The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-23

CHAPTER I.

[OVtI, now % lIlt N'.''''-'''''
Hopshirc, was hurrying toward Thur
down Hall. residence of Squire Lomax,
two miles away, with note We was
hurrving as fast as his portliness ana
ice- e-hound roads would let him, partly
10 keen himself warm, and partly be-
cause it was past 12 o'clock midday,
and upon his leaving the Grange
stridcnt female voice had commanded
him to be on no account late for the
family meal at one.
John Thompson had passed the Col
den Ball inn-a rare performance on
his part-and had but a few hundred
yards to go when he saw saunterinS
from the direction of Thurdow Hall
tall, good-looking man Of five ana
forty or thereabouts. with whose hgure
he seemed to be familiar, and so he
shifted the note from his left hand
to his right, and prepared to give the
military salute.
BLESSED if it ain't'-But no, it can't
he. But 1t is Blessed If it amt the
black captinG!"
The two figures met. Thompson, be-
ng in a hurry, would have passed on
With a salute, but the other stopped
him with a CHEEKY:
Why, Thompson, who'd have
thought Of running across you here?
What are you doinG?'
"Coachman to Colonel Oxenden. sir"
replied the old sergeant at stiff at
tention.
THE deuce YOU are' Why I didn't
know he'd come to vegetatc down here.
Well, how do you like it? He was
considered a hard one, wasn't he?"
He KEEP up the name of the regl-
ment, sir" replied the sergeant
yes, yes, Cf course. Well, now. tell
me- about yourself" said the captain,
crossing his leg. and leaning on his
stick with the air of a man ready for
a long chat.
perhaps you'll excuse me, sir" re.
piled the sergeant: "I've a most parti-
cular note here to deliver at the 'all,
sir The mistress Is took with the in
fluenza. sir, and they can't come to
the ball at Squire LomaX's tomorrow
night"
Dear met I'm sorry for that. I'm
staying at the Hall for the ball, and
should have tried to meet the colo
mel again after so many years. Any
answer to the note?"
"Nc, sir. Lcastways I hadn't orders
to wait for one. But l had Oughter be
getting on sir, with your leave.'
"Give me the note. I'm going back
TO lunch now, and the squire shall
have 1t directly when he comes in."
you're very good sir. thank you.
It would save me a quarter OF an
hour
So the sergeant handed the note to
the captain. saluted. and was making
the rightabout turn. when the captain
said:
"Oh. say. Thompson, don't say
you've seen me. I'll drop in and sur
prise the colonel-perhaps this after
noon"
VERY we'll, sir. Good morning SIR"
colonel and Mrs. Oxenden and
party" were, Of course. regularly in
vited, and as the colonel and the squire
and their respective ladies were, al
though living within two miles OF each
other. close friends, the regret of the
Colonel and Mrs. Oxenden at being
disappointed at the last minute were
as genuine as was that Of the SQUIRE
and Mrs. LomaX that they could not
come.
THE poor thing has evidently writ
ten the note from her sick room" re-
marked Mrs. LomaX. "She writes so
Dedulnully as RUE, dQu lnlS lS not
at all her hand. She hopes we will
welcome her party a great friend OF
her husbands. Major Clifford"
"Of course we WILL" said the squire
1--WE have none too many men as It is.
and the colonel's friends are always
good fellows"
At IL o'clock the next night the old
fashioned half at the squire's. con-
verted into a ball room, presented a
pleasant and brilliant scene Every
body worth knowing for miles around
was there, and the neighborhood was
famous for pretty girls. although il
deplored, in common with most rural
districts. paucity Of young men. The
music was good. the floor was good
the room was well-lighted all the COM
pany danced and the old house with
fits numberless hooks and corners, was
admirably adapted for these between
dance tete-a-tetes which are the most
fatal nets for susceptible youth.
Major Clifford had arrived early, and
with that ease which the social side
of military life 80 generally teaches
was very soon as much at home In
this room full of people whom he had
never seen in his life before as a native
Of the soil Stay-there was one per-
son with whom he seemed to be ac-
Quainted. This was a stylish woman
of between 50 and 40, whose face. which
had been beautiful, bore upon II that
impress of hardness and indifference
which Sc surely comes after a life in
the world. When Clifford entered the
room she how him and the color fled
from her checks in an instant. Wher
he saw her, he raised his eyebrow:
and smiled, very slightly. but mean,
ingly. He was afterwards introduced
TO Mrs. Enderby but he did not ash
her for a dance nor did they meCt
again during the evening.
The principal object of his attention
was the squire's eldest daughter Hetty
a pretty girl Of is. who was evidently
as much attracted by the quiet well
bred talk and manner of the Grang,
representative as he was imuresseC
by, her charms.
After Major ClffOrds third walt:
with Hetty LOmax he led her upstair.
10 one OF the before-alluded-t alcoves
a dainty little corner luNuriously cush
toned, screened from the vulgar gaz
by artfully arranged greonery and dim
ly lit by a quaint Japanses lantern.
you must be very fond of this oil,
house" he said.
"I am; I love it, And indeed II 4
an interesting old place. believe /
Is historical but am ashamed TO sa,
you must not examine me too closel,
as TO this. At any rate II has
ghost"
Good One of the usual Englisl