The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-10-05

remarkable case, but even he outstrips
anticipation. John has always seemed
to me the ideal Of an English country
squire. He would be just the man for
master of foxhounds-a man able and
willing to browbeat everybody, to domi-
neer and be choleric and yet to COM
mand the hearty good will of all, owing
to their recognition of his unalterable
honesty and childlike kindness of heart.
John did not learn much at school, and
he came to an untimely end in college,
but where l made one friend he made
twenty, and his truest friend was the
one to whom, at the outset of their ac-
quaintance, he administered the most
terrible thrashing. John loves eating
and drinking as much as any man, but
he would starve himself for week
rather than dock his mare of peck of
oats or his dog Of a biscuit.
John has absurd, undemocratic theo.
ries, and fancies himself the superior of
every one he meets because he is the heir
OF the Mainwarings, but there is one per-
son before whom he hulnbles himself,
and that is the English groom in his sta.
bles John would face dozen footpads
with heart of trust and would probably
get the best of them, but in the presence
OF petticoat (an embroidered one at
least) his big voice sinks to quaver anG
rumble, and his naughty glance quails
and falls. In view of this latter fact it
would not have been surprising if Sinfre
(who does wear an embroidered one) had
put him to flight, but her distinction con-
sisted in having inspired him with new
spirit, in virtue of which he is rapidly
emerging from barbarism into civiliza-
ton.
Instead of talking with hostler and
roaring out an oath when his humor is
crossed he attempts polite conversation
God bless HIND and courteous irony; in
stead of drinking himself crimson after
dinner he limits himself to six glasses
and every one toast; instead of start
ing off betimes in the morning on lone
ly hunting or horseback expedition he
dawdles anxiously about the veranda in
comical anxiety to secure in not too
barefaced manner the monopoly of
cousin Sinfire's" companionship. This
would be less remarkable were John Or
dinarily susceptible, but can vouch for
it that every good looking girl within
radius Of 30 miles has been tried upon
him with the result only of putting him |
to fight. Cousin Sinfire therefore must |
WELD some spell unknown to the COM
mon run of young ladies.
Indeed am myself not insensible to |
a peculiar quality in her which I can
conceive to be very attractive to many or
to most people. She is pretty, but it is
not that. She is intelligent, but it is not |
that. And she has high animal spirits
and graceful vivacity, but neither is it |
these. No, and I doubt if can specify |
precisely what 4t is. Yet I should be /
able to analyze her if anybody can, be-
cause toward her, as toward the rest of
mankind, I occupy the position of an
outsider and dispassionate observer mere
ly. Moreover, I have motive for max
ing the analysis-that, in my role of gen.
eral caretaker of the family, must de-
termine whether or not she is fit and /
proper person to become Mrs. Mainwar-
ing, and thus to relegate mother to the
position of dowager, for there is no
doubt that John will marry her If he
can, and after making all due allowance
for waywardness of maiden's fancy
it would not do to build too confidently
on the probability Of her rejecting a
generous hearted, fine looking, infatu-
ated young fellow with $60,0 900 year to
his fortune. At all events shall make
it my business to improve my acquaint-
ance with her. and the fact that she evil
IDENTIFY regards me as an inoffensive and
rather agreeable person renders the exc
,ution of my design all the easier.
She came upon us as abruptly and un-
sxpectedly as an asteroid ont of infinite
space. We had finished dinner more
han an hour before, and mother and !
we're sitting on the veranda enjoying the
evening breeze and fighting off an occa-
'ional mosquito. John, l presume. was
1obnobbing with Tom, the groom, in the
harness room. There was the sound of
carriage wheels far down the drive, and
,ne Of the dogs barked. There was no
noon, and it was too dark to see the car
'iage until it was almost at hand. Then
t turned out to be hack from the vii
age railway station.
~ uuSI De SOIuo person III answer 10
ny advertisement for maid" !" exclaimed
ny mother in an undertone. "What
IN extraordinary proceeding! You must
ell the people at the livery stable,
frank, never to allow people to come
lpon us in this way"
Isaid: Apparently the person means
o take the place. Her trunk is on be-
lind"
"That is sufficient" mother replied.
4 shall not take herv'
Meantime the hackman had descended
rom the box and opened the carriage
loor. A rather tall female figure got
'ut. AT ia sign from mother I went down
he steps of the veranda and met her.
aw that she was young and well dressed.
The did not look like person"
care you Mr.. Mainwaringg' she asked
q deep but very agreeable voice.
81 am Frank Mainwaring," / said.
Did you wish to see my mother"
II have brought her letter from her
~ II u |