The Forrest City times., 1897-01-01
New Years day.


 We were a miserable party as we trudged through the muddy lanes to Melcomb Regis hall. How our foot. steps halted. On what paltry pretense I delayed the half-hour's walk, now to admire bit of scenery, now to examine some strange shrub, till even mothers patience failed her.
 "1low you can talk about anything but that awful old man I cannot under stand. My heart has been in a futter ever since we left the cottage" she murmured.
 Putting off the moment of his con. fessed ignominy," Nell laughed. "Oh, dad, thank Providence for these degen- crate days. If Sir Hughs feudal priv. ileges had demanded you might have found yourself swinging from a bough of that grand old elm.'
 And serve me right" I snapped.
 The gorgeous footman stared at us good-naturedly, but of course not with the servile smirk reserved for "kerridge comp'ny." k
 'Is the baronet in?"
 "Sir 'uh an me lady hev druv in the pony cart to Wilfred cottage to call on you, sir"
 "What!"
 "You come up the shrubbery, an that's 'ow you missed 'em.''
 Too shocked for words, we snesked back like baffled conspirators.
 Said mother, in an awed whisper:
 You don't think he'll do anything to the children, if he finds them? You see, he is more or less mad, and"
 NelPs eyes blazed Without word she started on a run. Mother and I followed more sedately. though must confess when saw the empty carriage at our gate, my heart beat like trip hammer.
 Nell Was standing peeping in at the parlor window. She put her finger to her llps to mo- tion silence.
 l shall never forget the sight.
 There sat the old baronet, with Char lie on his knee. riding cock horse, while on a low rocker Lady McGregor re- clined, clasping Flossie in her arms.
 Neal's eyes danced with mischief. Led to grace by the innocents," she laughed. Let us surprise them be- fore they can lapse into their primitive barbarism."
 Very humbly told my story.
 An ominous silence.
 Lady McGregor looked at her bus- tand with wistful, hungry eyes.
 Still the old man was speeches..
 Nell's flushed face and quivering hp told that storm was brewing.
 "If you please, Sir Hugh, will take my child." she said, advancing with outstretched arms.
 The hard lines of the old mans face softened.
 Nay, my dear, not so. havo not had child in my arms for ten years and I-I-did not think-that l could ever be so foolish, but r."
 He was ali but sobbing, ard Nell. with woman's wonderful tact, taking the situation as matter of course. said: Yes, and children are so quick to discover who are really fond of them" The shameless little hussic never even blushed when she propounded this mendacious bit of sophistry.
 And that days dinner at the hall! Contrary to all ideas of English domes- tic etiquette, Charlie and Flosse sat in state in high chairs, with the resplen- dent fiunkey to wait upon them.
 Ut was all very we'll for time," de- clared the baronet, but my heart had grown very weary for the batter of a child's footstep in the house and the music of a child's voice. I have seen nearly 70 New Years days, but this day of emancipation from foolish vow is the happiest of them alb
 And how about the other philos- ophers-your disciples in Melcomb Regis?" could not help mischievously asking.
 "Oh," laughed Nell, with merry twinkle in her eyes. "We'll just turn the babies loose in tho parish and bowl them over like nine-pins."
 We did.
 BERNARD BIGsRY.
 AMPLE.
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