The Delta independent., 1901-05-03

ne eVent1ul r rTludy dI leHSlH dI
rived, and with it the unwelcome
Younges. They came by the late train,
which enabled them to reach King s
Abbott Just one hour before the dinner
bell rang. and SO gave them sunclent
time to dress. Sir George met them
warmly, feeling some old, half-forgot-
ten sensations cropping up within his
heart as he grasped between his own
hands the hard. brown one of his ci-
devant school friend. The old man
he now met, however, was widely dii-
ferent from the fair-haired boy ana
light active youth he could just barely
remember both at Eton and oxford.
Indeed, Mr.. Younge, oddly enough, did
strangely resemble the fanciful picture
drawn OF him by Miss Trevanion, be-
ing fat. "pursy." jolly. and altogether
decidedly after the style of the farm
ing gentry.
But. however right about him. Miss
Trevanion's representations with re-
gard to the others were entirely wrong.
Mrs. Younge, far from being tat, red
and cookish, was remarkably slight,
fragile. and very lady-like in appear
ance Her daughter, Miss Rachel. re-
sembled her mother strongly, though
lacking her gentle expression and the
quiet air of self-possession that sat so
pleasantly on her.
But in her description OF Denzil Miss
Trevanion had been very much at
fault indeed. Any one more unlike
"boor'' could not be well imagined.
Denzil Younge was a very handsome
young man. Tall. fair and distin-
guished looking. with just the faintest
resemblance to his mother. he might
have taken his place with honor in
any society In Christendom. He wore
neither beard nor whiskers. simply a
heavy. golden mustache. which COW
cred, but scarcely concealed. the almost
feminine sweetness OF his mouth.
Miss Trevanion. having made up her
mind that there would be plenty or
time Just before dinner to get through
the introductions. stayed in her own
room until exactly FIVE minutes to
seven o'clock. the usual hour for din
ing at Kings Abbott, when she swept
downstairs and into the drawing room
in her beautiful, graceful fashion, clad
in pure white from head to foot. with
the exception of a single scarlet rose.
fresh from the conservatory, in the
middle OF her golden hair. And GER
tainly Mildred looked as exquisite
creature that evening. as she walked
up the long drawing room to where
her. father was standing. as any one
could wish to see
This Is my eldest daughter-unmar-
ried." said Sir George, evidently with
great pride. taking the girls hand and
presenting her to his guest, who had
been gazing at her with open, honest
admiration ever since her entrance.
is 1t indeed" the old man an
swered; and then he met her with both
hands extended, and, looking kindly
at her, declared out loud. for the bene-
fit OF the assembled company. She Is
the bonniest lass have seen for many
a day
At this Mabel laughed out loud. mer-
rily, without even an attempt at the
concealment Of her amusement, to
Lady Caroline's intense horror and old
Younge's intense delight. He turned
to Mabel instantly.
You like to hear your sister ad-
mired?" he said.
7. And Mabel answered:
Yes, always. when the admiration
is sincere-as in your case-because l.
too. think she is the bonniest lass In
all the world"
Right, right" cried old Younge.
la yly hnr mr.
friends on the spot, the girl chatter
ing to him pleasantly the greater part
OF the evening afterward, although the
old mans eyes followed Mildred's rath-
or naughty movements with more
earnest attention than he bestowed
upon those of her more light
sister.
Miss Trevanion. when Mr.. Younge
had called her "bonny lass" merely
flushed a little and flashed quick
glance toward her mother which said
plainly. There, did not tell you so
Yorkshire farmer, pure and simple,
and all that?" and moved on to be
introduced to the other members Of
the unwelcome family. She could not
forget, even for n moment. how in
trusive their visit was, and how un-
pleasant in every sense of the word.
She was only three or four years Ma
bells senior. but In mind and feeling
she might. so to speak, have been her
mother. When she remembered how
Eddie always required money. and
how difficult they found 1t to send
Charles regularly his allowance and
still to keep up the old respectable ap-
pearance in the county. she almost
hated the newcomers for the expenses
their coming would entail.
Miss Trevanion raised her head half
an inch higher. and went through her
incl!nations to the others with mix
ture Of grace and extreme hauteur that
made her appear even more than COM
monty lovely, and caused Denzil
Younge to lose his place In the Ian
guild conversation he had been holding