Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-18

He Was Inclined to Go and See What
Manner of Woman This Was.
but, even as he thought, Miss Digby adj
vanced to meet him, with radiant look
of welcome eXclaimlng: This is kind and
good of you, Col. Capel. 7 had no idea you
were in Ireland. How pleased my father
will be to find you here when he comes in
Il trust you will excuse this uncere-
monious intrusion, Miss Disby, he replied,
with profound bow: Il wrote yesterday
asking leave to avail myself of the hos
pitality Mr.. Digby so kindly offered. but l
find my letter was not posted. There
FORE
Dear colonel, do you think explanation
necessary? 1t would have been had YOU
passed by. Delany. have Col. CaDels lug
gage taken to his room. Tell Mrs Hagen
to see to it Let me Introduce ,ay cousin.
Miss O'Grady, Col. Capel; and Delany
bring some sherry and biscuits
Her color rose as she spoke. and CGpel
felt absolutely dizzy with tne warmth of
his reception.
Delany soon appeared with sherry of a
very superior quality, and a lively CONVEX
sation ensued. in which Capel joined with
unusual fuency and pleasure. Time flew
fast in this agreeable converse, and the
shades of evening We're closing, when Ca
pel's attention was reused by the sound of
wheels and the trampling of horses outside.
''Ah! there is our good old friend cried
visitor today. 1 fear she has had very
weary journey. Nine. de Siresne had been
my mothers governess, and came back
here after she was 81 widow to try and
keep me in order when I was a motherless
child. She has been STAYING away near
Mitchelstown with some friends, and is 60
ing to give us a few weeks before she
turns to her son in England. We have not
seen her for long time. VIII you excuse
me, Col. Capel. if 1 go to receive herr She
Is dear old French lady, AMI speaks en-
glish wonderfully well, but with an Irish
accent"
Capel rose and opened the door for her Miss
O'Grady had left the room a second before
a sound of many voices all speaking to-
gether. the trampling of feet, the humping
of heavy box, came confusediy to Capels
ear. He was inclined to go and see what
manner of woman this was but politeness
restrained him.
In a few minutes Miss Digby returned
smiling, but paler than she was.
THE poor, dear thing Is terribly tired,
and has gone to her room till dinner is
ready. Nelly is attending to her. Would
you like to go to yours, Col. Capel?' and
Capel assented.
PART II.
Capel found himself installed in a large
luxuriously furnished bed room. To be
sure, everything that could be worn out
had been considerably used, not to say
frayed. Still, there was an air of luxury
ant to the eye, and CapeI dressed for dinner
in very cheerful mood. Whatever Miss
Digby's first impression on his appearance
had been, she was really glad to see him.
What eyes she had! And how they spoke
She was a good deal his junior. Yet he was
a young man still. Indeed since he had
left boyhood behind, he had rarely felt so
young as at present. In a way, too Grace
Disby was not young for her nineteen
a hnr =
about her that raised her above mere girl
hood, and suggested heavenly ideas as to
what her love would be.
When Capel descended to the drawing
room he was cordially greeted by the mas
ter or the house, who was in possession of
the hearth rug. before a large turf fire.
Digby was tall, handsome, whitehall
man, with a clear brown compIexion and
heaithy color. There was a keen look in
his dark eyes and a humorous curl in the
corners of his somewhat full-lipped mouth,
which suggested an all-pervadlng sense of
fun.
''Begad. am sorry I wasn't at homo to
receive you,'' he said, when he had Indicted
mis- guest into comfortable armchair
But L am sure Grace took care of youi
Ana tomorrow I'll show you a bend in the
stream where you'll find trout galore. Are
you lover Of the rod? It's the only sort
OF sport to be had at this time 49,
cant say 1 am much of an angler.
prefer shooting, and still more hunting
Il hope we shall be cable to show Won
some sport in the autumn! 1 only heard
the day before yesterday that you were to
take command Of the southwest district.
L hope you'll stay over the winter. We
count Cork next door. It's not much more
than thirty-ffve miles,
Here Ellen, or more commonly, Nelly
OGrady came in, and joining her uncle on
the hearth rug, passed her arm through
his
What Is only thirty-fve miles off. dear?"
she asked.
The beautiful city called Cork. darIin,.
Faith. our horses ought to know the w ra
there! My girls have the devils own duck
OF m1lliner there. a Frenchwoman no less
are no matter what wars and blockades
anu scrlmmages are going on, she manages
TO nave the latest modes from Paris It's
my benet she invents them all in her own
PACK .e,s parlor, and fixes her price, too"
Inc more to her credit uncle Doesn,t
invention deserve reward?''
Inc ladies' can hardly go and return that
distance in a day."
NO nor the horses. either; but mad'moi-
seile Is most accommodating. She has ele-
CANT lodgings to let, over the shop, where
ner iasori ,is customers may try on from
morning TIL night, and empty the pockets
or mankind in these parts"
come, uncle! Grace and are the most
prudent young women in Munsterv'
Faith, you are, my jewel! Why, here's
madame"
The door opened as he spoke, and Grace
Dgoy entered. She wore a dress of deli
cate gray, the long plain directoire skirt
belled out at the bottom with several mar
row founces; and a lace fchu crossed over
the bosom became her we'll. Capel could
hardly turn his eyes from her to the fig
ure which leaned on her arm, though 1t
was sufficiently remarkable.
A tall, stiff old lady, clad in a gorgeous
DrCcaded silk of