The Newtown bee., 1903-12-25
THE HOME CIRCLE.
TEE CHRISTMAS GUEST.
KATMEkINE lyman HINKsON IN THE
COLUMBIAD.

w
FRANCES was built.
There we're four persons in the room,
Michael l. Estrange, Mistress Pamela,
his sister, Ely, his daughter, and M.
lie Vicomte de Poitiers.
The latter, young gentleman OF
about twenty-three years, stood with
a bowed head, holding skein Of wool,
which Mistress Pamela was winding
into ball. He was extremely elegant
in his coat and breeches Of pearl grey
silk, with white waistcoat and white
silk stockings. His hair he' wore pow
dered, albeit the new Jacobinism was
bringing in the fashion Of wearing
ones own hair, and it could not be de-
MED that the powder was becoming to
his face. He wore slight moustache
with points at either end. Its black
ness and the darkness of his vivacious
eyes were in pleasant contrast with
his powder.
Looking at him, bent low before
Miss Pamela L 'Estrange's faded beau
ty, Michael L Estrange's heart smote
him at what he had to do.
He glanced sorrowfully at his daugh-
ters profile, where she sat at the old
piano with it's high back Of faded red
silk. 1t threw into delightful relief
the rich color of her cheeks and the
outline of her bronze-colored head
which had never known powder.
There were soft fires in her eyes as
they looked up while she'sang. 1t was
a song made for a child OF her own
house.
sTake time to thrive, my rose of
hope, lin the Castle of Dromore,
Take heed, young eaglet, till your
wings have feathers fit to soar.
A little rest and then the world is
full of work to do.
Sing hnshaby lullaloo 10 Ian, sing
hushaby lullaloo."
The rich voice,almost too full for her
slender young body, broke in the pas
sionate tenderness Of the nurses song,
and she turned from the piano with
wavering smile on her lips, though the
passion of the music yet fingered in her
eyes under the long lashes.
M. lie Vicomte de Poitiers made
half impulsive movement towards her.
Then he remembered the letters on his
hands, and with little murmur of
apology to Miss Pamela, kept his place
before her. Miss Pamela had noticed
the movement and smiled to herself.
The woman was not so dead in her
that she could not appreciate the
young Frenchman's charming ways
towards her. And his coming was an
answer to prayer. Yes, surely, an an
swer to her prayers. What match
for Eilyl And the child head over ears
in love:with him! The son Of one of
the greatest statesmen and soldiers in
Europe. What a chance that in doing
the grand tour he should have visited
these wilds and fallen head over ears
in love with Ely!
But what was Michael saying?
What was Michael, with his terrible
pride, his fanatical sense of honor,
saying? Mistress Pamela turned pale
under ner powder.
"You 60 to Dublin tomorrow, 1 un-
derstand, M. lie Vicomte?" said Mich
ael T. Estrange.
The young gentleman was so startled
that he let Mistress Pamela's wool fall
and made no effort to pick them up
again.
"Pardon," he said, monsieur L. Es-
TRANCE. To Dublin? No, have not
thought of it. 1 had thought to fish
the trout in your delightful river when
the spring should come"
The color came and went in his in
genious cheek. There was sharp
sound in the room as though some one
had caught her breath in sob. Then
the door closed; Ely had gone out.
1.-THE trout fishing is good," said
Michael l. Estrange, "but SO it is in
Thousand streams. You are travel
ing to see the world, and If remem-
Der rightly, M. lie Vicomte, you intend
ed but to spend one night at ''The
Anglers Rest, which must have poor
accommodation for your suite"
cit is excellent" the young man an
swered, confuSedly. "But indeed /
was not thinking Of it. I have found
His eyes pleaded piteously, but Michael
L. Estrange had set his face like flint.
s'It is what my father would have
wished. 60 hence he said, when he
parted with me, see the world, my
child; see men and women, beautiful
scenery and strange cities. Make
friends, enlarge thy mind, come back
to me man of the world. Yet re-
member always that the world is not
things but persons; that no natural
beauty of inanimate things can equal
in interest the profound interest Of the
| human character
IN. lie Due is past master in bis
knowledge Of the minds Of men, "
said Michael l. Estrange, "but you
will 60 to Dublin tomorrow, Mon
sieur."
The young man threw out his hands
with gesture Of dispair.
! "You drive me FORTH" he said. "a
day or two agone you offered me your
hospitality for the Christmas, to see
the murmurs, the mystery play at
your market cross, those SO interesting
survivals. What have I done, M
L 'Estrange?"
A low murmur OF protest from Miss
Pamela in her corner but hardened
Michael L 'Estrange s face. He turned
away and began lifting one thing and
| annt her from the mantlaShelf and nnt