The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-04

house and fields of which she had so
often dreamed, but which she now saw
for the first time.
AS she walked between the box rows
up the graveled path TO the open door ST.
lently what dreams and visions was she
oonjuring up out of that deep gulf where
things that might have been and never
were are always wandering"
They dined after an old-fashioned man
ner, and when the dinner was over Mr.
Holbrook presented his pipe to Miss Mat
ty to light, a compliment paid by gem
tlemen to ladies in his youth. Miss Mat
ty performed the task with pretty little
cough and something of a faded coquet-
fist air, and then the ladies retired to
another room while the stout yeoman
had his smoke out-and probably a slight
doze in his arm chair.
It was easy to see that Miss Matty was
enjoying herself thoroughly. 1T is very
pleasant dining with a bachelor" she
whispered to Miss Smith. II hope it is
not improper-so many pleasant things
are, you know"
OF course, Miss Pole and Miss Smith
a second chapter of Miss Matty's romance
upon the foundations of the dinner at
Woodley. But 1t was some time before
Mr.. Holbrook was again seen in Crawford,
and then he came to call upon Miss Mat
ty and her friends to say: Il am about
to take trip to Paris. Any commands
for Paris. ladies? Always thought 1
should like to see the French capital be-
fore 1 died.
No. nobody had any commands for
Paris and Miss Matty said with a plain
tive sigh after her visitor had taken his
departure: "Oh, dear, I am so sorry he
is going to Paris. I am sure frogs will
not agree with him." Then for several
days she was very pensive and more kind
and thoughtful of others than before-if
that were possible.
Finally the eventful day of the arrival
of Lady Glenmire at the house of the
Honorable Mrs. Janieson came, and there
was such buying of new caps and such a
making over of old gowns among the
ladies of Crawford as had not taken place
before within the memory of the oldest in
habitant of that genteel community. I'M
aglne the wrath, the dismay the surprise
of the Crawford elect when Mrs jamie
son came painting out of her sedan chair
into the parlor of every one of them in
turn, and delivered a little speech, the
! purport of which was that she did not
expect the ladies of Crawford to call on
her titled sister-in-lawl
Bitter were the Sarcastic remarks OF
Miss Pole while Mrs. Forester consoled
| herself with the reflection that she was
born Tyrrel' and Miss Matty, while
not denying that everybody knew that
| her cousin, Sir Peter, might have been
! Viscount Arley If he had wanted to, was
more perplexed than offended
Like the true lady she was, she could
| not understand the motives which had
induced Mrs. Jameson to repel SO rudely
! the intended friendly advances of the
! Crawford ladies to her sister-in-law.
| II appeared that Mrs. Jameson had
! wished Lady Glenmire to believe that she
visited and was visited only by the
County Families" Perhaps she thought
| that when she had Peerless beneath
her roof the county families really would
| call.
| The next Sunday at church no one o.
the ladies of Crawford even glanced at the
pew wherein sat Mrs. Jameson and hel
| guest. But they all cross-questioned thei
servants afterward as to what sort OF 6
person Her Ladyship'' seemed to be ant
! what she had on. They found that sh'
was dressed in an old black silk ant
shepherd plaid coat, ma'am, and very
/ black bright eyes, ma am. Not young
maam. And she looked up and down thu
! church like a bird and nipped up he
petticoats when she came out as quick al
! ever I see. I'll tell you what, ma am
she's more like Mrs. Deacon at the Coaci
and Horse nor any one"
Hush. Martha, that's not respectful,
said Miss Matty.
"Ain,t it, ma am? I beg pardon, but jim
Hearn said SO as well. He said she wa
lust such a sharp. stirring body"
! Lady" corrected Miss Matty
'Lady-as Mrs. Deacon
Another week passed and somehow