Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-08-20


milton, and he was beside her.
"Can do something for you?" he
said in his frank, pleasant way.
"Thank you, am in rather mess"
she answered gratefully. 81 have
lost auntie. I almost always do lose
her in picture gallery, for I wander
about and she sits down in some cor
ner and adores an old master To-day
it happens she has no purse, and she
will want me-"
There was SO much relief in Mrs
Thurston's face when they finally
found her that Johnny felt encouraged.
Mistress Nellie had, in the short time
they were together, concluded that he
was much better than he looked, and
was not to be lightly cast off, in a
land where pleasant and companion
able -countrymen were not too
plentiful, SO she bravely recalled
Johnny to Mrs. Thurston's memory
and he introduced himself.
After that matters hurried them
selves. They are apt to do this in
hotels and journeyings and saunter-
ings Johnny fell into sort of trance,
wherein his unconsciousness seemed
boldness, and Miss Nellie began to ask
herself questions. AS for Mrs. Thurston,
she soon lost any doubt as to her own
conclusion, and declared that she in
tended either to leave for the CONT
nent, regardless of comfort, or ask Mr..
McQuiston to continue his travels.
There was a 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
battling before the elder lady would
consent to go, and the younger finally
declared 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
cordlality and freedom she had
never shown before, and even allowed
her voice to drop into something akin
to whisper when Mrs. Thurston, in
a polar voice, exclaimed: "Nellie,
have you told Mr.. McQuiston?"
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 appealingly at the old
lady, and was astonished to see her
looking up at something on coach
which stood next their carriage.
81 declared" exclaimed the aunt at
last. "Why, Nellie, there is lady
who is the image of you!-only she is
little older. Look -
Johnny followed the direction of
Mrs. Thurston's glance and cried:
'Its the Duchess %
"Who?" said Mrs. Thurstor, in a
shrill whisper.
"The Duchess of Essex" replied
Johnny, excitedly. ";She's awfully
nice, and that pale young fellow with
the beard is her husband, the Duke"
500 you know her-to speak to-"
again in a 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 at Gains
borough. She answered Mrs. Thurs
tons question by glancing down, and
on catching glimpse of Johnny ex-
claimed "Why, Ned, here's Mr.. Nc
Quiston - and her long, shapely arm
descended towards Johnny, who stood
up and looked as delighted as he felt.
The Duchess told johnny after
wards that she guessed it all at
glance, and acted accordingly; and
you can depend 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. 'Tve
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 Johnny recovered his wits
the Duchess was in the carriage be-
side Nellie, telling Mrs. Thurston that
she had been struck by the likeness
Nellie Thurston bore to herself, and |
this was followed up by other gracious
speeches, climaxing at last by an in-
vitation to call at Essex House and a
statement that Her Grace would send
them cards for ''little reception on
Wednesday night, to meet the Princess
Louise of Lorne." "Friends of Mr..
McQuiston's 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