Middletown transcript., 1895-03-23


was young girl, bright and pretty
young girl, who, radiant in her shin.
ing ball dress, and with the happiest
face and lightest tread in the room,
had been dancing indefat igably for the
last five hours. Sir Lochlan Maclach-
Ian had got up the ball-a Highland
ball at his Highland castle-on pur-
pose to please his young cousin, Lilllas
Athprton, and to celebrate a certain
happy event which had his warm ap-
proval and sanction. The ball was
nearly over, and it had been a great
success. He was good naturedly con-
scious Of having given great deal OF
pleasure, and was now leaning against
the entrance doorway, ready to be
shaken hands with, thanked and con-
graf ulated by departing guests.
Good heavens, Lily! What on earth
do you mean? What have you to do
with lhe early train?"
"Only ;hat Pm going away by it,
Sir Lachlan."
''Going away by i'll My dear girl!
What don't III derstahd, by Jovel
what will Majnr Jccelyn say 10 that 20
"Major Joctlyn will have not hing to
say TO it. Major Jocelyn has no right
to say any hing now. Please ask no
questions, Sir Lachlan. l will write
everything after am gone. Only can
l have carriageW
"Of course you can have carriage,
Lily; but my dear child" in tones of
remonstrance, "it is nearly 8 O'Clock
now, and to catch the early train you
must start by seven,"
81 Know know; will be ready.
Obi thank you so much, dear, kind
Sir Lachlan-but l can't stay" with
sudden sob; and the next moment
there was rustic of flying skirts, and
white figure vanished mp the broad
staircase, and was instantly lost to
view.
Another voice was at his elbow.
$50 sorry to trouble you, Sir Lach-
Ian, but can be carted across to Ben
Crotch to catch tho early train? It's a
nuisance, but find I've got to leave
at once; know you will forgive my
cutting short my visit. which believe
me, must regret having to do. l will
explain by letter. It's-it's rather
sudden, and Pm awfully ashamed to
worry you with SO early start-but
I'm afraid really must"
A close observer would have seen
that even Major Jocelyn was, in a
manner, not himself. The host, after
single glance, and an imperceptible
raising of the eyebrows, did not at
tempt to argue the point, as he had
done in Miss Atherton's case.
"Of course, my dear fellow, you can
have anything you want" he replied,
readily. "You know it will be a
deucedly early business-the train
passes Bell Crioch at little past eight
but we can fig you up something at
the stables which will take you over in
time. Awfully sorry to lose you,
but, as it's case of 'needs must, the
only thing to be done is to give orders
at once. You will breakfast in your
own room, and be at the hall door by 7
O'clock sharp. I'll see to it myself,
but don't trust to being called, if you
take my advice. The servants will be
half asleep"
81 shane 60 10 bed" said Jocelyn,
quietly; 'it's not worth while; and an
old soldier can take few hours sleep
anyhow and anywhere. think, how
ever, III go off to pack now. So it's
good night and 'goodby." He put
out his hal.d and held that of the other
for moment; their eyes met, but
Deithor spoke another word.
''Now what on earth can it be?'
cogitaled Sir Lachlan with himself, rs
he went to give the orders. "A capi-
tai match--a nice bright, pretty girl,
and good girl, too-and With money,
that would have been such comfort
to poor JOcelyn, who has mother and
sister hanging Gu to his payi And
Jocelyn is such good fellow ~l-and so
honestly in love-and he Is q man who,
I verify believe, never was in love be-
forei 1t seemed too good to be true-by
jove, it didl-and I gave this ball to let
everybody know of the engagement,
and now this is to be the end Of i'll Too
confolnded carriages ordered for the
early trainl That's nice sortof anti
climax!" A slow frown settled down