The record-union., 1897-02-07

! been unfortunate in business: how on
his death, Lady Barfield had offered to
| give her a home. and how she had ac-
cepted ii. thinking that it would only
be for a few months before she would
have home of her own. But Dick s
chance of good berth had been lost
| through the failure of his employers
| and Dick-the dearest fellow in the
| world-had been obliged to begin life
| again as a clerk at a salary of ESQ a
year. And now we don't know how
long we may have to wait; perhaps till
| am old and gray" Theresa said. "and
poor, dear Dick quite bald with anxiety
l am not intensely happy here, and I
mean to try for another situation. Shall
l go out to South Africa, Cousin Jane?
Should 1 get better salary there? But,
then-I don't know what Dick would
| do.
No. You must not come out to Af-
rica." Cousin Jane answered. BE pa
tient, my dear. Perhaps things will
take a better turn some day
Then Theresa said that she must
leave her visitor, for she had to help
to decorate the supper table. and she
had promised to dress Patricia's hair.
| because she liked the way Theresa did
| Il better than the maids way.
Don't mind leaving me-" said Cousin
Jane Il have been talking to your
aunts maid, and / am going to help
her to alter dress for somebody. You
know l was a dressmaker, and L am
very fond of sewing
"Oh, very well. but Cousin Jane, do
you mind letting her think that you are
my old nurse? If Lady Barfield hears
that you have said you are a cousin,
she will be disagreeable to me-
Il won't tell anyone but Lady Bar
field herself-before 1 go" said Cousin
Jane, quietly. And somehow. little as
she knew of her. Theresa felt that
Cousin Jane would be as good as her
word.
! When Theresa went to look for her.
later, she found her and Lady Bar
fields maid in the latter's room, stitch
ing busily
Go away!" Cousin Jane said. taking
the pins out of her mouth. IF you in
| te1rupt US the dress won't be ready for
| the lady"
Whose dress is it?" Theresa said.
/ lingering, for the simmer of satin and
chiffon is dear to the eyes Of maidens
| 1t is an old dress of Miss Patrcia's
We are making up in a hurry for lady.
Miss Theresa" answered Barton. But
l don't think she would like it to be
| known, and it will look as good as new
Your old nurse is a wonderful dress
maker, Miss"
Barton and Cousin Jane seemed to
be on the best of terms, and Theresa.
| with half envious glance at the finery.
| retreated
Evening came and the guests arrived
| Soon, strains of music f1oated through
the hall: lights shone on happy faces
| and laughter and dancing steps Knocked
at gravity.
Theresa, in her shabby gown ran to
| look for Cousin Jane Come" she
said. we can go now and peep down
into the hall, and see some of the fine
goings on.
Cousin Jane-her passive old face
| slightly flushed. and her pale eyes
| twinllling-rose and took Theresa's
! hand.
Wait a minute, my dear" she said
! You must come with me to your room
| first. and then we will go down TO-
| gether''
| Yes, I love to keep Christmas in the
| old-faShioned way, with family re-
| unions. and sociable gatherings" said
| Lady Barfield, standing in the center
| of the nobly propOrtioned hall, under
a brilliant light, stately in black velvet
and diamonds. and shedding affabe
smiles upon the Duke of Middleshira at
| her side.
A dance was just over. Frederick
| Barfield and the heavily lowered Lady
Mary strolled in from the ballroom:
Patricia and Lord COttingdean stood
| together-the nobleman's bearing eX-
pressive of approval and appreciation;
the Darcy girls and their partners and
| many others of the gay throng were
gathered in little groups mingling their
| bright figures picturesquely with the
suits Of armor on the walls, and the
| skins and antlers which hung between.
Suddenly, with a cry of oh" from
all the girls hush of amazement ST
fenced the buzz of talk and laughter
hush which startled Lady Barfeld
and made her turn to see what it was
at which all her guests were staring
wide-eyed. Then, for once in her life,
her presence of mind forsook her. and
SIt NIuIS ItI CANictIIiililSo,
Cousin Jane"
II was indeed Cousin Jane, just as
she had appeared the night before in
her crino!ine and high spoon bonnet,
the flowers whereof wobbled as she
moved; one hand clutching her black
bag while with the other she dragged
reluctant, but dazzling figure-The-
resa-in white satin, covered with fluffy
gauze. and literally blazing with dia
mondS. There We're diamonds in her
dark hair diamonds around her white
throat and arms. diamonds about her
waist and as she moved slowly nearer
and nearer it would seem that her
whole dress was sprinkled with dia
monds.
Yes, Lady Barfield!' said the mer-
ciless old woman. in a loud monotonous
voice which could be heard by every
one in the dead silence which had be-
fallen Il am your husbands Cousin
Jane / came from South Africa to
spend one more Christmas with my re-
lations Your husband always said that
Jim and me would be welcome-though
had been poor dresSmaker, and him
only a shop assistant. And we were
poor enuogh for years, my lady. until
one day l picked up diamond, and the
luck turned. l picked 'em all UP my
SELF and she pointed to the blushing
and bedizened Theresa. Then my
brother Jim loaded up to the neck in
gold shares along of Barney Barnato,
and a lot of 'em, and he was cute
enough to sell out before the slump.
He's more than a millionaire now, is
poor Jim. But somehow, having so
much more money than we knew what