Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-11-22


was a slim, well-dressed man, wearing
his hair parted exactly in the middle, and
diamond pin in the sailor knot OF his
,ie He had his frock coat open and his
thumb in the arm holes Of his waistcoat
The attitude denoted mplaceney, and
the man WAS complacent
well. the funny part Of it is he was
saving lightly, his shoulders pressed
against the mantelpiece. "that | am din
s ing at the Burton Smiths this evening
"AhY his companion answered. look
4 ing up at MIN with eyes of envy. And
4 60 you will see herf'
"Of course She is TO come to them TO.
day. But they do not know about our
4 engagement yet and as she does not
want to blurt it out the moment she ar
rives-why. for this evening, it will be
secret. Still thought | would tell you"
He stepped away as he spoke, to
ttraighten a red morocco-covered de-
. Snatch box standing on the table behind
him. il bore, besides the Haunting gilt
capitals Il o." modest plate with the
name Ernest Wibberley"--his name.
The other waited until he resumed his
place. Then he answered, holding SUI
his hand: Eyes. / am glad you told me,
heartily. believe me"
Thank you. Jack" wibberley replied.
~ knew you would. ! rattle. feel myself
that fate cannot harm me- l have
diued today"
Happy dog" said Jack, and presently
disappeared.
The Burton Smiths, whom we heard
them mention, are tolerably well known
II London. Burton Smith himself is a
barrister, with money and many rea-
tions-Irish landlords. Scotch members
Indian Judges and the like. His wife is
Young, gracious, and fond of society.
Their drawing rooms on the topmost fat
Of Onslow Mansions-rooms with sloping
ceilings and dozen quaint hooks and
corners-are seldom empty during the
regulation hours.
This particular dinner party had been
planned with some care. Lady Linacre
will come. no doubt Mrs Burton Smith
had said one day at breakfast. coming a
list she held in her hand. land Mr..
May"
But Burton Smith objected TO May.
''IIe will talk about nothing but India,
he protested "and the superiority OF Cal
cutta over London. A little Of these
Bombay ducks goes long way, my
dear"
Well, James," Mrs. Burton Smith
replied placldly-the Hon. Vereker May
is a son of Lord Hawthorn-"he will
take me in, and do not mind. Only
must have Mr. Wibberley on the other
side to make conversation and keep me
alive. Let me see-that will be three.
And Joanna Burton-she comes that
afternoon--iour Do you know, James,
when we were at Temple Rothley for
Christmas, / thought there was some
thing between your cousin and Mr.. Wib-
berleyY"
Then for goodness sake do not let
them sit togetherF Burton Smith cried
"or they will talk to one another and TO
no one else"
Very we'll" Mrs. Smith assented
"They shall sit opposite to one another
and Mr. Wibberley shall take in Mrs. |
Gaiantine. She will b. sure to fiirt with |
him, and We can watch Joanna's face. l
shall soon see ifthere is anything between |
i them"
Mr. Wibberley was a young man of
some importance. If only in his capacity |
o. private secretary TO a minister. lie |
had a thousand Acquaintance. and Ger
tainiy two friends-perhaps three. He /
might be something some day was !
bound to be- He dressed we'll, locked 1
we'll, and talked well He was little
piesumptuous, perhaps even trifie con
eeted; but women like these things ia
young men, and he had infinite tao. At
any rate, he had never yet found himself 1
10 place too strait for him.
lhls evening as he dressed for dinner
Is ne brushed his hair vigorously OF
paused 10 smile at some refiecton-his
own but not in the classic was in his
Aappest mood Everything seemed TO be
gong well with him He had no presen-
ument Of evil. He was going t. house
Nnere be was appreciated. Mrs. Burton
4 smith was great ally of his. And then
'lere would be as we know, some one
else Happy mani
Lady Linacre,m said his hotess as she
introduced him to a stout Parsonage with
, Write hair double chin and diamonds.
Nloberiey bowed, making up his mind
'-at the dowager was one OF those ladies
with strong preiudices, who draw their
SKIRTS together if you prove a home
ruler. and leave the room if you mention
er Charles Dixie. "AIr. May, you have
met before, Mrs. Smith continued, tand
9ou know Miss Burton. / Think"
lie murm0red assent, while She
s'ar na-shook hands with him frankly
saa quietly, with the ghost of a smile,
ltfhaps. He played his part well. too
Iof moment, but halted in mis- sentence
= u flashed across his mind that this was
seelr hrst meeting since she had said
les He recovered from his momen-
'Afy Embarrassment, however before
even Mrs. Burton Smith could note it,
ana promptly offered Mrs. Galantine his
arm.
she was an old friend of his-as friends
70 In society. He had taken her In to
e,nner, that is. half dozen times
VINO is that girly' she asked, when they
we're seated; and she raised her glasses
s-a stared through them at her vis-a-vis.
declare she would be pretty il her nose
we're not 50 shr IT"
ne seized the excuse to put up his
as TOO, and take a look. 1T is rather
10Y he admitted, gazing with whim-
"a sense Of property at the deficient or
Au- But some people like short noses.
- Know, Mrs Gaiantine