony, and
before he was betroshed to Miss -Artemis
May wood.'
Mrs Melthorpe and Miss Noripe re-
turned to New York in the evening train.
After all that was come and gone they
deemed it best speedily to retire from the
field. But Mrs. Harper put in plea for
Hyacinth to remaiB at the CASTLE
"She was the only one who spoke kindly
to me-" said she. "Without intending to
be an eavesdropper, l heard her begging
for quarter for me. That it was cavslierly
refused was no fault of hers. You will
stay with me, dear little Hyacinth?"
"If mamma does not object" said Hy-
acinth, secretly, wondering if the world
was coming to an end.
mamma" did not object in the least. 1t
was something to have that tall, awkward
school girl provided for, she thought.
"But what Col. Harper could have seen
to fancy in Mark ADtopy's widow" said
she afterwards to Norine, 81 can't
imagi-e!'
Perhaps all this was lesson to Mrs.
Melthorpe; perhaps not. There are some
people who will never learn much in the
school of that grim old pedagogue, Expert
ence!-Amy Randolph in Neac York Ledger.