Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-04-22

The lady shook her head not unkind-
ly. Your mother over again, Anne"
she said. Loyal and true. All. me!'
She was silent, but Anne knew of
what she was thinking. After time
she put her hand over and touched the
girls. Keep your friendships, child, if
you like them,' she said. Il have
naught against Mr. Henry. | like him.
and the colonel values him most high
ly. Only-Byrd is a good lad too good
to be hurt"
Here is the shop" Anne said pres
emily as the coach stopped before the
sign of mercer. Il shall drive awhile
and return for you in an hour. Won't
you take john the Baptist with you
ana buy that turban for Nanny Eva
line? What color did she want. John
the Baptist?" she called to her body
servant.
The lank, loose jointed, strapping fig
ure of solemn countenance who sat u
sorrel behind the coach, squirting along
side the window, broke out in wide
smiles.
Nanny want er maz'reen blue, Mis-
Now, don't go over the hour" Mrs
Tillotson reminded as her niece bowled
away, and she sighed as she looked
after her.
The coach had entered Williamsburg
from the north and now turned into
Duke of Gloucester street, where stood
an uncovered mansion, the town house
of the Byrds of Westover. Here at the
gate fluttered two girls, who waved
hands and called eagerly to the solitary
! occupant.
"Anne, Anne" they cried as the
coachman drew up at the horse block.
Come and tell us what you are to
wear to the ball tomorrow"
Il don't know, Betsy" replied Anne,
jumping down.
"Pshaw" rallied Mistress Byrd. Just
as if we believed that, when you know
you will be looked at more than the
new arrived Lady Dunmore"'
Anne kissed the younger one-Paulina
Cabell, slight, olive eyed, a pretty, pout-
ing slip of a girl, wriggling to be grown
up. Your eyes are red, sweetheart"
said she.
Il have been reading Lady Julia
Mandeville,'" Paulina complained. 81
never cried so in my life reading a nov
ell. The tale is beautiful, but the end
ing is horridw
You'll stay to supper, of courseT
asked Betsy, linking an arm in Anne's.
Brother Frank will fetch you home"
Not today"
"Mother will want to tell you about
Franks royal commission" pursued
Betsy. Come in for a moment. Do"
But the mistress of Westover was
otherwise occupied. In fact the girls
entered the wide, cool hall to find a
storm lowering.
Mrs. Byrd was not only young pref
ty, second wife and the possessor of
a husband who was one of the govern
or's council but she was conscious OF
all these things.
Her husband did not remember as of
ten as did she that the gay colonel his
father. had been bosom friend of the
learned Charles Boyle in England and
fellow of the Royal society. She re
minded him frequently of the fact thai
the old wit had been a scholar and haC
left to Westover, where he lay under {
monument in the garden, the best pri
vate library in the colonies, not ever
excepting that of Mr.. John Bordley OF
Maryland, and garnet full of writings
His portrait hung there, q face as cleal
and as beautiful as a womans, framed
in curling peruke of the time o.
Queen Anne.
AS for the present master of West
over, much to her irritation, he careC
little more for sight of st. James thar
for the heaped up manuscripts in tn,
garnet. He contented himself with sit
ting in the council chamber at vii
liamsburg and riding after foxes a
Westover, when his govt left him.
Now Mrs. Byrd, consciously impress
sive, leaned against the white panein
in a posture which showed her plum
figure to advantage.
} "'Tis high time" she was saying
settling the yellow point de venise a
: her throat, that Francis be spoken t
J about it. Come in, Anne.)"
, The colonel, bowling as CALAMITY t
chair would permit, Shifted his pow
, dered wig in some discomfort.
Frank will get no harm from Pat
rick Henry" he said. He is too sen
, sible."
J 'Mayhap you call 1t no harm, sir,
; persisted Mrs. Byrd, Ito see your SON
! you. member Of the council-hobbin
with that shiftless wag. Sooth. theI
do! The malt bugs of the tavern ar
his betters. (No, don't go, Anne) Fran
els is daft about him, sir. And tn
boys royal commission just come. OIL
r tits too bad!'
Colonel Byrd Strengthened his rufie
l carefully.
1 "You go to the ball, of course, Anne
t he asked.
But his wife was not to be shut off.
"Small preferment," the lady wer
nm twill Eranoic not fpot,, o,d IN,