The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-08-10

DlaCE NelNet, ana Wnnt Mr. EggleSton
called "the family dimons" sparkled
on her white neck. Mr.. Eggleston al
ways insisted on her wearing jewels
at dinner He was mortally afraid of
his suspicious-looklng butler, as that
stony hearted functionary had threa-
tened 'to resign" IL Mr. Bggleston
dared to sit down to dinner In a shoot
ing jacket. "If people don't respect
themselves" he had observed, 81 do
When served my Lord Of Ditchwater
he always dressed for dinner, and I'm
not agoin' to demeau myself by walt
ing on a parvenoo who don't" That
had settled IT, Rather than be called
by such an awful word as "par-
venoo" Mr.. Eggleston apologzed, and
Perkins buried the hatchet.
When Nicholson said he was going
away Sempronia didn't like 1t at all.
Her blue eyes looked into the fire with
a rather distracted air. The freight
played upon her beautiful, II some
what naughty, features. What right
a butterman's daughter had to re-
semble the De Veres of romance It
was difficult to discover. but she in
dubitably did SO. Her features were
neither faulty faultless nor splendid
ly null; they certainly were very beau
tiful.
"GOing away?" she asked "Surely,
Mr.. Nicholson, this Is rather Il sudden
freak"
Nicholson rose from his chair and
stood looking down on her. He was
black as a crow. but With a prepos-
sessing blarkness. He had very
musical voice, his gayety was infec-
tious, AMI people fingered TO listen to
his laughing witticlsms. But he did
not seem inclined to be funny tonight
For so merCurlal n youth he was de-
cidodly serious. His land twisted tina
beautiful stud IN his immaculate shirt
front Altogether he was very pre-
occupied The rug wasn't big enough.
He trod on the St Bernard and was
stricken by remorse.
"Such an owl is we'll ont of the
way" he said. Miss Eggleston, I'll
60"
"You forget that you dine with us"
"Oh. no, don't forget. Perhaps you
will let me off. I'm not fit for the gid
dy throng tonight"
'"It isn't giddy throng. There will
be papa and Mr.. Gubbins, True. Mr..
Gubbins-but you cannot call papa
giddy."
"No. I'm off tomorrow. In fact,
I've made discovery"
'In the picture gallery? Or buried
treasure in the paddock"
Don't scoff at my poverty" he sa,d
with repressed feeling. Don't scoff
at that. God knows never felt it un-
til tonight"
"And why to-nightT
''To-nlght?" with assumed lndiffer.
ence. "Well, even the lightest-hearted
fellow finds Black Care perched on his
shoulder sometimes. IL was actually
thinking this afternoon"
mo wonder you are tired" But she
didn't look at him.
"Ycs; funny wasn't It? Actually
thinking What do you think /
thought aboutT"
"I don't know. Something interest
ing?"
81 can't say that. 1t seemed inter.
estlng--to me-"
She smiled
81 went mp TO the gun room and
flung myself into chair"
"And lit cigar"
well, yes. When man thinks,
he's bound to light up; can't help it,"
$50 you lit up?"
"Yes, | lit up. Then | sat down
again; then l got up; then sat down.
Nearly wore out the chair before I'd
finished"
THAT was serious"
sit was. l wanted something. Didn't
know / oil
names and pitched my cigar away.
cigar" regretfully; "and | haven't
many left. Must take to smoking shag
like Old Ikey does. He enjoys it,"
Don't be horrid."
81 got tired of walking up and
down, so l stopped short in the middle
Of the floor, and fixed my eye upon
the carpet pattern. It's an awfully
good plan that The carpet spoke back
TO me- 1t said"
"Yes?"
"Oh, 1t said you bone-ldle beggar.
you've wasted your manhood, you
have loltered In the vineyard meta
phorically, Of course-you can't loiter
In vineyards where there aren't any
stands TO reason) while others toiled,
and all that sort Of thing, don't you
know. Yet all the time, some impos-
sible dream-a dream of some great
happiness-has haunted me. You have
drifted, drifted. drifted, like boat
bottom up with this happiness quite
close to you. You had but to go forth
into the world, and-and win you
spurs-and you didn't go. That's what
the carpet said. Extraordinary bit of
Brussels, wasn't it,"
"Yes Didn't it say anything else?"
Lots Of things. 1t said | must lose
this woman l loved because l was ru.
ined."
"Ruinedv
"Yes, ruined; and all that sort OF
thing. have been living on capital
instead of interest. The only redeem
ing feature about the affair is that the
gallery will have to go. You see.it's
hard lines on fellow to have nothing
but gallery left to him; he can't live
mp to 1t; and yet he has to do so. Non,
Of those ruffianly old ancestors Of
mine ever did a days work in theil
lives. I'm afraid / haven't done much
But why should bore you with this 2