Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-05-21

OF OxFORDs MAY DAYS-BY R L.
AUTHOR OF Mr. SMITH"

| speaker drew a breath.
II do like Freddy Alwyn." A pause.
oI like him we'll enough to" Another
pause. "But I don't see that liking him
has anything to do with IT," concluded
| Miss Henrietta with a sudden burst OF
decision. Ever since l was a child l
have set my heart on going TO a draw
ing room az Buckingham Palace, ana
this may be- the only chance l may ever
have OF going in all my hfel"
Kenny West was an only child. Her
elderly parents were quiet and rather
poor people. IL would never AVE en-
tered into the head OF Kenny herself
had it not been that when a child she
CHANGED TO be present when the Aunt
Julia already referred to in these pages
had been dressing for a drawing room.
and then and there her childish mind
had received an impression or beauty
and grandeur never to be effaced.
To be herself arTayed in shlmmering
satin with three Yards Of train upon the
floor-to wear diamonds and nodding
plumes in broad daylight, was thence
forth a cherished object OF ambition,
and the ambition had received more than
one subsequent stimulus as each OF her
aunt's young daughters had made her
debut and passed through the thrilling
ordeal.
.'Oh, dear Aunt Julia, 1 would give
ANYTHING TO 20 TO a Drawing Room!"
cried the young girl, with a passion OF
earnestness such as would have made
almost any other nearer laugh, but
IL k,,N-Frr ond nnp, poauA-
able in Mrs. BracKenbury's ears. Mrs.
Brackenbury's own. daughters never
looked like that, and never spoke like
that. They were heavy, Indifferent
girls, whom society bored and ceremon-
iaI perplexed. When Informed that
they we're TO 20 to this thing or that,
they would either look stolidly acQuies-
cent, or Sulkily repellent, according to
the mood in which the invitation found
them. Then among themselves they
would mutter, 'If mamma would let US
alone!' just when poor mamma bad
struggled and fought for, and finally re-
jOiced with a great JOY over the card she
held in her triumphant hand. 1t was
hard to have to toll for such ingrates.
Can it be wondered at that now, with
a bright young face glowing and spark
ling by her side, and a Shrill young voice
giving u~tterapce TO such musical sounds
in her ear, Mrs. Brackenbury; lost her
head for the moment?
She knew perfectly well that Kenny
was talking nOnsense-that is to say,
that 10 would be nonsense TO attach any
serious meaning TO a mere impetuOus
exclamation; yet the words were scarcely
] out Of the speakers mouth ere a con-
, spiracy was being formed for carrying
them into effect.
You really must CO." said Aunt
Julia impressiyely. Il must take you.
Why not? You are my neice and have
every right to present a niece. We went
la February-Ethel and but that
does not signify in the least, / car go
again-there is no eaSon why l should
not 20 again-and take you. Ethers
dress would fit you admirably and no
one need know anything about 1t. /
don't suppose your parents would OBJ
ject?" pausing.
Not in the least, II It were done In
that way-I mean, dear auntie, il you
were so kind as TO manage IL all, and
really and truly take me with you from
this house, and TO let me wear Ethel's
dress and train. Oh! l can scarcely be-
lieve itl' cried Kenny, her cheeks fam
Ing with hope and excitement. 1T
seems far-far too good TO be true. And
that you should 60 for me!'
'Oh, well, l am always ready to 60,
you know, my dear; and now that l am
known as an old hand at these things, l
am so often asked to take girls that l
get in the way Of IT," replied Mrs.
B-rackenbury with IN easy air. at is a
mere nothing to me. And shall quite
enjoy taking you, 1 assure you, Henry.
We must order the hairdresser, and the
bouquets, and"
''But, dear auntie, stop a minute, how
am 1 to order a haitdresser and a bou-
quet? You know"
"Oh, 1 know. dear" her aunt nodded
and smiled. That will be arranged.
Your uncle will stand treat for that
part Of the performance, 1 am
sure. He is so fond Of you, Henry,
aud he will think it quite right you
should 60"
"But-but my father and mother. 1
don't know that they would let him; they
are rather particular about money"
murmured Henry, family.
It was at this point that the happy
! idea was originated Of not telling either
the parents or anyone else anything
about the affair until it was safely over.
Henrietta was not an undutiful child
] certainly not a disobedient one-but the
fear OF having the sparkling cup OF
pleasure dashed from her lips just as il
had been presented 10 them made her
on the present occasion to assent to a
/ scheme involving subterfuge-not TO say
deception. Her aunt suggested, and she
/ consented, that the forthcoming cere-
mony should be kept q secret from every
/ bOdy-(Ethel excepted, Ethel's cooper
alton being necessary and her good ma
ture 10 be depended upOnl-and all be-
ing happily arranged, it did seem a cruel
stroke OF fate that the only available
drawing room should be appointed TO
take place during the flights Week"
at oxford, and, worse still, upon the
very daY named by the Rev. Frederick
Alwyn for arriving on the scene.
Henry was well aware Of the aston
| ishmenJ which would be universally ex-
cited by her disappearance from the IA
miliar haunts during the great event OF
the Oxford year. That she should
choose to 20 TO London on a vista
visit which could be paid at any time
at such q moment would seem more
than extraordinary, absolutely incred-
ible 10 Oxford eyes.
1t was still more to the point that she
should persist in adhering to her reso-
luton after the arrival of Mr.. Alwyn's
note. On receipt Of the letter Henry
! herself had wavered for the SPACE Of 3