Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-07-29
CHAPTER XVIII.

| porch by Miss Hit, al ounces naAeii
curls and smiles.
.You are welcome to Fuljoy's Isle,
| Colonel Greville. Mrs. Greville, you are
welcome. / wish you both much joy in
your future lives" she said, shaking
| hands i'm turn with the bride and
bridegroom. "Your luggage is already
| carried up to your apartments. Would
you like to be shown thither before din
nerg' she added.
IF you please, Miss Hit. And re-
member that TO You am always little
| Daney." said the bride.
Miss Hit had already sent the lady's
maid up stairs, under the charge or
Mandy. And now the old lady led the
way thither, and opening the door, in
troduced the bride into her elegant
chamber.
An exclamation Of pleasure broke
from Astrea's lips as she threw herself
into her easy chair before her dressing
table, and gazed around the pretty
room with its hangings Of r~ose-colored
silk and fine lace.
s'Oh. how good is my dear guardian,
and how perfect is bis tGste!' she said.
"Iless YOU, child! 1t was no the cap
tain's taste. He SEN down an uphol-
sterer. with a carte blanche; the man
knew his business, and you see the re-
suit. But the captain has taste, there IL
no DENYING that. And now ma am. i
will leave you to change your dress,
while | 60 and have the dirDer served"
| said Miss Hit, leaving the room.
Mademoiselle Fifiine, Mrs. GreyiIle's
French maid, was In the adjoining
dressing room, engaged in u~npackinS
trunks and boxes. and putting away
their contents i'm bureaus n ward
robes: but, summon ed now by her mis-
tress. she came and attended her ut her
toilet.
When her toilet was complete, even
to the delicate white gloves aud the
white cobweb. of a handkerchief. she
| stepped through the French windows OF
her chamber out upon the piazza. to
look once more upon the lovely home OF
+, her childhood. The aspect was n South
ern one.
The exceeding beauty, glory and I'D
Unity of the scene almost suspended In
ecstacy the breath OF the beholder.
While Astrea gazel. cntranced. she
heard n light step beside her, felt a soft
hand upon her, and turned to see her
husband by her side.
Then they went down to the dining
room. where, bride and bridegroom
though they were, they did full justice
to the luxurious feast spread before
them. How passed their evening: In
music, conversation and moonlight
walks upon the terrace. Then. weary
! with their journey from the city 20 the
isle, they retired to their apartments,
And not until then did the tired house
hold seek repose.
Miss Hit waddled around in her last
tour over the establishment, to see that
the windows ard doors were closed and
MI the lights and fires pat ont. And
then, attended by her two maids. Man
dy and Stphy, she entered her owh
o Oh the third floor front, where she
sank painting into All easy chair.
These two girls always slept In the
garrett above Miss Hits room: but il
was he custom, growing out of her sol
itude, for the old lady to detain them n
few minutes every night in her own
chamber. for a little gossip or last or
ders, before dismlssing them to their
own. You may be sure that this even
ing proved no exception to the general
rule. There was much to he talked
over. And as Miss Hit sat blowing In
her chair. Mandy offered to comb her
hair and Sephy to take off her shoes
and stockings, before leaving her. And
while the maids were thus engaged.
Miss Hit spoke-of the bridal pair. of
course. For, let ii be remembered. flat
this N-1S tho first time Ca. ,Luoz
that the household OF the isle had set
eyes on either the lady or the gentle
man.
She's wonderfully improvel-Miss
Astrea-Mrs Greville, / should say"
said Miss Hit.
Il 'clar' | shouldn' a-known her.
num- answered Mandy.
NO, nor Marse Fulke-the Colonel. I
mean. Isn't he handsome, just?" OBJ
served Sephy.
Il hope 1t will be a happy marriage"
sighed Miss Hit.
And so does /. nun; but / has my
w thoughts said Mandy.
la! why shouldn't 1t be happy
Just see what a handsome pair thew
are" observed Sephy.
But Miss Hit had turned an APPALLED,
countenance upon Mandy, as il she ST.
lently demanded n reason for her cx-
pressed forebodings.
Mandy was a well formed. fall. slen-
der girl, with a good-humored black
face, laughing black eyes, and smiling
lips that displayed rows of teeth white
n smooth as ivory. There was q
great deal OF wit, intelligence and af-
lection in Mandy's nature. And her
truth. honesty and fidelity won the re-
gard OF the whole family. 1T was.
therefore, with much confidence that
Miss Hit listened to her explanation.
You see, Miss 'Hitable. mum. / ney-
er said muffin til to nobody bout what
I'm going to tell you now. You mem
Der de las ebenin as cher Marse Fl1lke
was here, afore he went away SO sud
dint?' 11
Yes, I do. And I knew at the time
there was some quarrel between him
n his uncle, though nothing was over
said about 1t afterw ard"
wen, mum, 1t v as q quarrel. and MI
ABOUT little Daney. Miss Astrea. I
mean, Mrs. Greyille, as / should saw,
lou see, mum, dat dat ebenin' I was
pusy taking de candle-grease spots
IIGfn In 49,