Evening star., 1909-05-12
CHAPTER xxIII-continued.

to the scheme he folded the document
and put 1t into his pocket. Just then the
landlady. having knocked and being bid
den to enter. came into the room, fol-
lowed by several maids and men bearing
Dishes
And now to breakfast he went on.
.'Will the bride kindly sit on my right
hand. with her husband next her? Mrs.
Ogilvie, will you honor me by sitting on
my left. with Col. Ogiivfe to support you
on the other side? Miss Hayes, will you
kindly sit on Lord Athlyne's right? And
Mrs - e. Mrs. O'Brien,' whispered
Judy. He went on:
Mrs. o'Brien, will you sit on Col.
Ogilvie's left?"
Deed an I'll not. said the Irish
woman, sturdily.
DO you mean" asked Col Ogilvie.
icily. that YOU do not care to sit next
me individually?"
"Faix an 1 don't name anything 50
foolish, yer 'ann'r. Why should the likes
O me dar to object to the likes iv you?
All I name. sorr. is that an ould Biddy
like me isn't At to sit down alongside the
quality-let alone an earrll and his lady
whose unborn childher I'm to nurse. An,
more betoken. on such an owdacious oc-
casfOn-shure an 1 don't name that, but
such suspicious occasion
Mrs O'Brien, ma'am.' said the
sheriff. taking her hand. you're going.
hope. to take your place at the table
that all these good friends wish you to
take
I'm throth. no yer" whispering to
JOY what's sheriff called. Miss JOY?
Is he yer majesty or me lord or yer
amir, or what is he, anyhow Il think
he il yer hGnor said said JOY So Mrs, Mrs
ask me fur to sit down wild the quality
where / don't belong. But let me give
a hand to these nice girrls and byes to
shling the hash. Shure it's stewardess
| am. an accustomed to shown the
food
Nanny" said Athlyne kindly, but in a
strong voice. I'VE all want you to sit at
table with US today And hope you
won't refuse us that pleasure"
Certainly me darlin' lord!" she said.
instantly. "In coorse what phases yer
The master had spoken: she was content
to obey without question. In the mean
time Joy had been whispering to her
mother. who now spoke out:
''Mr. Sheriff, will you allow me to make
suggestion about the places at table?"
with thousand delights. madam.
Pray make whatever disposition you
think best. I am only too grateful for
your help
Thank you. sir Well. il YOU don't
mind. l should like my sister, Miss
Hayes. placed next to you; then Col.
Ogilvie and myself. On the other side.
II you will place next to my son-in-law
his old nurse. l am right sure that both
will be pleased"
Hear. heart" said Athlyne. Come
along, Nanny. and sit next your boy!
Joy and 1 shall be delighted to have you
close to US. Won't we. darling?" Joys
"Of course : . darling!' It was won
derful what a world Of love she put into
the utterance Of those two syllables.
The breakfast was great success.
though but few OF the party ate heartily.
Neither Athlyne nor Joy did justice to the
provender. They whispered a good deal
and held hands surreptitiously under the
table. and their eyes met constantly. The
same want of appetite seemed to have
affected both the sheriff and Judy; but
ness were their characteristics. Mrs.
O'Brien, seated on the very edge Of her
chair, was too proud and too happy to
eat. But she was storing up for future
enjoyment fond memories of every Incl
dent, however trivial
1t was midday before any move was
made. There were no speeches-in pub
lie. as all considered it would break the
charm that was over the occas sion II any
thing SO overt took place. When all is
understood speech becomes almost banal.
But there were lots OF wh!sperings::'
whispers as soft in their tone as their
matter was sweet. No one appeared to
notice any one else at such moments;
though be sure that there were words
and tones and looks that were remem-
bered later by the receivers. and looks
and movements that were remembered
by the others. Judy and the sheriff had
much to say to each other. Ample oppor-
tunity was given from the fact that the
newly married pair found themselves Oc-
cupied with each other almost exclusive
ly. Occasionally, of course. Joy and the
sheriff conversed: but as a working rule
he was quite content to devote himself
TO Judy, who seemed quite able to hold
up her end Of the serious filtration. When
finally the party broke up. preparatory
to setting out for the south, the sheriff
asked Col Ogilvie if 1t might be possible
that he should join in travel with the
party, as he wished to spend few days
in Ambleside-a place which he had no.
visited for many years. Col. Ogilvie cor
daily acquiesced. He was pretty sure
by now that the meeting Of Judy and
this new friend would end in match.
might result in the happiness of his sis
ter-in-law. of whom he was really fond.
But 1t was not on this account only that
he made him welcome. The reaction from
his evil temper was on him. Conscience
was awake and pricking into him the
fact that he had behaved brutally. His
mind did not yet agree in the justice Of
the verdict but that would doubtless
come later. He now wished to show to
all that there was quite another side of
that the sheriff should be his guest. The
other was about to object when he real
lied that by accepting he would be one
Of the household, and so much closer to
Judy, and more and oftener In her so
ciety than would otherwise be possible.
So he accepted gladly. and he and the
colonel soon became fnseparable-except
when Judy was speaking. In such cases
Col. Ogilvie often felt himself rather left
out in the cold. At the beginning OF
breakfast Athlyne had learned from Joy
OF the abandonment Of the motor, and
he had accordingly sent his father-in-
laws chauffeur, with his pilot, to bring
1t back They had to travel in horse
carriage; he could not drive two motors
at once, and the pilot could not drive
one. In due course the motor was re-
trieved, and having been made clean and
taut by the "first-class mechanician and
driver" was ready for the road. Col
Ogilyie's motor was also ready, and as
the pilot could now be left to travel home
by train, so that the owner could sit by
his chauffeur, there would be room for
the new guest to sit between the two
ladies in the tonneau. When he men
toned this arrangement. however the
culties in the way OF incommoding the
ladies. At last he said:
II hope you will excuse me, Ogilvie.
but l had already formed a little plan
which / hoped with your sanction and
that Of your wife, to carry out. Before
breakfast. Miss Hayes and l had been
talking of the old manner Of posting.
Her idea had. I think been formed by
seeing prints Of breakdowns of carriages
In runaway matches to Gretna Green,
and / suggested In fact, 1 ventured
10 offer to drive her in old-fashioned
postal style to Ambleside, and let her
see what it was like. have in my house
Co 6nn n1d cho1y