Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-05-22

The gates are thrown wide open, and
the carriage rolls smoothly down the long
dark avenue, beneath The waving branch
es of the tall elms and the copper beeches,
through which the dying sun is hinging its
parting rays. The horses, shifting the air
of home, fling up their heads and make
still greater haste. until presently, round
ing the curve, they draw up before the
hall door.
1t stands open, ana oil tho high stone
steps that lead to it very pretty girl
looks down upon Tie carriage from under
Ler palm, with a face eager and expect
ant. When she has barely glanced at ii
she says "Ah" in tone of deep satiSfac.
ton, and running down the steps and
over the gravel, turns the handle of the
carriage door and looks anxiously at its
occupant.
"You have come" she says. checrily. 81
was afraid something might have prevent
ed you"
The person she addresSes-a girl about
two years older than herSclf-says:
eyes, | have come" in Il tone slow and
sweet, almost to langUor.
$50 glad" says the pretty girl, with o
smile that must be one of her sweetest
charms, it is so full of life and gayety:
come out of this dreadful old sarcopha'
gus aud upstairs with me; l have your
tea in your own room for YOU"
Miss Wharf, stepping out of the
braugham, follows her hostess into the
house, through the grand old hall, and up
the wide oak staircase, into a room huge
and oldf ashioned-but delicious and cozy,
and comfortable to the last degree.
"You are Dulcinea? she says, cues.
tioningly.
Yes, l am Dulcinea as a rule, but
have so many other names, that it takes
me all my time to remember which one |
really belong to- Uncle Christopher calls
me Baby! and Mark Gore, when he is
here, calls me Duchess, and Dicky
Browne calls me Tom, and Roger calls me
Il really quite forget what it is Roger
calls Inc" with slight shrug of her shout.
ders.
SIS Dicky Browne your fiance?" asks
Miss Wharf, uncertainty. 81 know you
are engaged to somebody; Auntie Maud
told me that"
"Dicky Browne! Oh, nov' Then with
the gayeSt little laugh in the world, III
you could only see Dicky Browne. He
couldn't, by any possibility, be anybody's
hancee! You mean Roger, | suppose
But with quick frown and touch OF
petulance, Don't let us talk about him
He is such worry, aud has been making
himself so exceedingly unpleasant all the
morning"
Miss Wharf starcs, forgetting her usual
ly very charming manners, for the mo-
ment and then drops her heavily fringcd
lids over her eyes.
"By-the-by," says Dulce, breaking in
upon what threatens to be an awkward
pause, "how dye do? | don't believe
have said that yet" Her whole tone and
expression have changed as if by magic,
the suggestion of i'll temper is gone, the
former yiyacity reasserts ITSELF She lays
her hands upon her visitors shoulders
with light, caressing gesture, and leans
toward her.
Il shall give you little kiss for your
welcome, my dear cousin, if | may" she
says, very prettily,
Portia Wharf acknowledging her grace
tells herself this new cousin will suit her
very well, and returns her soft embrace
with some warmth. She is feeling tired
used up; even the two or three weeks she
has been in town have been too much fol
her, and she has come down to her uncle's
house nearly ready to confess to herself
that she is seriously i'll. Here, in the still
Ecss, In this great room, with the elms
Swaying to and fire outside her windows.
and the distant cawing of the rocks in the
branches high out of sight, she feels rest
and comfort and a curious longing, that
has strange pleasure in it, to stretch ont
her arms and sigh deeply and contentedly.
''Sit in this chair, and rest a little be,
fore thinking Of taking off anything else"
says Dulce; Il shall pour out your tea"
She goes, with q quick, undulating step
that belongs TO her, to a small round table,
and makes a little fuss over the delicate
fat little cups that stand on the tray.
''WhO is Dicky Browne" demands pOr-
tia, suddenly; if she is going to live in this
rather mixed household she had better
learn some particulars about the inhabit-
ants at once.
"Not know Dicky? it argues yourself
unknown. He is our celebrity. He is
really immensely clever, about always do
ing the wrong thing, and indeed is ines
timable in most ways. He is your cousin,
too, as much as he is mine which really"
declares she, nrly-''isn't much. But he
is such pet all through that We magnify
the third-cousinhip into first. He rides
very straight, and smokes the very pretti.
est cigarettes, and he is such fool"
Miss Wharf is amused. what a very
charming description" she says, with the
low laugh she allows herself; "he sounds
like something ] have seen somewhere,
and he certainly would L treasure tc
Byron. Is lie here now?'
"Yc.. He spends NEST Of his time here.
Both be ard Roger are consumed with .
desire TO see You. You FAUST know" SAYS
Dulcinca laughing over her cups at her
cousin, that a breath from the outer
world came to us, whispering of your sue
cess in town, AMI now every one raves OF
your conqucsts, and your beauty general
ly."
"Who waited so insane a breath as
that?' asks Portia. with 4 suppressed
smile.
MARK Gore. lie puts in good deal Of
his tipe here too
Mark Gore never talks anything but
the very rttcrcst nonsense" said POrtia,
with faint blush. NO one minds him.