The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-07-11
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stairs IN Gne reception room q SHOOK
hands so often that she did not know
finally whether she still had a hand of
herown or no.
The guests continued ascending the
magnificent staircase fanked by rows
of powdered lackeys. The stream of
people seemed to the hostess to be in
creasing, Her tongue was nearly par
alyzed from repeating the words of
welcome, her smile was becoming
forced. Chow do you do9" How
r you9" You did not bring your son?
No9 Oh! I am so sorry!"
At this moment a lady whispered to
her: "Please let me stand next to you
for a moment, Lady Georgina. 1 would
like to know about the lady who en-
tered right after me. A wonderful
woman! Very charming!"
"Not Mrs. Venables9 Blonde9 Not
that9 Then it certainly was Miss
Adair! No2 Well, then, I must see
her before I tell you who she is, Mrs.
Keith"
"There she is-with the beautiful
hair. Now she is standing with the
Brabazons."
At this moment Lady Athol acct
dentally dropped her bouquet and in
the act of taking it from the hand of
her inquisitive friend she did not hear
as the orchestra was beginning a
polonaise-the name of the young lady
bowling before her. She was a striking
beauty, with wonderful eyes. Lady
Athol extended her hand and said the
conventional "How do you do9"
Then the Brabazons approached, so
that the lady had to pass on. Now she
bowed to an elderly lady, then again
to a well known gentleman and so on
to several persons. She was apparently
well known in society. Mrs. Keith
turned to the hostess.
''She is very pretty" said she. 81
did not quite understand tie name"
"Nor l." answered Lady Georgina,
''and I can't place her, either. She
must be an acquaintance of my daugh-
ter. But I really was rather impolite.
If you should meet my girls pray send
them to me, Mrs. Keith. Oh, here
comes my husband. George, George,
do go into the ball room and find out
the name Of that striking beauty with
the auburn hair"
st will"
Ten minutes later Lady Georgina be-
gan to go among her guests. Not until
half an hour later did she meet one of
her daughters.
maud, who is that lady over yonder
leaning against the mantelpieceG
'In white, mammal I do not know
her, either"
81 thought you could inform me.
Look for Joanna and send her to me-"
1t was about twenty minutes before
the younger daughter came to her
mother.
II know whom you mean, mamma,
but I cannot place her. She has beau
tiful auburn hair and wears a white
gown of Partisan make"
Mrs. Keith again doomed up. Lord
George does not know her," said she.
ooh! I will find it out directly, -
thought Joanna. "She has just been
talking with Lord Charles Vincent; l
will ask him."
Young Vincent, laughing heartily,
was leaning against a pillar. Two of
his friends were evidently making him
the target of their jokes, Joanna over
heard several words.
ct was great sport to watch your
surprised face, Charlie, when she spoke
of having met you before at Nice"
eyes, and our dear old Charlie has
never stepped out of England"
Just then Sir Vincent noticed Miss
Athol. MAY I take you to support"
he asked her.
81 do not know as yet. Perhaps
who is the lady to whom you were
speaking a few minutes ago7" He
laughed.
"WeIl, you see, Miss Athol, those
two boys have been teasing me about
it, too. You mean that beautiful young
woman with the pretty hair, do you
notG"
''Yes!'
q stood behind her when she turned
around and, extending her hand, said
| Sir Vincent, is it not9' And as l nod
ded assent she remarked that it was &c
long since she had seen me last. ]
could not, very well, answer that she
was mistaken, so I said, Yes, it is lone
ago, and then we chatted a little"
cat what place did the unknown
a,