Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-07-11
CHAPTER !.

street OF Standardization, ana the
two figures who, arm in arm, were
slowly pacing up and down were wen
wrapped UP, for the night was cola.
The one was tall Young fellow OF
three or four and twenty. of slim build
and fair complexion. The other was
n young lady of lesser height, who
wore a tall hat with tragic sable
plumes and had also a black fur boa
wound round her neck. Not much
could be seen of her face, indeed, ex-
cept that sne had a pert and pretty
nose and soft, eloquent, pleading dark
eyes.
The young man was in an oracular
mood He vas delivering discourse,
and It was discourse on the letter
III" He was proving TO his compan-
ion that all the learned and polished
nations of ancient and modern times
had condemned and despised the letter
"h" even when they did not resolutely
ignore it, and he was insisting that the
importance conferred on that letter by
the English speaking communities and
the social use it had been put to as
sort of shibboleth and test of ones
upbringing were the result of nothing
but Grass and vulgar ignorance.
"Ah, know what you mean. Rich
ard" the young lady said plaintively.
at is all to give me courage If ever
should meet your mother some day,
for you know, dear, | never do make
a mistake when l am frightened or
anxious. Indeed" she added shyly, 81
think you are rather sorry, Richard,
that you can't oftener catch me trip
ping, because of the penalty. You
haven't caught me once lately in spite
of all your difficult sentences. Is that
why you instituted prizes instead of
penalties? And tell me this, Richard,
how can the same thing be both
prize and penalty|
"Nanciebel," said he in answer to
these mysterious references, this is
not a time for asking conundrums. l
tell you tonight | am going to speak to
my mother to tell her the whole sto-
ry"-
"Oh, no, Richard" she exclaimed i'm
plOringly. Don't do that! That will
only be the end, and we shall never
see each other again. And our ac-
4uaintanceship has been so pleasant
"Acquaintanceship, Nancy1'
whatever you like to call it, it has
been so pleasant. 1t will be thing to
look back on in after years. But it will
never be more than that"
"Oh, stuffr' he said angrily. 81 really
wonder at you, Nancy! | never get the
least help or encouragement from you.
Don't l know that the circumstances
are difficult enough? But you-you ex-
aggerate them. You haven't the cour-
age of a mouse. You talk as if | were
prince in disguise and as If you ex-
pected my mother to throw you into
the Tower as soon as she got to know.
! wish you would have little common
sense The widow and son of cap
tain in the navy are not such exalted
personages"-
At this moment an open door at the
ed, and there stood revealed, shining in
the ruddy light, the stationer's shop
and fancy goods emporium" which
was owned by Miss Nancy's elder
brother and over which that young lady
herself presided.
"Nancyw called small boy, yOun,
ger brother.
"All right, Jim! One moment, Rich
ard"-and she had gone to attend tc
that infrequent visitor, customer.
When she had returned and had tax
en- his arm again and nestled up to hin
QOr the night was exceedingly colo
and she was an affectionate kind Of
creature), she said:
Richard, what would your mother
think if she saw me behind that coun
terY
"She would think you were extreme
ly pretty" said he, with promptitude
"And, what Is more, when she gets t.
know you she will say you are as goo(
and true and kind and warm hearted
as you are nice to look at. And wha
more could you want?'
"Ah," said Nanciebel sadly, "yol
fancy she will see me with your eyes
but that Is not the way of the world"
what do you know of the way O
the worldY" he made answer. "Lool
here, Nancy. Haven't told you tina
my mothers two books are the Bibl
and Tennyson and that she believe
equally in both? Very we'll. Now lie
her put her faith into practice. kin
hearts are more than coronets and sin
pie faith than Norman blood"
"Ah, yes; it is so pretty to read abou
in book" said Nanciebel in her plail
tive way, "but 1t is 30 different in a,
tual life
He threw away her hand from hi
arm.
II have no patience with you" b
said, with an angry frown.
And she on her side was Just q
quick. She drew herself up and sal
with proud lips:
"And /, Mr.. Kingston, have no wis
to remain here to be insulted. Goo
nghtv
She was moving haughtily away an
he in his temper was like to let he
go, but he thought better of 1t; he pl
mis- hand on her shoulder and som,
what sulkily said when he laid hold {
her:
"Nancyv
"oh, suppose you do not undo
stand" she said Indignantly, "that
have a little self respect, that l wis
to be treated with little common ciyi
aty and courtesy. But l would hay
you know that l am just as proud
you are, prouder, although our station
IN life may be different
"Nancy!' he said in more appealir