Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-03-14

table. and without meaning to do so. look.
ed full at herself. For n ONE she was
quite startled by herself-she looked so
bright, so like her younger sister who had
become Lady Stauntop. aud she had such
a pretty color In her cheeks. such a light
In her eyes, such charming curves to her
lips and-and really the hitherto desplsed
little teapot-spout OF a nose did not, to use
the phraseology Of Julia's own thoughts,
look half bad.
Fol a moment she laughed like a pleased
child, then she pressed her hands to her
flushed cheeks aud her perplexed eyes
and asked herself aloud, Heavens, can I
be dreaming or am / going cracked, or
what" and then the gong sounded below
aud she hastily finished her toilette and
hurried down the stairs.
still she could not get the young man
out Of her head. Mrs.. Traford, ~ was
natural, was full of the new people aud
talked indeed about little or nothing else.
Everything so nice aud yet no show
she said complacently: indeed there was
no sign OF Ostentatiousness excepting per-
haps the footmau."
And everybody would nave powdered
footmen IL they conld afford IT," remarked
Julia, drily.
Yes, you are right, Julia-at least, /
am sure ! should, the little widow cried
with her ARREST laugh. They must be
very rich" she added in n different tone.
"whyS"
Because nobody who was NOT very
rich would have dreamed OF setting up
such an establishment OF servants as they
seem to have.
OH | should think they were rich"
said Julia, carelessly.
She thought far less about their money
than she did about stephen Howard, In
fact, she did not give "A thought to the
money at all except when Mrs. Traford
mentioned IL: but she went 10 bed and
tossed feverishly about through all that
long, long night, haunted by a pair OF lazy
blue eyes and n wonder whether he would
find his way to 81. Ewes on the morrow
or Dst.
And in the morning she got up feeling
like a limp rag and looking-well, so that
when she saw herself In the glass, she
fairly groaned,
Have you headache, DEAR" Mrs. Traf-
ford asked the moment after Julia entered
the m~orning-room.
Yes, / nave rather a headache" she
answered.
Poor child. hope it won't be worse
as the day goes on" Mrs. Trsfford said in
commiseratiug tones. Have n cup of tea.
dear, and Try to eat something. Nothing
will carry It away 30 soon"
Thus hidden Julia sat down at the table
and after a very respectable meal an
nounced that she felt a good deal better.
Then" said Mrs. Trafford, keep your
self very quiet this morning and most
likely 1t will pass away. | nave one or two
little matters to see after, and | have TO go
into the town, 40 you will be quite uudis-
turbed."
She very soon went out aud then Julia
tucked herself up on the comfortable
roomy sofa In the morning-room and tried
To make up for the i'll effects Of her bad
night, not only tried but succeeded so
thoroughly that when Mrs. TratTOrd re-
turned two hours later. she peeped into
the room aud found her eldest flower fast
asleep.
IL was wonderful what that sleep did
for Julia. She felt quite like another be-
Ing, and did full justice 10 her lunch. for
Mrs. Trafford remarked, There Is nothing
like food for nervous exhaustion. which is
the proper name for half the headaches
there are, my dear
Aud then Julia went upstairs and dress
ed herself In a nice smart tailor gown Of
dark green cloth-ri6e-green | believe
they call it-with some handsome gold
lace work about the collar and cuffs OF it,
and put on her outdoor GOA and hat.
But, my dean child" exclaimed her
mother. when she made her appearance
! Ia ska Ia. "a 800, ssx1, an ~ n, anu -r.Nfn r
out''
"Oh, my head is all right now, mother,
DEAR" said Julia, going to the long glass
and pulling the edge OF the strip OF gold
beaded net which she wore for a veil well
Hi- am s only 90 soi 81 dfao@sfs' % sA, Mss5 HsFs t55 'sssse
about my Shoes. i shall be back before
tea-time."
"Oh. very well; ! am not going ont
again." said Mrs. Trafiord, in a casual
kind OF tone.
1t was remarkable of this mother and
daughter that they never aid aside the
mask which they habitually wore. IL n
thing were too extrayagant for them TO
think OF: they never said 50. IL some de-
sire were unattainable. they never said
as much they always spoke, even TO each
other. as IL they did not care about it.
| This afternoon the same thought was In
the heart of each, and the thought took
the form OF Stephen Howard. When Mrs.
Trafford exclaimed, my dear child, you
are neuer going outi" she meant to say,
Have you forgotten that Mr.. Howard il
comingt' and when Julia replied that her
head was better and that she should be
back before tea-time, she intended to con-
yey that she had not forgotten that they
were expecting q certain visitor, but that
she was going out on purpose TO be out
when he should arrive.
And sure enough, when Stephen How
ard knocked at the door OF No. Z st. Ewes,
which he did about four o'clock, he found
only Mrs. Trafford sitting alone in the
bright and cosy drawiug-room. a bright
fire burning in the well polished CRATE,
and her def little hands busy rs usual
with some crimson silk socks.
He cast a glance round the room as II
In search of someone whom at first sight
he had not perceived. II am all alone.
Mr.. Howard" said Mrs. Trsfford, in her
most friendly and hospitable manner
"Julia has gone out-did you come by way
of the High Street, Yes! Ali wonder
you did not meet her"
mo, I never saw her. said he, and it
was evident both from his looks and his
tone that he was disappointed.
"Ahl She will be here presently" said
Mrs. Trafford, with bland indulgence,
much as she might have done IL Julia
was the Acknowledged beauty of the town
aud this one OF a score of her luckless
adorers.
1t was an admirable manner. that par
ticular manner, of Mrs. Trsfford's. and
she pointed to an exceedingly comfortable
chair not very far from her own.
"'Sit down aud tell me what YOU think
about Blankhampton," she said, 'or. stay,
do you mind ringing tn. bell for me
firstt"
Mr.. Howard rang the bell, and then sat
down in the chair.
II suppose you arc not in q great hur.
ryf" she said. kindly.
"Oh, not ut ALL" he answered.
THAT Is all right. Oh, Cox" a. the
spruce parlor maid appeared. I'VE will
have tea as soon as Miss Trafford comes
inn
"Yes, ma'am." said Cox.
"And now" said Mrs. TrafYord to her
visitor, 'tell me how you like Blank
hampton"
Immensely" he replied promptlv. cat