The Press., 1894-11-22

[ Now, it appears Madam Hingham, the governor wife, was very fond of cats She had four-a white black, tor toise shell and tailless Manx cat.
 ''Four?" put in Miss Prissy. have always understood there were five.
 What does it matter, sister," re- turned Miss Hetty, a little pettishly, whether four or five. The cats scam pered to lap up the coffee, and they all fell into horrible convulsions and died from the effects of it, and thus the plot was brought to light, and the governor and his family were saved''
 Arthur Hapg0od had heard quite enough to satisfy Lis curiosity about the old gentleman ill the tie wig whose picture hung over the chimney piece. | He therefore made all excuse to get out of doors ard take a ralnble about the | farm.
 The old sisters both rose and courte- sled as he took his leave You are to make yourself quite at home," said Miss Prissy, with @ gentle air of patron age. We have told Elsie to prepare the front chamber for you with fresh water and towels and the best linen sheets, for it is our wish to entertain Brother Simon's friends exactly as he would have entertained them himself. The very best in the house is at your disposal.
 Young Hapgood wandered about the house, fields the old barns and sheds, with Q sarcastic smile lightly wreathing his lips. It was very funny that he should be politely asked to make him. self at home in his own house, and yet there was spice of annoyance in it. Uncle Si, with his family of queer de- pendents, was proving great puzzle to his shrewd nephew. The old mans s farming was shamefully slipshod, and ] Arthur began to make material changes and calculations before he had been all hour on the place.
 | At last he came Sauntering round bJ the back way and entered the great kitchen, where Elsie, with her sleeves rolled up and a white apron tied over her neatly fitting black gown, stood by the table llneading some loaves of bread. Her little floury, brown hands were quite charming as they twinkled up and I down Ill the bread tray.
 Hapgood came and stood by the table and watched the operation ill way that made Elsie nervous. She turned her shoulder toward him and wished with all her heart he would go away But Arthur was not the man ever tc feel himself out of place. With his hands in his pockets he stood looking l tIo r-i7,l'c hoi the clear cut outline of her face. ''It is very amuaing," said he, as if speaking to himself, ''that those old women should imagine they own everything or the premises. i"
 Elsie flushed slightly with anger. Ii was, she felt, indelicate for Arthur Hap good to make allusion to tho property at once, as if he meant to turn them al out of doors the very first day. Sht saw how foolish she and Paul had beel to dream for @ moment that they coulC stay there.
 ''They are childish, said she slowly "They arc very old" She felt a sud den catching ill her throat and deter minedly choked down sob "You see, they don't understand things quite yet Uncle Si was paralyzed eight months quite helpless and unable to speak ol move-or 1 am sure he would have made some provision for them.'
 Arthur stood studying the girls emo ticn without feeling in the least moved by it. He only noticed that it heighten ed her beauty and made her quite ador able. He jingled ever so slightly tht loose coins in his pocket, made turn ol two through the great kitchen, stop ping to examine the tall clock in tht corner that had chimed out Tner noul when his father was born, and came again and stood close by the stove where Elsie was now putting down the loave: to rise and covering them with towel
 ''There is no need of their knowing immediately, said he as the result O his cogitations, "at least not today. can be broken to them gently, very gen tly. 1 shall do nothing violent but should think it would be blessed re lease to you to be relieved of the care of two such fussy old cats. 1 don sup pose they can scrape up $50 betweel them to save their lives. By the way, noticed there were some nice bits of olC colonial furniture in their room"
 ''The furniture belongs to them, Elsie managed to say, for she was bu a girl, impulsive and rather quick tenn pered, and the tone Arthur HapgooC had assumed had made her very angry Indeed she suddenly felt that she hated him.
 "Well, wouldn't mind buying som of those pieces at a good price," he re turned. II am rather fond of antiques and think know a good thing whel I see it. That coat of arms, he unused as he stood looking down on her 'would have very good effect blazon ed on stained glass window. ,"
 ''Do you mean you would adopt it a your own?'' said Elsie, with suddel flush and slight toss of the head
 "Oh, no, said he, looking at he with curious interest, "but I might ge some one learned ill heraldry to put il a Hapgood quartering."
 Elsie did not know what he meant but she was instinctively disgusted witt the selfish egotism of this young man who seemed to be on such excellen terms with himself, whose clothes fitted
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