The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-06-13

Errington and her preserger are th1re
before them.
"Well, Tops, old man! You nave
niissed the very best dag haye cyer
had in my life, and that's saying good
deal, is Jack Testers greeting as he
comes into the entrance hall.
He is muddy-splashed-and there is
q s,lspicinusly dirty mark ON the back OF
his red coat, but his handsome face is
positively radiant, and he looks the pic
ture OF satisfaction and contentment.
eyes" he goes on, "thc best day and
the best run I've ever had with these
hounds, or any other for that matter.
Seven OF us up at the end-not bad, out
Of the field that was ont this morning.
You should have come on, Tops |
know you were nervous about Miss En-
rington, but she would have got on
quite well, without you"
A chorus OF voices puts him right on
this point,
But Jack Testers happiness is too
deep seated to be shaken. Its n bless.
ing she's none the worse for her fall, "
he cheerfully agrees. SALTS well that
ends well! You oughtto be canonixed,
Tops dare sayyou will be some day.
/ expect you will hunt in the elysian
fields when your time comes, and will
grin at US from the right side oil, the 'un-
iumpable Styx.' Well, every dog hcs
his day, and / don't mind saying ! never
hope for anything better than what we
have had to-day. wouldn't havemiss-
ed it, he adds, in lower voice that
only Tops can hear, "for all the girls in
Christendom."
Twomonths later, and all Blankshire
at least all hunting Blankshire-is
dancing at the hunt ball, which is held
every year at Blankington.
"I'here are plenty OF pretty women in
the room" said Jack Lester, critically,
to George Topham, as the two stand just
inside the ballroom door. "You don't
often see such a good looking lot. For
my part tim "ss Errington, in her
ball kit, bl ats them MI. She shows
such quality .uuee IS so much class
about her, Upon my word, | feel half
inclined to try my chance there to-
night"
top" hushcs IN unbccoming red,and
makes no answer.
"She's quite got over her accident, !
see--perfectly sound and all that kind
Of thing" goes on Lester. Il always
meant to ride over and see her when
she was getting better, but you know
how il is one has never time TO do any
thing in the hunting season. You were
nearer Alorebv hall. Isuppose you got
o,,or noun and than ~
Mr.. Topham does not think it neces-
sary to say how seldom he failed the in
valid on non-hunting days, and how
curious ii was that on hunting days his
homeward road should have invariably
led him past Merely hall.
"Niiss Errington, won't you give me
dancer says Captain Lester to the girl,
who, looking like young queen, is sur
rounded by a group OF red coated
adorers.
"Of course will" she answers with
charming smile; "two, il you like"
~ am no good in ballroom" put in
poor "TopsH ''it would be shame to
ask YOU 10 waste a waltz OIL me, but
perhaps you will let me take You into
supper"
a shall be very happy" replies Miss
Errington, with Il slightly embarrassed
air and no gay smile ut all.
"The old story" lie thinks to himself,
somewhat bitterly, while he s%atches
the tall, handsome pair as they sweep
down the room.
Lester is wonderful dancer, and
both he and his. partner are SO notice
ably good looking that many an eye
follows them either with admiration or
envy. !.
could he only have looked at the girls
card. 1t is curious thut any one SO
much run after and admired MS Miss
Ellington should have two disengaged
dances on her programme Immediately
after the supper dance that she has
promised George Topham, and it is
curious that any one so passionately
Forl cf dancing should have refused
half dozen times over to fill them up.
1t is also curious that when that sup
per dance is reached at last she should
be quite happy to sit all three out in
"Tops'" company, in n somewhat chill
ly. badly lighted little room, that some
paper roses anu u lSM NhIuS VI pun
tarlatan festooned on its dingy walls
have not by any means transformed
into bower OF bliss! Perhaps the sub
ieet OF this long tete-atete may be gath
cred from the closing sentence spoken
by Miss Errington.
ttIike Captain Lester? OF course l
do, George. He does everything so
well TINT he rather tinzzies one; besides,
he is nice! Still, even u girl can look
under the surface little bit, and can
tell who would really stick to her
through thick and thin. My brother
Archie is very good judge Of people; at
least know l always find he is right,
and it was only yesterday he said, speak
ing OF you, Tops is real good fellow,
eighteen carat gold. and hall marked
every link. 1t may be slungy way Of
putting it, but it expresses his meaning
perfectly, and can't find any better
words in which to express mine"