The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-01-23

ter, under the circumstances, for you |
to address me as Miss Hadley."
Tappan leaned forward on the
table.
miss Hadley!" he exclaimed.
"You appear surprised" she said,
sand / don't altogether blame you.
Perhaps woke you by coming in?"
"You did," cried Tappan, but not
from. sleep. You have drawn me from
a waking nightmare" And as he
spoke he moved toward the girl.
Now, wait moment!" she OBJ
jected. IF you will sit down again,
I will tell you all about it"
Tappan dropped obediently into his
chair and the girl took seat by the
table.
"You are not at all the kind of
man I expected to see," she began,
calmly resting her face on her hands
and looking straight into his eyes
Il did not think you would be so
easily frightened, or excited, or
alarmed, or whatever you wish to call
it,
Tappanl opened his mouth to reply.
but she raised pretty little hand and
enjoined silence.
you talk as if you thought it was
Lady Barbara of the Mantelpiece' come
to life. But / am not. ] am just plain
Barbara Hadley, my mothers daugh-
ter, and / have been here week help
ing her to pack. She retired early this
evening, and, as had nothing to do.
I rummaged in some old trunks and
found this gown and promptly put it
on. wore it at the last reception we
gave in this house. two years ago; and
the gown was made like old Lady Bar
bara's, because mother thinks resem-
BILE her. Uncle Pete told me of your
| arrival, but he also said you were in
your room. When / came downstairs
| saw light burning in the library,
| and came in to investigate. When ]
woke you up you seemed startled"
Here Miss Hadley paused and tossed
her head back and laughed. aren't
you ashamed of YOURSELF" she asked.
Tappan, now somewhat recovered,
smiled back upon her and replied:
Not bit. / have nothing to be
ashamed of. If you will ask your moth
er, she will tell you that I have fallen
in love with the portrait of Lady Bar
bara, and that / made her all sorts of
offers 20 part with it. When saw Lady
Barbara, apparently alive and in the
flesh, standing before me this evening.
I could not refrain from speaking as |
did,"
Every well, I forgive you" Miss Had
ley returned. "To fall in love with a
portrait and then have flesh and
blood girl appear disguised as ones in
amorata must, after all, be a trifie
shocking. suppose ought to apollo
gize for the disappointment l have
caused YOU"
81 have not said was disappoint-
ed" said Tappan.
II trust you will never be SO rude as
to say so. But, now, good night, and
forgive me for my intrusion!"
She arose and held out soft white
hand toward Tappan. He took it and
begged her not to leave SO soon, but
she shook her head, smiling roguishly,
turned quickly and ran out of the room.
The next morning Tappan break
tasted with Mrs. Hadley and her daugh-
ter. and Barbara told of the previous
evenings adventure, and seemed to de-
rive much amusement from chatting
Tappan. But Tappan had never felt
so happy in his life, and when he went
out for his usual ride that morning he
was accompanied by Lady Barbara Of
the Mantelpiece," as he now persisted
in calling her.
1t is perhaps regrettable to have to
chronicle that from this time on the
young woman was of very little service
as an assistant to her mother. She
rode with Tappan every day and took
him to many hooks and corners of the
neighborhood which he had not yet
discovered. In the evenings they sat
in the library, and Tappan soon grew
to feel that he had known Mrs. Hadley
and Lady Barbara for years.
One afternoon he drew the good old
lady aside and informed her that the
from New York. He begged her not to
think of leaving Hadley Hall, al
though he well knew that the heir
: looms were all packed and ready fol
shipment. He entreated her to remain
while his guests were there to act as
chaperon for the party. And then he
told her something else that did mo-
surprise Mrs. Hadley nearly as much
! as he had feared it might.
And thus it was that when the New
, Workers gathered for their first dinner
: in Hadley Hall they found that prep
arations had been made for very elab
crate affair-all of which they did MOI
quite understand until Tappan arose
and made little speech in which ht
!, explained that the portrait of the Lad,
! Barbara was to be replaced within tn,
frame upon the mantelpiece in the Ii
: brary, because the living Lady Barbar;
: had decided to remain as mistress o
/ Hadley Hall-and poor Mrs. Hadley hat
had all the trouble of packing the heir
y looms, only to have to unpack then
/ again.
q |