Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1891-11-18

an muir uhU ClupS6u anu SLlll LQese
were no signs of Miss Weston coming
to greet her guests.
Another five minutes had elapsed,
and he was about to rise and ring for
Miss Weston's maid when he heard the
rustling of feminine attire, the patter
of feminine feet, and Linda bounced
into the room. She was quickly fol-
lowed by a pretty country cousin,
whom she occasionally patrOnised to
the extent of inviting her to spend a
few days at Kensington.
Without intending to make mischief
the page had played his mistress false.
When he put his head into the draw
ing room door she was in a stormy de-
bate with the milliner who had sent
home an unbecOming hat, and asked a
higher price for it than Miss Weston
was willing to give. Before the boy
could announce the names of the WISH
tors he was sent angrily about his
business.
That Mrs. somebody was waiting
to see her was Linda cOmprehended,
and she rushed to the conclusion that
it was a certain widow Thompson,
whose invalid daughter really made
the delicate lace and embroidery its
purchaser did not scruple to pass off as
her own.
Nor was there anything in the APP
pearance of the quietly dressed figure
that rose at her entrance to disabuse
the young lady of that notion. A
screen concealed Herbert from view
the while addressed herself to his
mother in very different tones from the
dulcet ones he was was accustomed to
hear from those coral lips.
$50 this is the way your daughter
treats her best customer !" were the
first words levelled at the astonished
hearer. Although I sent word that
must have the lace by yesterday even
ing at the latest, you have disappoin-
ted me Don't attempt to make any
excuses I never listen to them. Peo-
pie have no business to accept work
unless they intend to execute the
order we'll and punctually."
Perhaps the young person is ILL.,,
interposed Miss Weston's cousin. "Am
right, is your daughter too i'll tC
work ?" she asked, kindly, addressing
Mrs. Torrens.
Nonsense Flo !" cried Linda, in a
more peremptory tone than before
"Havn't / said already that 1 never
accept excuses ? If one would listen tt
the tales of people of this description
are always eager to tell, there would
be no dealing with them at all"
is not this rather harsh ?" asked
Mrs. Torrens, finding room to put in 9
word at last, and unable to resist es
pousing the cause of the poor. "ThosC
who work for their living are only toe
anxious to earn all they can"
"And yet you have not brought
home my lace will not have it al
all now. 1t would be no use to me
l must buy some, 1 suppose. And il
is your own fault, entirely your OWE
fault, that the other is thrown on your
hands,"
"Oh, but, dear Linda" demonstrated
her cousin, it will be such a heavy
loss to a woman in Mrs. ThompsOn's
position !"
81 don't care See in what an awk.
ward one it places me / told Mr.
TOrrens I should have it ready to pre-.
sent to his mother, and what reason
can give for not producing it?"
If you would allow me to explain
Mrs. TOrrens began, but she was
rudely stopped.
mo, want none of your explana
tions. l meant to have given your
daughter several things to do for me,
because she is cheap but now I'll find
some one upon whom 1 can depend
GOOd-mOrning,"
Have you far to walk ?" asked Flo
kindly, as she stepped forward anC
slipped shilling into the widow!
hand. would you not like to res
awhile before you go home? Linda,
may l not take Mrs. Thompson to the
hOusekeeper's room ?"
But the appeal for permission Il
procure some coffee for the elderly
woman, who was trembling anC
changing color so oddly, was only hal
uttered, and quite unheard by the de
moIselle to whom it was addressed
In turning around to sweep majesti
cally from the boudoir Linda founC
herself face to face with Herbert Tor
rens.
In pity for the confusion that robbed
her of all her ordinary self-satisfaction
Herbert behaved as though he had
not been a grieved and disguised au
ditor of all that had passed.
He introduced both the young ladies
to his mother, and Mrs. Torrens fol
lowing her sons example, plunged
into a long and animated conversation
describing her journey to town on the
preceding day. As Flo also recovered
herself sufficiently to appear interested
and put in a few questions, the CONVEX
satiOn was kept up until Mr.. Weston
came into the room.
Before Linda had finished askin,
herself how much or how little he
lover had overheard, or whether sh
need fear the influence of such a dow
dy parsonage as his mother, Herber
had seized an opportunity and boil
were saying their adieux.
I'VE shall see yoH again in the even
ingYn queFied the beauty, almos
timidly.
81 think not. You have other en-
gagements," and a significant glanc
at the programme aud bouquet re
Vealed that another of her falsehood
had been detected.
Flo Weston led such an uncomforta
BILE life at KensingtOn when Herber
Torrens resigned all pretentions to he
Cousins hand, that she was very gla
to curtail her visit, and go back to he
duties as eldest daughter in the larg
family of country parsOn.
But she had not been home Ion
when she was invited to Clifton t
spend few weeks with Mrs. Torrenl
who smiling showed her, attached t
her chatelaine, the shilling-it wa
almost her only one--compassionate
bestowed on the widow Thompson.
The weeks became months, for Mrs
TOrrens went abroad in the autumn {
} try some German baths, and begge
r Flo to accompany her. They wer
under the escort of Herbert; and t
! the immense indignation of the beaut!
who is still unmarried, their retur
} was speedily followed by a wedding
5 Need we say whose, dear reader