The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-09-27
tons memory. and he introduced him.

self
After that matters hurried them.
selves. They are apt 70 do this in
hotels and journeyings and saunter.
ings. Johnny fell into sort of trance
| wherein his inconsistencies seemed
boldness, and Miss Nellie began to ask
! herself questions. As for Mrs Thurs
ton, she soon lost any doubt as to her
own conclusions. and declared that
she intended either to leave for the
continent, regardless Of comfort, or
ask Mr.. McQuiston to continue his
travels,
There was cricket match on be-
tween Eton and Harrow-one of the
notable matches Of the year and
Johnny had hired the neatest turnout
he could find to convey the trio to
Lords grounds. There was some bat
tling before the elder lady would con-
sent to go and the younger finally de-
clared that she would give Mr.. Nc
| Quiston hint of the brewing storm.
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 well, 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 a
whisper, when Mrs. Thurston, in
polar voice, exclaimed: Nellie, have
you told Mr.. McQuiston2"
Johnny looked up in surprise, while
guilty Nellie blushed and paled, and
finally gasped as the situation became
| plain, and her aunt's intentions flashed
upon her.
She glanced nppealingly at the old
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
little older. Lookr'
Johnny followed the direction of
Mrs. Thurston's glance and cried, Its
the duchess!'
"Whop' 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 TOP"
again in shrill whisper, excited and
eager now.
'Is that the lady you mistook for me
at the hotel?" exclaimed Nellie.
Dressed in a white costume simple
and yet bewildering, and a 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.
"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 know your friends?'
When Johnnie recovered his wits the
duchess was in the carriage beside
Nellie, telling Mrs. Thurston that she
had been struck by the likeness Nell
lie Thurston bore to herself, and this
was followed up by other gracious
speeches, climaxed at last by an in
vitation to call at Essex house and a
statement that her grace would send
them cards for a "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. "Tll go and
sing till you order me out of the
house.
''What were you asking me, auntie.
when the duchess spoke first to Mr..
McQuiston? You wanted to know II
] had told him something" asked Nell
lie, coolly, as they drove home through
the pretty streets of st. Johns Wood.
81 am sure / don't remember, DEAR"
said Mrs. Thurstop, innocently.
''Shall l tell Mr.. McQuiston to 90
away before the duchess reception,
auntiep" Nellie asked that night as she
stood before the door of her aunt's
room, candle in hand.
Certainly not. Why, he is to take
US there"
MAY tell him to stay?"
"Of course not; there is no need Of
saying anything. He seems like very
sensible young man, and needs no
coaching"
Coaching, auntie? Fie, why, that's (,
slang. And suppose in this coaching
he asks me If will let him drive. what
then?"
"Don,t ha foolish. child Ha has No |