The Van Buren press., 1894-10-06

Thus bribed, Mrs Thurston sat in
gloomy state until they found place
among the carriages and coaches from
which to watch the people, for the
game was quite beyond their grasp.
From sheer perversity, and perhaps
from other motives as we'll, Nellie
treated Johnny with an amount of
cordiality and freedom she had never
shown before, and even allowed her
voice to drop into something akin to
whisper, when Mrs. Thurston, in
polar voice, exclaimed: Nellie, have
you told Mr.. McQuiston?"
Johnny looked up in surprise, while
guilty Nellie blnshed and paled, and
finally gasped, as the situation became
plain, and her aunt's intentions flashed
upon her.
She glanced appealingly at the old
lady, and was astonished to see her
looking up at something on a coach
which stood next their carriage.
II declare" exclaimed the aunt at
last. "Why, Nellie, there is lady
who is the image of you!-only she is
a Little older. bookr'
Johnny followed the direction of
Mrs. Thurston's glance and cried, "lt's
the duchess!'
"Who?' said Mrs. Thurston, in \
shrill whisper.
1.-THE duchess of Essex" replied
Johnny, excitedly. "She's awful nice.
and that pale young fellow with the
beard is her husband, the duke"
'Do you know her to speak to?'
again in shrill whisper, excited and
eager now.
'Is that the lady you mistook for me
at the hotel?" exclaimed Nellie.
Dressed in white costume simple
and yet bewildering, and little white
bonnet, with eyes bright and voice
merry, the duchess looked like one OF
those you associate with Gainsborough.
She answered Mrs. Thurston's ques-
tion by glancing down, and on CATCH
glimse of Johnny, exclaimed, "Why.
Ned, here's Mr.. McQuiston!'' and her
long, shapely arm decended toward
Johnny, who stood up and looked as
delighted as he felt.
The duchess told Johnny afterward
that she guessed it all at glance and
acted accordingly. and you can de-
pend upon it he is willing to swear to
any assertion she makes.
Help me down, Stanley" she said
to the gentleman next her, and in an
instant she stood beside Johnny on
the sod.
"Do you think it nice in you not to
have come to Essex house at all this
timer" she said. reproachfully. I've
been telling some people about you.
and they think I'm only giving them
travellers tales, for you never show,
you know. May l know your friends2'
When Johnnie recovered his wits the
duchess was in the carriage beside
Nellie, telling Mrs. Thurston that shc
had been struck by the likeness Mel.
lie Thurston bore to herself, and thia
was followed up by other gracious
speeches, climaxed at last by an in
vitation to call at Essex house and q
statement that her grace would send
| them cards for "little reception on
Wednesday night to meet Princess
Louise of Lorne." Friends Of Mr.
McQuiston are sure to be welcome
with us, you know" she said, as she
bowed and asked Johnny to help her
up the ladder to the coach seat.
"Will you come now and sing hymns
for me, sir?' whispered her grace, as
she stood with Johnny's hand in hers
"Come!" he blurted out. "rll 60 and
sing till you order me out OK the
house,
The duchess laughed and murn.urecs
SIS it SO bad as that? Well, she is
lovely, and you are fortunate. Bring
her to see me Saturday morning VT H."
''What were you asking me, aantie,
when the duchess spoke first TO Mr..
4 had told him something" asked Eel.
lie, coolly, as they drove home through
the pretty streets of st. Johns Wood.
II am sure don't remember, jear,"
said Mrs. Thurston, innocently.
"Shall l tell Mr.. McQuiston to 0J
away before the duchess reception,
auntie?" Nellie asked that night as she
stood before the door of her auntA
room, candle in hand
Certainly not. Why, he is to taxa
us there"
| May l tell MIN TO SJayl
"Of course not; there is no nsed OF
saying anything. He seems like {. very
sensible young man, and needs Ne,
coaching"
Coaching, auntie? Fie, why, GAat's
slang And suppose in this coaching
he asks me If will let him drive, what
then?"
Don't be foolish, child. He has nO
such ideas in his head. Don't be fool
ish."
I'm rather afraid shall be-" naid
Nellie; but she said II to the caadle
after she closed the door.
1t was some months after this &taY
Mrs. John Arlington McQuLsSoh
Johnnys middle name has been drawn
from obscurity into active life), l&vk'
ing at two tall Sevres which stood he,
side the library fireplace, remarked t&
her husand:
John, dear, do you know, behsve
auntie would like to have the ducheuf
letter framed and hung between tha
vases she sent u.s." F.
Johnny, who was busily lookiHr
over manuscript, smiled, but said moths
ing.
~ don't think you are half enough
grateful to your duchess, john" cols.
tinued Mrs. John.
"Oh, yes" said John. and he came n
his wife's chair and rumpled her brown
bang with caressing hand, "but you ser
she is outranked now by my queen. ~
Parker l.. Walker, in Boston Homb