The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-04-20

piled shortly, land very impertinent
young person, too. She spoke to me
as if she were my equal. William, y
to her husband, "you surely haven't
invited her to come here today ?"
Once upon a time the rector had
asked a chance acquaintance to the
rectory. He was not likely to repeat
the mistake.
asked her No, no; of course
not. did intend to speak to you,
but 1 forgot She is Miss Neill,
Rosalind Neill, and very intelligent
girl. Her knowledge of ferns is mar
velous."
g She is a Catholic" Mrs. Sandys
remarked with sneer.
Indeed p the rector was not dis
turbed.
"And as for her looks"-Mrs.
Sandys spoke for divers benefit
''I don't see how they concern us.
She struck me as being very common
place"
"'The commonplace sun in the
commonplace sky makes up the COM
monplace day." The rector was
fond of quotation.
"Need we talk of the person 7"
Ada Sandys asked, and there was a
silence, broken by Oliver asking
"Has the millionaire any relatives :?
Remember, I have heard little of
him..
"No; he has been seeking for a
sister and her daughter" Mrs.
Sandys replied. "The sister married
Catholic and her parents disowned
her-very properly, too. She was
much older than Mr.. Treloar. He is
so benevolent, so broad minded as to
pardon her; but he has quite failed
to find trace of the mother or daugh-
ter. He believes both are dead.
Very likely they are." The lady
pushed her cup and saucer away. |
have to look after Jane and the
cakes"
The rectory garden was filled that
afternoon by the chief people Of the
county. The Duchess, indeed, had
not made her appearance, and Mrs.
Sandvs was mentally condemning the
titled lady's want Of good breeding as
she introduced Mr.. Treloar to the
various county magnates. The mil
lionaire was man somewhat over
fifty years of age, but his upright
figure and keen, good humored face
made him look years younger. Mrs.
Sandys, as she noted the good i'm
preston he made, decided, not for
the first time, that he would be very
desirable husband for Ada.
She had just consigned the gentle
man to Ada's care as a battle took
place between Rosalind Neill and the
smiths donkey at the entrance gates.
The animal had been used by the
local grocer to convey some parcels
to the rectory, and, as Miss Neill was
returning from her daily hunt for
botanical specimens, the donkey de-
cided to visit the rectory in preference
to going home. 1t was in vain that
Rosalind tugged and strained at the
reins, and used wheeling and objur-
gatory phrases. Her steed had de-
termined to turn in at the open gates.
Even sound belaboring with a hazel
switch had no effect OH Neddy; and
Rosalind, with disheveled hair and
flushed face was borne along the
narrow drive that led to the rectory
Just in front of the Duchess of New
bury's elegant barouche and high
stepping horses. Mrs. Sandys, for
once in her life, lost her self command
at the sight of that extraordinary
spectacle. The donkey, having tri-
umphed, was proceeding leisurely,
with the Newbury horses perforce in
the rear. The lady seized her hus-
band by the arm and shook him.
"You did invite that girl Oh,
what will Her Grace think T.
"What girl?" the rector asked in
astonishment. He had been discuss
ing roses with kindred spirit.
"The girl from the Royal Oak !
Don't you see ?" The lady pointed
dramatically to the gravelled sweep
before the door.
81 didn't, indeed" the rector pro-
tested, and his wife swept onward to-
ward the donkey and cart in high
wrath. The smiles on some of her
guests faces did not allay her anger.
With a hasty greeting to the Duchess,
Mrs. Sandys attacked the school
teacher, and her nearest neighbors
wondered at her power OF vitupera-
ton. Rosalind attempted to explain,
and the kindly rector tried to laugh
over the incident, but Mrs. Sandys
continued scolding till her breath
failed and the tears stood in the girl $
gray eyes.
"Now, now, there's no harm done,
Miss Neill," the rector said. "Is
there, Your Grace? I'll just start
this refractory animal on the road. !"
The gentleman led Neddy toward the
gate. lie was joined Dy MT. 1Ie-
loar.
CT heard you call this young lady
Miss Neill," that gentleman said.
"My sister married man of that
name. You," he addressed the be-
wildered Rosalind, "are wonderful ly
like her. May ask your mothers
maiden name 7"
Certainly" the girl tried to steady
her voice. My mother was Janet
Treloar."
"Then you are my niece, young
lady," the gentleman said. And
subsequent inquiries made it certain
that the school teacher was the
daughter of Mr.. Treloar's only sis.
ter.
Rosalind discontinued teaching,
and acts as mistres of Boxhall. Mrs.
Sandys seldom visits her, and the in
timacy between the rector's lady and
Mr. Tre1oar has Sfeadilv declined.