Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-07-18

neeOeO.
He was eager and talkative. and
his yoIubIlity seemed In measure
20 an the void ofasilence that other-
wise might have been marked. u Is
true he had been disappointed that hls
mother and his chosen bride did not
fail upon each others neck and weep
gentle and sympathetic tears. and he
had been surprised TO hear the llt'ie
widow address Nancy as Miss Mar
low" but he would not admit To hih-
self that there was any GOODNESS on
either side. Not ut ALL He was de-
scanting TO his mother on Nancy's gen
eraI characteristics. INDUCING In llt-
tie sarcasm even, TO give the whole III
teryiew a sort Of playful and friendly
east, but conclusively proving that
Nancy and his mother held precisely
the same opinions and were bound TO
agree upon every possible subject
Nancy for example. was devoted adj
mirer of Lord Beaconsiield and dld not
fail to wear n primrose on Primrose
day. Nancy believed that the honor OF
the country was safe in the hands OF
the Conservative party and that Rad-
icals. socialists and atheists and people
of that sort had nothing in view but
the destruction of property ana the
| total abolition of law. Nancy was
deyout adherent of the Church OF Eng
land and considered 1t unbecoming. II
not positively dangerous. for bishops
TO have any dealings with the dissent.
ers.
Nancy strongly disapproved OF wo
mans rights women, nor vas Nancy
quite sure about the influence of the
school boards, which she considered apt
TO draw away the children from their
proper and natural guardians and
friends, who had always been good &c
thom in times past. Nancy detested
No use of cosmetics and wondered that
respectable girls in London could con
descend to such practices. As TO tight
lacing, Nancy was also sound-who
but fool would want to sing I'D he
a butterfly" In short, it was Nancy,
and Nancy, and Nancy all the time
why should any one speak of Miss Mar
| low?
But here n significant little incident
occurred which showed how very diff
ferently mother and son viewed this
position of affairs. When Nanciebe
was ushered into the drawing room
Mr.. Richard insisted on her laying
aside her hat and jacket and gloves, sc
that she should have the appearance OF
being quite at home, and then he con
Quoted her to little Widowed recess
at the top of the room. which his moth
er used as boudoir. 1t was remark
ably snug and coy apartment-a coucl
running round three sides of 1t, shelves
of books covering two of the walls, tn,
windows commanding a view of th'
garden, where thrushes and blackbird'
and starings were hunting abou
among the snow for the food which thu
widow was wont to fling abroad with {
generous hand.
1t would have pleased Mr.. Richard
IL his mother and his sweetheart OIL
entering this secluded little place haC
sat down together, perhaps arm II
arm, but somehow Miss NARROW tool
her seat on one side, where she re
NAMED looking amiable and attentive
IL somewhat silent, while Mrs. King
ston on the couch opposite her. listened
to her sons dithyrambics or glanced
out upon the wintry garden as sh,
spoke. And what now happened wa
this:
Mr.. Richard, having conclusivel.
shown that Miss Marlow's mental ant
moral qualities and her opinions on po
litical. religious and social subject
generally were such as to common,
her to any intelligent and REASONABLE
human being, proceeded in a sort o
half playful and kindly way to sa,
something of the young lady's appear
ance. You see, she appeared to be al
ready one of the family. Here sh
was in the snug little corner not wit
hat and gloves on, as though she wer
, paying formal call, but as If she ha
just come down from her own room
have little chat before tea wa
brought in And thus it was tina
, when Mr.. Richard CHANGING to tai
,, of the fashion in which his believe
wore her hair, went on to suggest tina
perhaps it might suit her better I
wear it a little higher on her forehea
. he quite naturally and unthinkingl
> crossed over to her and with a ligt
touch or two of his fingers pushe
: back her hair, so as to invite his mott
er's opinion. But the reply he receive
startled him.
> "Richardr' the widow exclaimed |
amazed protest, and then all at one
he knew how differently his moths
. and he were regarding this young lad
' Not yet was she the daughter of I'll
house, to be treated with familiar lit
caressings and pettings. She was onl
visitor, she was only Miss Marloy
, to be treated with decorum and r
:. spect. AS for poor little Nancy, 81
: was terribly embarrassed. Richar
y she knew, should not have taken tn
. liberty, but he had done it almost b
fore she was aware, and indeed it WI
not until afterward she bethought h,
- of what Mrs. Kingston might que
from this little incident. Mr.. Richal
did not try any more experiments wit
3 Miss Marow's hair or seek to alt
=. the way in which it lay on her for
~ head.
He returned to his seat with an u
r., easy consciousness that he had ma,
", a mistake and perhaps even compr
"a missed Nancy little, but fortunate
~ at this moment tea was brought
'. and that proved to be welcome d
% traction.