The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-14
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| somewhat lowered before she asked Miss
Lester TO the house. The fact was that she
had already invited nearly all the pretty
| girls of unimpeachable ancestry that she
knew; and as all of them had failed to win
Anthony's affections, she had fallen back on
a relay of more mature young ladies' The
Honorable Eva Lester was six and twenty,
and looked older than her years. But she
was admirably connected, and, as Lady
Kesterton was heard to say. remarkably
elegant" She would have been very we'll
satisfied with Eva Lester for a daughter-in-
law.
| As the two ladies sat together in the draw
| ing-room, Lady Kesterton surveyed Miss
Lester critically, and thought that she was
looking her best. The young lady's cheeks
had flushed a little during the conversation,
and a color was always becoming to Miss
Lester, o. whose face and expression cold
ness was distinguishing characteristic. She
was nearly always pale, and her regular
features seldom betrayed her feelings. Her
nose was somewhat unusually long and her
upper lip likewise. Her abundant pale-col-
ored hair was deliberately dressed, and her
gowns were always well-fitting and becom-
ing Miss Testers hair aud gowns, and her
tall, slender figure. constituted her chief
claims to distinction; for the regular fea-
lures, gray blue eyes and almost colorless
eyebrows and lashes of her face, sometimes
left on impression of utter commonplace
ness upon the mind of an observer. Lady
| Kesterton always maintained, however,
that Eva would grow handsomer with ad-
| vancing years.
- She wore on this occasion very pale blue
dress, with silver ornaments. aud sat up
| right in one of the high backed chairs in
wav which Lady Kesterton approved.
There was never any approach to lounging
or slovenlineSs in Eva's appearance or atti-
tudes She was always erect, dignifed, I'M
/ I.nLI 49, 4
! a speck of dirt would ever adhere TO that
smooth, clear skin, or that those elaborate
| braids of hair could ever be disarranged.
Lady Kesterton looked and approved. Sns
also could be severe, erect and dignifed /;
her snow white curls. her stiff black satins,
magnificent velvets and antique laces were
as perfect in their details as Eva's modest
gowns; there was something a little fierce
even in the old lady's gold trimmed eye
glasses and Judicial frown which was apt to
frIghten timid persons. Yet, fierce and
rigid as she appeared, there was a far
warmer heart and finer nature beneath that
somewhat repelling exterior than could be
found in all the cultivated personality of the
Honorable Eva Lester.
"Do you know where Anthony has gone.
| my dsarp Lady Kesterton inquired after
pause, during which Miss Lester stitched
diligently at strip of white embroidery.
He spoke of the fir plantation at the
back of West Lodge" said Eva. 81 think
he must have been going in that direc-
ion."
II should rather like little walk said
the old lady, relectively. "If you have no
objection we will take turn in the park
/ have not been out to-day"
II shall be delighted, " Miss Lester replied
| Then glancing out of one of the windows
she said, There is Philip on the terrace /;
shall he come tooY'
"What nuisance boys arep exclaimed
Lady Kesterton, rather Grossly. ALWAYS
| in the way. | cannot think why Anthony
likes to have him here. However after
| q moments hesitation-"he may be useful
to US. Call him and tell him that he can
carry my basket for me. / am going to
take some wine and jelly to the lodge-keep-
er's wife"
She took up her ebony, gold-mounted
staff, which she used more as a symbol of
authority than a means of support, while
Miss Lester opened the window and beck
oned to the boy upon the terrace. A mo-
mentary smile flickered on her lips as she
did so. Lady Lesterton's mind was an open
volume to her; and in the order conveyed
to Philip Winyates she read the conviction
of the old lady that a party of four was
sometimes more convenient than one of
three, and that if Sir Anthony happened to
| be met ON the road he could escort Miss
Lester. while the boy Philip afforded his
companionship to Lady Kesterton.
Eva's eyes rested on a pleasant scene as
she stood at the drawingrooIn window.
Before the house ran the terrace, with its
stately stone halustrades. garlanded with
Virginia creeper, and its tall vases over
flowing with geranium and calceolarla. Be-
You'd the terrace lay the velvety sward OF
the well-mown lawn, its greenness broken
here and there by masses OF brilliant color
and further still, the smooth sweep of I'M
dulaing ground, by which the lawn glided
almost imperceptibly into rougher park
ground, Swallowed by the branches OF
venerable oaks and elms An open-
ing in the foliage, caused partly by GER
tain dip in the ground. had been taken
advantage of and artifcially enlarged, in
order to afford glimpse of the not far dis
tant sea, aud the sparkle of the blue water
lent an additional charm to the soft luxu-
rance of vegetation that surrounded the
old gray house. Without it the vicinity OF
the rather overgrown park might have
made the view to many eyes seem dull; but
the magic of distance, of constant change
of vivid freshness. was added to it by thai
acknowledgements purple patcnn oil
ocean against the horizon line.
Miss Lester looked and sighed; she would
very much have liked to be mistress of sucr
a fair demesne, but she was not sanguint
, about her chances of obtaining that enviablt
post. Sir Anthony was very courteous and
, attentive; she felt sure that she pleased hi,
Judgment and his taste; but she had seen NJ
; approach to a warmer emotion in his calm
, aud critical eyes. She liked Sir Anthony
very much: indeed in her tepid way, sht
, was really in love with him. But she cared
, far more for the prospect of being mistress
of Kesterton Park taan of becoming An
, thony Kesterton's wife.
She had some difficulty in attracting
, Philip Winya es' attention, for the boy wa
looking down, and she had an objection tt
raising her voice. He was close to the WIN
, dow before she spoke.
. Phillip, Lady Kesterton would like you
, to walk across the park with US. She want.
you to carry her basket"
/ Miss Lester spoke in curiously cold tones
She was not very fond Of this boy, young
? Phily Winyates, although Sir Anthony
: chose to make a sort of pet of him. HI
3 was the son of very distant connection Of
, the Kestertons, an orphan and penuiless
q Sir Anthony had sent him to school, anc
usually invited him to the park during hi:
| holidays
/ Philip started little as he heard Mis-
! Testers voice, then lifted his cap and re
piled with ready good humor:
81 shall be delighted, Miss Lester. Shall
? l wait for Lady Kesterton at the garden
) door,
0 Just keep within sight. on the terrace