The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-02


 clearing myself to you I clear myself to God" Arise sir" said Harriet with dignity and indignation. What talk is this? Arise or I leave you" Sir Har- grave arose to his feet and again began to protest. but the only result was that Harriet gave him a good sound lecture and told him to depart. "Never again. said she, will receive visit from you. Henceforth we meet as strangers. There is the door, sir" The baronet withdrew. shamed, orestfallen-but with bitter rage and resentment in his heart. The words of Harriet had been like whip Of scorpions to him.
 The servant question" while not so acute in the days of Samuel Richardson as in these days was even then a "ques- tion," and so, when Miss Byrons foot man left her. there was a domestic prob lem of some moment for her and her cousin. Mrs. Reeves, to decide. A young lady of Miss Byron's standing could not, of course, venture abroad unless accom- panied by a footman-and a proper sort Of a footman, at that.
 An English footman is as carefully selected as were the guards of the Great Frederick as to his physique and as carefully as to his morals, habits and department as a drawing master | in a. young ladies' seminary. Also he must be possessed of shapely calves. This combination being rather difficult to get off-hand, the young lady and her cousin held many prolonged con sultations regarding the many candi-
 dates who presented themselves for
 the vacant position. There was one
 young man to whom they both inclined
 He gave his name as Wilson and said
 that he had left his last master be- cause he could not stand his dissipated
 ways of life. Wilson professed himself as of serious" turn and looked with abhorrence upon wine and late hours. In the service of the incomparable Miss Byron he hoped to enjoy that blessing from which, so far. he had been de- barred-an association with the truly good. Wilson got the job.
 The night following the engagement of Wilson Miss Byron attended a mas ! querade ball at the Haymarket All the wealth and fashion of London were there assembled. Harriet went in the | character of an Arcadian shepherdess She was simply attired in a blue satin pettlcoat and blue satin bodice set off with spangles. She wore a scarce ly perceptible hoop, for she reflected that hoops although then in the height of fashion in London, were not proba- ply worn by the shepherdesses of Ar cadia. And of all things Harriet de- sired to be correct. Lace fuckers and ruffles relieved the severity of the blue satin and the spangles, and on her head was cap of Paris net with behind her left ear. This austere cos tune was completed with a scarf of Persian silk and an Indian fan.
 When the dear girl had arrayed herself thus correctly as an Arcadian she looked In the glass and almost blushed at her own chaste loveliness. "Ah," said she with laugh, 'I expect that this night l will slay many pretty fellow" She was right. When the time of unmasking came and the loveliness of Harriet Byron broke like the rising sun upon the assem- ply there was general rush of all the men present to pay her homage.
 But even admiration pals after a while and at about 3 o'clock in the morning Miss Byron felt fatigued. She ordered her chair" and proceeding away from her triumph, went, as she supposed. her homeward way. She noticed that the bearers were not those who had brought her sedan to the rout-but minded it not Wilson, the incomparable footman. went before with lighted torch Awakening form half-doze Harriet looked out of the window of her chair and saw that she was in unfamiliar parts She called Wilson and ordered the chairmen to stop | Wilson, with a show of greatest resnect assured her that he had led the way bv a near route to the house of MT. and | Mrs. Reeves. The other streets. he said were crowded with sedans and carriaees ! She felt treasured and sank back into q | gentle sleep. She was aroused bv tbe stopping of her chair. She was in the open country!
 There was little cottage where inc chair had stopped, and around the cot tage little garden. She saw this by the light of the torch which Wilson carried. But scarcely had she perceived 1t when Wilson threw his flambeau on the ground and trod out the light. Not even the faintest struggle of dawn had begun to show itself in that cold and cloudy cline. Harriet realized that she was the victim of an infamous plot. She screamed aloud and fainted-as a well-bred girl should do.
 While she reclined unconscious in her chair two women and a man ap- preached and took her from the con- veyance. The man was covered with a heavy cloak and his face expressed all the sinister emotions. They carried