The record-union., 1892-11-19

work was covered with creepers and shell
tered them from the gaze Of the passers-
by, and where a little air still relieved
the oppressive atmosphere from time to
time.
Angela was looking somewhat pale and
exhausted as she leaned back in deck
chair, IN a white cambria dresSing-gown
trimmed with a little lace about the
throat and round the the full sleeves,
which fell back and showed the pretty
DIPPED arms to the elbows. 1t was the
hottest time Of the year, and an unusu-
ally hot season even for that The sun
plazed away untiringly in a heaven OF
unclouded blue from the first thing in the
morning until just before nighttall, when
1t dropped with startling rapidity out Of
sight. Dry, fierce heat and dust storms
were the order of the day. Angela some-
times wondered whether there were any
use in dusting AT all, when, very likely
Just as 1t was done, brown cloud would
sweep by and leave nearly quarter OF an
inch of fine sand everywhere.
suppose we refuse this invitation,
darling. You're not looking quite up to
the mark, and dancing, with the ther-
mOmeter somewhere close on hundred
degrees, is next door to madness"
But this IS the first invitation we have
had from Mrs. BorlaSe, Val. You know
she has been away. Wouldn't she be
offended if we did not 90? She and had
quite long gossip at the Nanderlindes'
the other day, and she told me what
great friends You ana she had always
been, and that she hoped very much |
should like her too. She looked so pret-
ty and sweet when she said it that l took
quite fancy to her. | think l should
like TO 90 if you don't mind"
Just as you like, of course, dear.
was only afraid OF your being knocked
up. You must be very careful now with
hot Ion
have an attack Of camp fever; and new
comers are very apt to get it, especially at
this time Of the year."
Have you ever had it, Nal?''
mo; l suppose [ was pretty well fever
proof when l arrived here. But you see
You are not as tough as I am, and though
L don't want to brighten you, | should
like you to take life as quietly as possible
IOr the next month or two; then we shall
begin TO cool down bit. When you have
once had that wretched fever you are al
ways liable to get it again; and if your
mother comes up in the spring, don't
want her to find you reduced to skin and
bone. / shouldn't have the courage to
look her III the face
'N ell" with a laugh, II don't think
you need be afraid Of that; and if you will
take me to Mrs. Borlase's, III promise TO
be very good and quiet afterward.'
''Au right, darling. When is 1.-THE
day after tomorrow? Well, as we are
gong, you may as well look your best.
The Borlase parties are among the most
select in Kimberley, l suppose. At all
events, there are sure to be some we'll
dressed women there, and want my wife
to look as good as, or better, than any one
else"
ooh, you vain boy. But III do my best.
AS soon as have got rid Of you III have
dress inspection, and arrange my feath-
ers and War-EainI."
Valentine was quite satisfied with the
result when Angela emerged from her
| dressing on the eventiul night and
submitted herself to his critical eye for a
moment as they stood waiting in the hall
for the spider to come round. She had
put on her wedding -dress-a plain white
silk, open little at the neck ana trimmed
with tiny ostrich feathers, and the long,
severe lines showed to advantage her
slender figure and gave it dignity as well
/ as grace. Her goIden-brOWn hair was
1 twisted into coronet on top Of her
| shapely head, and a diamond star her
husbands wedding giit-glittered among
I the coils.
| wv ell, sir, shall dO?" she asked sauc-
| lily, but shade Of anxiety dimming the
! brightness OF her smiling eyes as Nalen-
tine looked at her for moment without
speaking.
y es, I think sol most decidedly
think so, he said slowly. "But you are
more like white lily than a violet to-
night, and-and / should like to take
of that gorgeous gown and see you
swinging III the hammock in one OF your
muslin frOckS, and find myself in nv
armchair in my old shooting Jacket in
stead Of dressed like mute ior fu-
neral" and he looked at his faultless
| dress-clOthes-which, in spite of his dis
| paraglng remark, admirably suited his
| tall. well-proportioned fgure-with an
expression Of tragic disgust.
"Why, Val, | had no idea you had such
an objection to going, or l wouldn't have
/ bothered you about it," she cried peni-
! tently. But you never seemed to mind
| before. l am so sorry"
There. | was brute to fly out like
| that, sweetheart. don't know what is
the matter with me to-night-liver, l
| suppose; it's always liver in this con-
! founded climate. Let me put on your
cloak; there's the cart coming round l
shall enjoy myself well enough, little one.
when / get there, so don't LOOK so serious.
/ Iou'll see your worthy husband spin
ming round wildly with the rest OF the
! teetotums, only pausing now and again
to surrepudously wipe mis- heated brow"
and laughing gayly he took his wife by
/ the arm and leu her down the path.
! Judge Borlase's house, which was a
/ Government residence, and replete, as
! INC 0ltllOllCGAS AdN Z H. VIII every mod
/ ern convenience-or with as many ofthem
at least as We're prOcurable in Kim berlev
was on the opposite side of the town
ship, and though the light two-wheeled
cart got over the ground pretty quickly.
! they were more than half an hour on the
road. Angela did not mind that. The
/ drive through the fresh night air was de-
/ lightiul after the heat of the day. for. at
least, there is one thing for which the IN
/ habitants of the Fields return tervent
| thanks, and without which they would
/ inevitable all perish-the nights are cool
and refreshing.
/ AS they neared their destination they
overlook other carts bound in the same
direction as themselves, and EXCHANGED
/ pleasant greetings with most of the occu-
/ pauts, for only in very few cases, when
/ a lady voluntarily endured martyrdom
/ so that her hair should not get disar-
ranged, was any cart seen with the hood
up.
There were about forty people in Mrs.
Borlase's pretty drawing-room when
/ alentine entered with his wife on his
arm, and this was nearly the full num-
Der, for 1t was not supposed to be a grand
! or formal affair, but merely one of the
/ Borlase little parties, which We're, and
/ Justly, more popular than any other sim
! liar gatherings in Kimberley
Their hostess caught sight of them al
/ most before their name was announced.
and advanced to meet them with out
stretched hands.
Il am delighted to see you" she said.
smiling down on Angela. II was half
afraid whether this awful weather might
| keep you away. We old inhabitants
don't mind it so much, you know; we are
| sun-dried and hardened
Angela could not help thinking that
/ Mrs. Borlase had nos suffered under the
process, as far as her personal appear
ance, at all events, was concerned. She
was a daughter OF the gods, divinely
] ktftf al, -, =